“Another inspection today” a Jewish doctor perhaps thought as he approached the Aichhof. This place is more than just a farmyard. It carries a heavy history from the Second World War. Today we stand at the site of what was once Zwangsarbeiterlager Schwechat, Aichhof.
Between 1942 and 1945, numerous forced labor camps existed on Viennese soil. The Aichhof was one of these camps. It also served as a collection point for Jewish people awaiting deportation. After the war, it became a refugee camp.
Historical records, specifically a list from a Jewish doctor in the Volksgerichtsakt of Dr. Siegfried Seidl, detail the existence of this camp. The doctor presented this list as evidence in the 1946 trial against Seidl. This list included camps for Hungarian-Jewish forced laborers in districts 10 to 25. It also covered areas outside Vienna. The list also named the companies associated with these camps.
According to this document, the “Wünschek-Dreher Aichhof, Schwechat” operated a camp in Schwechat. It was located at Gut Aichhof 1A. Today, this is part of the 23rd district. From 1938 to 1954, Schwechat belonged to Greater Vienna. Hungarian-Jewish forced laborers likely worked in agriculture here. The Volksgerichtsakt mentions an inspection. The Jewish camp doctor counted 52 people. This included 11 men, 29 women, and 12 children. All 52 were deemed fit for work.
Before its dark chapter, the Aichhof had a different purpose. Anton Dreher Junior established it in 1874. It was a large agricultural estate. It spanned 502 hectares. It also included a 205-hectare hunting ground. About three kilometers east, the Katharinenhof was built in 1875 or 1884 as a dependency.
Today, the Aichhof estate with its horse stables is owned by Serena Hamberg. The Aichhof stands as a reminder. It reflects Vienna’s complex history. It includes both agricultural heritage and the somber era of forced labor. It links the names of Anton Dreher Jr and Serena Hamberg. But it also connects to the unnamed Jewish doctor and the 52 people who were once forced to work here.