Development
The Gusen concentration camp was established in December 1939. By the time it was liberated in May 1945, 71,000 prisoners from nearly 30 nations had been imprisoned there. Over half did not survive imprisonment in the camp.
On 8 March 2022, Federal Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner and Director of the Mauthausen Memorial Barbara Glück announced the official start of plans to develop the existing Gusen Memorial. This follows the conclusion of the purchase by the Republic of Austria of further substantial plots of land on the site of the former Gusen concentration camp.
Significant structural remains of the Gusen concentration camp, including the roll call area, the rock crusher and two SS administration buildings, are located on these newly-acquired plots of land.
Layout of KZ Gusen 1945 (orange) and of Langenstein today. Green areas mark the recently purchased plots of land.
Graphics: heri&salli, adaptation: Markus Hechenberger
The first steps are already underway: As of now, the vegetation covering the former roll call area is being cleared to make this site accessible with the support of the Austrian Armed Forces.
In order to expand the existing Gusen Memorial in include these new sites, the Mauthausen Memorial launched a participation process, which involves stakeholders at regional, national and international level. The aim is to develop a framework concept that takes into account the wishes and needs of survivors and their relatives alongside those of local residents. This is particularly important in the case of the Gusen Memorial, notably because it is entwined with the housing estate built later on the site of the former concentration camp.
The results to date, which are based on the masterplan for the redesign as well as preliminary discussions and data collected, are currently being prepared by various experts for a future design competition. Among other things, various options for sustainable public transport connections to the memorial sites in Gusen, at the "Bergkristall" tunnel and in Mauthausen were discussed. The mobility of individual visitors and group travelers and the resulting necessary infrastructure adjustments were also analysed and discussed.
The aim is to create a comprehensive and contemporary place that takes into account the requirements of future memorial site operations and the conditions and needs of the local regions.
The official boards of the Mauthausen Memorial, in which all victim groups, victim nations and important national and international stakeholders are represented, will be kept up to date on forthcoming developments.
The content development process involves national and international experts. The aim is to combine current research findings with the requirements of contemporary education work and memorial culture.
The Mauthausen Memorial is committed to transparent communication and all steps will be made public to ensure ongoing discussion and exchange of ideas.
Please share your feedback with us: info.gusen@mauthausen-memorial.org.
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