In a solemn ceremony held at the Austrian Consulate General in New York on July 13, 2021, Austrian citizenship was “restituted” to 92-year-old Holocaust Survivor Evelyn Konrad and five descendants of victims of National Socialist persecution.

The new Austrian citizens were welcomed by Consul General Helene Steinhäusl and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who personally handed over the citizenship certificates to Austria’s newest citizens.

In his remarks, the Federal Chancellor reminded the audience that Austria has a historic responsibility for the victims of National Socialism. He also expressed his gratitude to the new citizens for their willingness to accept Austrian citizenship and added "unfortunately, we cannot turn back time to undo what happened."

Evelyn Konrad, who had to leave Vienna after the “Anschluss” at the age of 11, told journalists at the ceremony “I am a lifelong Viennese, and now I am a citizen again. I appreciate the reconciliation. Thirty years ago I would have thought differently.”

Whereas victims of the National Socialist regime have been able to reclaim Austrian citizenship for many years, an amendment to Austrian citizenship law unanimously adopted by the Austrian Parliament in 2019 extended this option to their direct descendants. Since September 2020, more than 11,000 descendants filed for citizenship under the new rules.

Read more: Citizenship for Victims of the National Socialist Regime and their Direct Descendants (Austrian Consulate General New York)