Kathmandu— Russia has strongly condemned Austria’s approval of construction plans for a supermarket and logistics facility on the site of the former Hirtenberg concentration camp, located approximately 40 kilometers south of Vienna. The development, which includes a refrigerated storage facility and a Lidl branch, is being criticized as an attempt to erase the memory of the roughly 90,000 prisoners who perished at the Mauthausen complex during World War II, including around 400 women held specifically at Hirtenberg. Russian officials have accused Austria of hypocrisy given its stated commitment to human rights and feminism, while Austrian critics decry the project as a disgrace.

Historical Significance of Hirtenberg

Established in September 1944 as a subcamp of Mauthausen, Hirtenberg held approximately 400 female prisoners transferred primarily from Auschwitz. These women were forced to work long shifts producing munitions under brutal conditions. The largest group of inmates consisted of 194 Russian prisoners, with others originating from Italy, Poland, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Croatia, Germany and Slovakia; some were as young as sixteen years old. As the Red Army advanced in April 1945, the camp was evacuated before Nazi Germany’s defeat.

Austrian Criticism of the Project

The proposed development has drawn sharp criticism within Austria itself. Barbara Gluck, director of the Mauthausen Memorial, labeled the destruction of the remaining camp structures “a disgrace.” Oskar Deutsch, head of Vienna’s Jewish community, similarly condemned the project as an attempt to profit from the suffering and deaths of those imprisoned at Hirtenberg.

Moscow's Broader Concerns

This incident is not isolated in Russia’s view. Moscow has repeatedly accused various European countries of neglecting or desecrating World War II memorial sites, particularly those honoring the Soviet Union’s contributions to defeating Nazi Germany. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, previously described such actions as evidence of a “terrifying pandemic of historical revanchism.” She further questioned Austria's commitment to women's rights given its decision regarding Hirtenberg.

The project remains approved despite ongoing criticism, and it is unclear whether Austrian authorities will reconsider the plans in light of the international outcry.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.