Irene-Harand-Denkmal

Gazing upon the Irene-Harand-Denkmal, we’re reminded of a woman who dared to defy Hitler. Irene Harand, a name synonymous with courage and resistance, stands immortalized in stone right here before us. This memorial, erected in 2010 on the aptly named Irene-Harand-Platz, pays tribute to a woman who dedicated her life to fighting against the rising tide of Nazism and antisemitism in Austria. Born in Vienna in 1900, Harand witnessed the insidious growth of hatred and intolerance. She co-founded the World Movement Against Racial Hatred and Human Misery, also known as the Harand Movement. Through her weekly newspaper, “Gerechtigkeit” (Justice), she fearlessly exposed Nazi propaganda and defended the rights of the persecuted. Her book, “Sein Kampf” (His Struggle), published in 1935 as a direct rebuttal to Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” meticulously dissected and debunked antisemitic stereotypes. Harand’s activism extended beyond writing. She tirelessly traveled throughout Europe and the United States, rallying support against the Nazi regime. She even organized Christmas gifts for impoverished children and secured hotel accommodations for individuals regardless of their background. When Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, a bounty was placed on Harand’s head. Her books were publicly burned. Fortunately, she was abroad at the time and escaped capture. She eventually sought refuge in the United States, where she continued her activism. The Irene-Harand-Denkmal serves not only as a memorial to a remarkable individual, but as a stark reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice.