A chilling question hangs in the air. How many unsung stories lie buried beneath the grounds of Betriebsgebäude Militärschießplatz? This was no ordinary building. It was part of the Militärschießplatz Kagran. Kagran also known as Elementarschießplatz. It served as a k.u.k. Garnisonsschießplatz. It was erected in 1871 for military shooting exercises.
Let’s delve into the history of this location. On July 28 1871 a lease agreement was signed. It was between the k.u.k. Military and the Stift Klosterneuburg. It involved a 182400 square meter plot. This area is along today’s Arbeiterstrandbadstraße. It stretches between Wagramer Straße and Donauturmstraße. The agreement became effective on April 1 1871. Initially the contract was for 15 years. The monastery had to extend it if needed. The rent would adjust to the property value.
The shooting range had 51 firing lines. These lines accommodated distances from 200 to 600 steps. There were also six pistol shooting stands. Structures were built from wood. This made quick dismantling easy.
The Militärschießplatz Kagran served more than just the military. Private shooting clubs were also active here. The Hubertusrunde throwing club set up throwing facilities. They practiced clay pigeon shooting. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I. the VI Austrian Federal Shooting took place here. It was a shooting festival. The Emperor honored it with his visit.
Ten years later he visited another event. This was of the Wiener Schützenvereines. They had rented part of the facility in 1872. Adjacent to the so-called Russian Church. This church was built on Wagramer Straße. Russian and Italian prisoners of war built it during World War I. In 1922 it was consecrated as the Church Zum Göttlichen Heiland. A sports field for army athletes was built.
In the interwar period the Bundesheer used the Elementarschießplatz. It also provided shooting training for the youth organization Jung-Vaterland. Officers of the Bundesheer served as instructors. On July 5 1936 the Hubertusrunde hosted an international clay pigeon shoot. This celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Association.
During the Nazi era shooting competitions took place here. But the Militärschießplatz Kagran gained notoriety. Between 1940 and 1945 executions by shooting took place here. It became one of Vienna’s execution sites. The exact number of people executed here is unknown. However estimates suggest at least 129 people. Mostly members of the German Wehrmacht were executed. Reasons included undermining military strength desertion and theft.
The execution of five firefighters from Vienna was intended as a deterrent. They were convicted of preparing for high treason and aiding the enemy. Apart from firefighters on duty all others had to appear in uniform. Special streetcar trains were organized for their transport. Non-attendance or lateness were punishable. Before the eyes of their comrades the first two firefighters were executed. The other three were sentenced to life imprisonment. They were sent to Mauthausen concentration camp.
Reports indicate that homosexuals from the Viennese police were executed here. On November 5 1944 an air raid on Vienna heavily hit the army clothing station. It was located on the shooting range grounds. Four Wehrmacht members two civilians and four Serbian prisoners died.
After World War II numerous bodies were exhumed. Their origin could not be clearly determined. Parts of the former k.u.k. Garnisonsschießplatz became part of the Donaupark Wien. This was for the international garden show WIG 1964. The Austrian Federal Railways began building a company sports facility in 1949. On November 5 1984 a memorial stone was unveiled. It commemorated those murdered here.
So as we stand here let’s remember the weight of history. The Betriebsgebäude Militärschießplatz echoes with stories of training competition and tragedy. It reminds us to reflect on the past. It encourages us to strive for a future free from such dark chapters.