Scandal in a neighboring country: A famous chain store, popular in our country, is being built on the site of a Nazi concentration camp

In the small Austrian town of Leobersdorf, construction workers are currently building a new commercial complex that includes a supermarket chain known internationally, Lidl. The project has sparked fierce public backlash due to its location on the site of a former Nazi concentration camp. Local activists and historians demand the preservation of remaining traces of this dark chapter in history, according to reports from French news agency AFP. Only a few crumbling concrete blocks amid overgrown grass remain as evidence of the once-extensive forced labor facility. When Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, the Weinberglager complex was used to house thousands of military prisoners and forced laborers. Later, the area included the subcamp Hirtenberg, which was part of the infamous Mauthausen concentration camp. Between September 1944 and April 1945, around 400 women, primarily from the Soviet Union, Italy, and Poland, were imprisoned there. They were forced to manufacture ammunition at a nearby factory. Many perished due to exhaustion, illness, and brutality. The controversial sale and lack of protection Investors presented plans for the business district, located approximately forty kilometers south of Vienna, early this year. Archaeological excavations have uncovered traces of the former camp, yet the Austrian federal office for monument protection concluded that these findings are insufficient for official protection. With construction machinery already operating on-site, activists are anxiously warning of the destruction of cultural heritage. Local campaign leader Erich Strobl emphasizes that builders are sacrificing historically significant land merely for economic interests. The project is also accompanied by allegations of dubious dealings. The land was previously controlled by a company linked to local mayor Andreas Ramharter. This firm recently sold the plot for more than 15 million euros. The new owner, TRA LEO, offers support for erecting a memorial, while Lidl representatives remain silent. They explain that their store will not be directly on the site of the former camp, but rather on an adjacent parcel. Struggle for historical memory in Austria Historian Bertrand Perz warns that the public often pushes female prisoners from Mauthausen to the margins of cultural remembrance, making the Hirtenberg location exceptionally significant. Representative of the Austrian Mauthausen committee, Josef Pumberger does not hide his anger and sorrow over the fact that investors can even carry out such construction in Austria. He stresses that people need tangible proof of sites where Nazis imprisoned and tortured victims, otherwise historical memory fades and remains only in books. Austrian society today faces conflicting tendencies regarding the preservation of historical memory. Although people show greater sensitivity toward Nazi past, political influence from far-right parties is growing, and parts of the population demand that politicians and experts end discussions about the past. Despite this, activists insist that builders should not place new retail centers on former campsites. Meanwhile, in the village of Žleb, preparations are underway for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Church of Saint Mary, scheduled for Sunday, August 30. The church has been renovated, and numerous events are planned to honor ancestors and inspire future generations. Locals live with the celebration. This year is particularly special, noted by every visitor. Žlebčans or Marješčans, as they are called, have come together to prepare a series of events marking the 500 years of the church in their area. Over six hundred residents live in this part of the municipality, which is especially interesting for hikers and cyclists. Today's appearance from 1526 History and rich oral traditions of these areas stretch deep into the past. Local names and preserved records of the Jetrbenški knights testify to how much history lies hidden within this village. In the center stands the church dedicated to the martyr Saint Mary of Antioch, which has been a branch of the Preska parish since 1786. It was first mentioned in 1427 and received its current form in 1526. Five centuries ago, it grew on a prominent hill after its predecessor was likely destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1511. It is one of the finest examples of late Gothic rural architecture, and its golden altarpieces are among the precious treasures of Slovenian cultural heritage. Mirko Bizant from the organizing committee emphasized, “The 500th anniversary of the Church of Saint Mary is a dignified occasion worthy of celebration, from respect for our ancestors, for us to rejoice, and also in a pleasant memory of our ancestors.” The village of Žleb is first mentioned in the 14th century, and in folk tradition, the name Marjeta is frequently used for this place. “Living in Žleb is something one would not exchange for anything in the world. Here there is peace, community is connected, nature surrounds us, events are just right, and this year everything has been happening since April, as it is especially a year for us,” said local resident Simona Jezeršek, who has lived her entire life in Žleb. Her husband, Miha Jezeršek, is one of the two men she married. Together with him, we climbed to the church, joined by Gašper Jezeršek, another member of the organizing committee. The organizing committee consists of fifteen members, and the celebration involves the whole village, each contributing according to their abilities. It was thus during the church restoration and is also the case with the celebration. Miha Jezeršek expressed joy. He showed us the restored church and highlighted that the celebration had anticipated the renewed interior, exterior, and surroundings. The renovation also included the restoration of the surrounding walls. It was noticeable that particular attention was paid to the restoration, and throughout the process, they worked closely with specialists. During the years of restoration, forces united including keyers, priests, members of the economic council, conservators, architects, craftsmen, performers, many volunteers, donors, and locals. Presentation of the restoration After viewing the church, we descended back to the main event space. A large tent was set up beneath the church, where a lecture was held on the day of our visit. Keyer Mirko Bizant presented the complete course of the church’s restoration, from initial plans and research to demanding construction interventions and numerous hours of voluntary work. “The restoration, which lasted the last fourteen years, was much more than just renovating the building, it became a story of a united community. It would be difficult to describe in a sentence or two what the Church of Saint Mary means to us, locals. As many questions I might ask, so many answers I could receive. It is not just a building standing on a picturesque hill above the village, but it is written through long history into the soul of our roots. It is a kind of central symbol with which everyone can identify, and it is together with historical heritage a space of religious and social connection. That this is real, our ancestors have proven time and again, because they survived personal misfortunes, natural disasters, different rulers, because they knew how to hold together. Perhaps because of that, with Miha Jezeršek, we were together in 2008”