– Against national socialism

As beautiful as the view of the three federal states of Styria, Upper Austria, and Salzburg is from here, we must revisit a dark chapter in history. From here, you can see the legendary Blaa-Alm, the so-called Igel, a refuge for the resistance fighters, and the Altaussee salt mine, where priceless artworks were saved from senseless destruction.

The resistance against Hitler in the Salzkammergut during World War II is a complex topic that raises many questions. The definition of resistance can vary depending on the perspective, but most historians consider activities such as printing flyers, draft evasion, illegal slaughtering, and recruiting allies as forms of resistance. In this regard, there was undoubtedly resistance in the Salzkammergut throughout the entire dictatorship.

The sentiment in the Salzkammergut against the Nazi regime changed soon after the Anschluss of Austria. The residents of the region had a long tradition of resistance against oppression and a strong sense of solidarity due to the structures of salt mining and its associated industries. The left-leaning orientation of the region also contributed to the fact that many people were hostile to the Nazi regime.

The initially predominantly communist resistance became increasingly invisible due to the regime's persecution, but the groundwork for widespread resistance had been laid. Over time, the resistance gained more and more support from the population, and by 1941 at the latest, the mood had turned against the regime. Political affiliation played a lesser role than human solidarity and the tradition of resistance in the Salzkammergut.

The resistance movement was broad and crossed political and religious boundaries. The organization was decentralized, and many resistance fighters knew only a few of their comrades.

The widespread support from the population made it possible for many people to hide from the regime. No spectacular actions were carried out to avoid reprisals and to win the population over to the idea of a new, free Austria.

Toward the end of the war, more and more people joined the resistance, often simply out of a desire to survive. Despite all the efforts of the regime, the network of resistance was never completely destroyed. The events in the last weeks of the regime in the Salzkammergut are characterized by contradictory statements. There are many myths and legends, but the exact truth often remains in the dark. Nevertheless, it is important to preserve the various memories for posterity.

After the war, the topic of resistance was often suppressed and equated with a communist stance. This led to a distorted view of the resistance movement, which was often misunderstood by historians. It is important to correct these misunderstandings and appropriately acknowledge the diversity of resistance in the Salzkammergut.

BILD © Dr. Helmut Kalss with his book

Audioguide:
About the resistance and European art treasures in Altaussee part 1
About the resistance and European art treasures in Altaussee part 2

More information and a few tips:
Movie tip: “Secret in the Mountain” by Gabriela Zerhau
Book recommendation: Dr. Helmut Kalss „Widerstand im Salzkammergut-Ausseerland“

ODPOR PROTI NACIONÁLNÍMU SOCIALISMU

AUDIOPRŮVODCE 

O ODPORU A EVROPSKÝCH UMĚLECKÝCH POKLADECH V ALTAUSSEE část 1

O ODPORU A EVROPSKÝCH UMĚLECKÝCH POKLADECH V ALTAUSSEE část 2

Ačkoli je pohled krásný, musíme se ještě jednou vrátit k temné kapitole dějin, protože odsud vidíme bájemi opředenou Blaa-Alm, takzvaného Ježka a solný důl Altaussee, kde byly zachráněny neocenitelné umělecké poklady před zničením. Obyvatelé regionu měli dlouhou tradici odporu proti útlaku a silnou solidaritu díky strukturám těžby soli a následným průmyslům. Počáteční převážně komunistický odpor se kvůli pronásledování režimem stával stále neviditelnějším, ale základy byly položeny. Odbojové hnutí bylo široce rozšířené a překračovalo politické a náboženské hranice. Podpora od obyvatelstva umožnila mnoha lidem se před režimem skrývat. Ke konci války se k odporu přidávalo stále více lidí, často jen z touhy přežít. Existuje mnoho mýtů a legend, ale přesná pravda často zůstává skrytá – přesto je důležité uchovávat různé vzpomínky pro budoucí generace.