The exhibition Brüche in der Geschichte der Sozialen Arbeit. Verfolgung und Widerstand im Nationalsozialismus in Wien (Ruptures in the History of Social Work. Persecution and Resistance under National Socialism in Vienna), curated by Irene Messinger, is on display from May 4 to September 30 at Verteilerkreis Favoriten (mittendrin.wien).

The majority of Viennese welfare workers under National Socialism complied with the regime. When their colleagues were stripped of their rights, dismissed, forced to flee, or murdered, and only a minority was actively involved in resistance. Jewish organizations were dissolved, and many representatives of progressive initiatives — such as reform pedagogy — were driven out. At the same time, welfare work was put in the service of Nazi ideology. The profession of social work suffered a profound rupture as a result of the fascist regime’s policies: knowledge, training programs, and institutions were destroyed, and many were never rebuilt after the war.

This exhibition portraits eight women: three who were significant for the development of the profession (Ilse Arlt, Else Federn, Franzi Löw), and five who had a connection to Favoriten and were active in the resistance, yet have remained largely unknown until now: Hilde Böhmer, Emanuela Kielmansegg, Leopoldine Kummer, Elfriede Lichtenberg, and Hedy Schwarz.

This exhibition is based on several years of research into the history of social work between 1934 and 1945. The curator, Irene Messinger, is Professor of Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences, Campus Vienna. For her habilitation at the Institute of Contemporary History, University of Vienna, she reconstructed the life histories of 80 persecuted social workers. Eight of these 80 biographies are presented in the exhibition.

The research draws on personnel records from the City of Vienna, documents from archives in Austria and abroad, contemporary publications, letters, and memoirs by contemporaries, descendants, and friends.

The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the responsibility, agency and the ethical foundations of the profession — then and now.

The research was funded by Hochschule Campus Wien, the Zukunftsfonds and the Nationalfonds of the Republic of Austria, and the City of Vienna (MA7). The exhibition is realized in cooperation with mittendrin.wien.

The academic publication in German consists of two volumes and is available Open Access: Volume 1 describes the historical, political, and institutional framework of social work in Austria. Volume 2 presents the 80 biographies, accompanied by photographs and documents.

Verfolgung und Widerstand von Fürsorgerinnen aus Wien 1934-45. Kollektivbiografische Studie zur Geschichte Sozialer Arbeit (Volume 1 >>>)
Pionierinnen und Grenzgängerinnen der Sozialen Arbeit. 80 Biografien verfolgter Fürsorgerinnen aus Wien (Volume 2 >>>)

Image credits / copyright from left to right

Elfriede Lichtenberg, vor 1938,Wien,Privatarchiv Ruth Contreras.
Hedy Schwarz im Kindergarten Goethehof, ca. 1932-1934, Privatarchiv Zoe Doye.