Remembrance on Ballhausplatz: “Resilience is the strength of our imagination”

On 8 May 2026, the Republic of Austria marked the 81^st anniversary of liberation from Nazi rule and the end of the Second World War in Europe in a solemn ceremony held in the Congress Hall on Ballhausplatz.

Hosted by Hannah Lessing, whose counterpart on the National Fund’s Managing Board, Judith Pfeffer, also took part, the ceremony was attended by representatives of the country’s leadership and international guests – including contemporary witness Hedy Argent, who just a few days earlier had delivered a moving speech at the Day of Remembrance against Violence and Racism in Parliament. Together they gathered to send a united message against forgetting and in defence of democratic values.

A “peace bought at a high price”

In her opening remarks, Hannah Lessing quoted the headlines from Austria’s first daily newspaper, Neues Österreich, dated 8 May 1945: “The war is over! Justice has triumphed”. She emphasised the profound significance of this historic moment, which for many signified a liberation, but also marked the beginning of a “difficult process of reorientation” in a “country in a state of emergency”. Lessing recalled the victims of the Nazi regime and reflected on the “ambivalence of return”. Quoting Ruth Klüger, she emphasised: “Homecoming is not a simple concept. For many, there was no home left.” Nevertheless, she noted, the rebuilding of the democratic republic had begun amidst this uncertainty.

Appeal from the country’s leaders: Responsibility as a daily duty

In their speeches, members of the Federal Government emphasised Austria’s historical responsibility. In a video message, Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker warned that 8 May also serves as a reminder of the “uncomfortable truth” of the complicity of many Austrians; the most important lesson, he said, is how quickly circumstances can change for the worse when too many people look the other way.

Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler warned against renewed division in society, calling for more active democracy to counteract the current crisis of confidence in a “time of permanent crisis”.

Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr emphasised the central role of schools and the culture of remembrance in ensuring that everyone in Austria can live free from discrimination and antisemitism, particularly in the face of international conflicts.

The end of the post-war order

Keynote speaker Ivan Krastev built a bridge to the present. He opened his speech with a quote from the recently deceased German philosopher Jürgen Habermas: “We are all children of the 8 May.” Reflecting on the destruction of the Second World War, Krastev remarked that “all Europeans trace their origins back to the 8 May”; on that day in 1945, he said, Europe had merely been a possibility.

He declared the end of the era that Tony Judt had termed “The Postwar” – a time when the unthinkable prospect of a major war in Europe had become a reality. He said that this foundation had been buried in the ruins of Ukrainian cities: “Making war unthinkable was Europe’s greatest achievement; now it has become its greatest vulnerability.”

The keynote speaker was particularly clear on the subject of the appropriation of history. He rejected the accusation that criticising the current Russian leadership meant forgetting the victims of the Red Army in the Second World War. Instead, he argued that we must remember the millions of Soviet citizens who died so that cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv would never be bombed again, and that it is Russia itself that is currently attacking these cities.

Krastev also addressed the current situation in the Middle East as a challenge to our understanding of history. He contended that the memory of the Holocaust should not be divorced from contemporary political events, but rather, we must uphold universal humanitarian values.

In conclusion, Krastev gave the concept of “resilience” a deeper meaning. Resilience, he said, is "not a government programme", but above all the courage to carry on living with hope in difficult times. According to Václav Havel, hope is “what gives us the strength to live”.

The Republic as a shared home

At the end of the event, which was accompanied by music from members of the Vienna Philharmonic, Hannah Lessing reflected on 81 years of peace and security in Austria. She warned of the danger of complacency that can accompany a long “sequence of good days” (Elias Canetti).

Lessing compared the Republic to an inherited house: “One cannot simply live in it and enjoy its comforts without also ensuring its upkeep. Otherwise, it will fall into disrepair.” The future of this “house”, built by the post-war generation through immense effort, is in the hands of today's generation.

In conclusion, Lessing quoted a newspaper article from 8 May 1945 which ended with a realisation and a promise that can be understood as a mandate for today: to protect peace “resolutely, unanimously, and with burning passion”.

The commemorative event concluded with everyone singing the European and German national anthems together.