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References to the Nazi era: Viennese church covers glass windows
The Protestant Pauluskirche in Vienna has its stained glass windows covered because of references to the Nazi era. photo
© Albert Otti/dpa
Among other things, an “Aryan”-looking Jesus can be seen on the windows. The church has now covered the problematic images with fabric – the windows will soon be replaced.
The windows were designed in the 1960s by the Austrian painter Rudolf Böttger (1887-1973), who also worked in Bavaria. During the Nazi era he was a member of the NSDAP and an official in the “Gaukulturrat” in Vienna. According to Petri, the problematic biblical images on the windows include a girl with blonde braids who looks like a girl from the Hitler Youth and an “Aryan”-looking Jesus. In addition, Jews are portrayed in a stereotypically defamatory manner. “We don’t want that anymore,” said Petri.
There has been an explanatory board about the problematic windows in the church since 2003. It took until now to decide to cover and replace the windows because some community members didn’t want any change, Petri said. Böttger’s windows should not disappear completely, but rather be converted into a “memorial place” in the church. “We don’t want to erase that at all,” said the pastor.
Böttger lived in Bavaria after the Second World War. According to his biographer Florian Jung, he created, among other things, murals on residential buildings and schools in Deggendorf as well as works for sacred buildings in Hofkirchen and Osterhofen.