De-nazification in Burgenland

Gerhard Baumgartner

in the light of existing files in the archive of Burgenland and regional mayoral offices

Statistically speaking, Burgenland, which did not exist as an autonomous administrative body under Nazi rule, had one of the lowest rates of Nazification in Austria. Simultaneously, however, it ranked in fifth place in terms of illegal Nazi party membership. Legal action was taken against 876 of around 15,000 registered Nazis in Burgenland, of which 18 % were actually convicted.

The article examines the history of de-nazification and the purging of the economy in Burgenland by referral to relevant files in the provincial archives of Burgenland in Eisenstadt, and illustrates how superficially the legally intended punishment of former Nazis was meted out, using numerous case studies. It also highlights the continuity in personnel in public administration in Burgenland during and after Nazi rule.