Ihr Kampf

Irene Harand, a Viennese from a middle-class background, fought a determined battle against anti-Semitism and the swastika between 1930 and 1938. She published the weekly newspaper ‘Gerechtigkeit’ and self-published the book ‘Sein Kampf - Antwort an Hitler’ in 1935, which landed her on the Nazis' death list. She fought against the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany until the very end - also on an international level. Finally, as a participant in the Evian Refugee Conference, she endeavoured to obtain asylum for Jewish refugees in other countries around the world. Irene Harand emigrated to New York with her husband and never returned to Austria.

‘The most courageous resistance fighter against both anti-Semitism and the Nazis that Austria - and probably all of Central Europe - produced in the 1930s was an initially unknown and politically completely inexperienced young woman named IRENE HARAND. It's hard to imagine a more atypical heroine.’
Bruce F. Pauley US-American historian

‘This woman .... had recognised what others should have recognised - but could not or would not recognise;...Irene Harand's example shows us what insights were possible and what consequences were avoided.’ Anton Pelinka e.’
Anton Pelinka Professor of Political Science, Historian historian

Wednesday, 6 November, 20:15 Discussion with historian Dr Christian Klösch and others, followed by a panel discussion.