Vienna does not want to commemorate the king of Poland. Storm around the new monument

In the capital of Austria, the conflict over the monument to the Polish king, Jan III Sobieski, is growing. Although the monument has already been approved and constructed, the Vienna authorities withdrew their prior consent to erect it. The decision caused tension between Warsaw and Vienna.

The monument was to be placed on Kahlenberg Hill – a symbolic place for European history. It was from there that on September 12, 1683, John III Sobieski led the allied troops into a decisive battle against the army of the Ottoman Empire, thus breaking the siege of Vienna.

The idea to build a monument appeared already in 2013. Formal permission was granted in 2018, but implementation was postponed over the following years. Why?

“It calls for xenophobia.” The councilor’s objection to the monument

Recently, left-wing city councilor Aslıhan Bozatemur – a politician of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, SPÖ) ruling in Vienna, with Turkish roots – announced that her party would continue to block the initiative.

She stated on social media that “there is no place in Vienna for a monument that incites xenophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Turkish sentiments.”

She also emphasized that memorial sites should “present the historical context in a diverse and balanced way” and must not “become a tool leading to discrimination and exclusion.”

Diplomatic tension between Poland and Austria

The Polish authorities reacted to Vienna’s decision. Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz, ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Austria, recalled that the city had already declared its consent to the monument. He noted that the monument has already been made and is currently located in Poland.

The diplomat pointed out that in Vienna there are forms of commemoration of other historical figures, including those that are controversial. He asked why different standards were applied to the king often called the “savior of Vienna”.

The Vienna authorities argue that John III Sobieski is already commemorated in the Austrian capital – politicians point to the existing monument on Kahlenberg and the streets and squares bearing his name. However, the Polish side believes that the current form is only symbolic.

– It’s just the plinth, and the inscription is barely legible – noted Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz.

“Historical amnesia”?

Representatives of the Freedom Party of Austria (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs, FPÖ) described the situation as a “scandal” and a manifestation of “historical amnesia”. They also emphasize that the victory of 1683 was one of the most important moments in the history of Vienna and all of Central Europe.

However, politicians of the Austrian People’s Party (Österreichische Volkspartei, ÖVP) point out that integration also means acceptance of the country’s history and traditions.