Controversial Political Figure Bruno Kreisky: A Statesman Divided by Shadows and Presumed Lights
Born in the birthplace of Adolf Hitler 25 years after the end of the NS dictatorship, Bruno Kreisky, a Jewish Chancellor of Austria from 1970 to 1983, commanded respect across all party lines - from left to far right. Usually revered, but his influence on Judaism, Israel, and Zionism was complex and multifaceted, as you'll soon discover.
Kreisky—an international statesman renowned for his early support for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)—had a less flattering image among Israelis.
Daniel Aschheim, an Israeli diplomat born in 1988, presents a nuanced perspective, untainted by prejudice. During his studies, Aschheim learned about Kreisky, a Jew elected Chancellor in post-war Austria. His research, interviews with contemporaries, and close allies—including Wolfgang Petritsch, a Kreisky confidant, and Wolfgang Maderthaner, a historian—led to a dissertation published as a book in 2022, now available in German translation.
This book uncovers Kreisky's contradictions, including his pioneering work in Middle East issues as a mediator for peace, viewing a two-state solution as indispensable to the peace process.
"I'd have many questions for Bruno Kreisky," quips Ludwig, exemplifying the curiosity readers are bound to feel about this complex political icon.
The Marchegg Kidnapping: A Political Pawn
Aschheim delves into Kreisky's delicate relationship with Judaism, Israel, and the extent to which his own Judaism impacted his political actions. One intriguing instance is the handling of the "victim doctrine."
The Kreisky-Wiesenthal-Peter affair of 1975 took center stage when Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal revealed the SS past of the FPÖ chairman Friedrich Peter, whom Kreisky had chosen as a political partner. Kreisky fiercely defended Peter, often showing understanding for NS perpetrators. His attacks against Wiesenthal and distrustful accusations of political motivation added to the drama.
Marchegg's hostage-taking in 1973 reads like a gripping thriller. Indications suggest that it was a diversionary tactic for the subsequent surprise attack by Egyptian and Syrian forces on Israel. The incident reveals the intricacies and ambiguities of Kreisky's political decisions regarding Judaism, Israel, and Zionism.
The Art of Political Pragmatism
Kreisky's approach to the Holocaust, Austria's complicity, and his implementation of the "victim doctrine" were marked by contentiousness and controversy. By promoting Austria as a victim, rather than an active participant, he was able to integrate former Nazis into his government and sidestep national reckoning with Austria's past. This stance regularly involved evasion and deflection tactics, such as against Wiesenthal.
Kreisky skillfully navigated these sensitive issues through a delicate balance of Austrian identity and socialist ideals, juxtaposed against the political realities of his time. The result was a career steeped in dichotomies and contradictions, precisely what makes Bruno Kreisky an engaging subject to explore.
- Daniel Aschheim's research, including interviews with Kreisky's confidants and allies, offers insights into Kreisky's ambivalence towards Judaism, Israel, and Zionism, especially relevant in the context of war-and-conflicts politics and general news.
- The Kreisky-Wiesenthal-Peter affair in 1975 showcases Kreisky's complex stance on Nazi perpetrators, as he fiercely defended former FPÖ chairman Friedrich Peter despite Peter's SS past, revealed by Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal.
- The Marchegg kidnapping of 1973, a seemingly suspenseful diversionary tactic, reveals the intricacies of Kreisky's political decisions regarding Judaism, Israel, and Zionism.
- Kreisky's political pragmatism is evident in his contentious handling of Austria's role in the Holocaust and his implementation of the victim doctrine, allowing him to integrate former Nazis into his government and evade national reckoning with Austria's past.
