illwerke vkw builds memorial to Nazi forced labourers

Energy provider illwerke vkw is building a memorial beside its headquarters in Vandans to commemorate victims of Nazi forced labour. The space will also serve as a place for people to meet and learn, ORF reports.

Thousands of foreign workers were employed in Vorarlberg under Nazi rule from 1938 to 1945. Some were forced to work on construction sites in the Montafon linked to the expansion of hydropower by the Vorarlberg Illwerke, the company said.

Their stories are part of the company’s history, illwerke vkw said. At Wednesday’s groundbreaking, chief executive Christof Germann said the Rodund memorial would provide a dignified space to preserve their memory.

The design takes inspiration from a Greek amphitheatre. Three curved tiers of seating will accommodate about 100 people in an open space set into the landscape beside the Rodund basin. Names and life stories connected to the Nazi period and forced labour will be incorporated into the structure, alongside historical information presenting different perspectives.

Illwerke vkw says the memorial is intended to be a place of remembrance and exchange for company employees, school groups and the public. The company is working with the Vorarlberg Museum on an education programme that may include guided tours, talks, readings, discussions and cultural events.

The company said it had committed to further remembrance and research initiatives during its centenary in 2024. It described the Rodund memorial as another step towards making this part of its history visible to future generations.