Austrian commemorative culture often focuses on historically clearly marked sites of Nazi terror, such as concentration camps or forced labor sites. Far less attention is paid to those buildings that are now functional components of public life, but which were integrated into structures of power, repression, or propaganda during the Nazi era. These include, for example, government buildings, courts, police stations, and educational institutions.

These places are of particular relevance. They do not represent museum-like history, but rather institutional continuity. Their historical dimension therefore directly raises questions of modern ownership responsibility and responsible corporate governance.

Against this backdrop, the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG) initiated the research project “Contaminated Heritage?”. The aim is to systematically investigate which of the properties currently owned by BIG were demonstrably involved in National Socialist violence and repression between 1938 and 1945 – for example, through use by the Gestapo, SS, organizations close to the Nazi Party, or judicial authorities – and how this historical burden can be documented in a scientifically sound, comprehensible, and transparent manner.

Ownership means responsibility, not only economic but also historical. It creates long-term bonds between the state, institutions, and society.

For BIG, as one of the largest property owners in the republic, the question therefore arises as to what role individual properties played during National Socialism and how to deal with this past transparently.

With the disappearance of eyewitnesses, the need for reliable, scientifically sound foundations grows – not least against the backdrop of growing historical revisionist tendencies.

The project “Contaminated Legacy?” is therefore not intended as a retrospective gesture, but as a contribution to the responsibility of a state-owned corporation whose strategy is characterized by transparency, traceability and social responsibility.

Scientific foundation through independent expertise

To establish a methodologically sound foundation, BIG launched a competition in autumn 2023 for the scientific implementation of the project in the form of a pilot study. An international panel of experts selected the concept of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on the Consequences of War in early 2024, an institute with proven expertise in the analysis of National Socialist structures of violence and their institutional entrenchment.

The pilot study started in mid-2024 and was designed to last twelve months. The aim was not only to examine individual buildings historically, but also to develop a systematic methodology that enables a structured evaluation.

The pilot study: Methodology and structure

BIG manages approximately 2,000 properties. For a realistic and scientifically manageable starting point, the pilot study focused on 74 buildings from the portfolio of ARE (Austria Real Estate), a wholly owned subsidiary of BIG, located in the federal states of Vienna and surrounding areas, as well as Styria. These properties were built before 1945 and already exhibited historical indications of potential Nazi-related use.

A key outcome of the study is the development of a questionnaire that makes it possible to determine the level of pollution and subsequently serves to analyze the buildings systematically and structurally. This ensures that the investigation is not only scientifically sound but also scalable and transparent.

The answers to the questions are intended to clarify the institutional affiliation during the Nazi era, uncover specific forms of use, document personal entanglements, and shed light on involvement in structures of violence or repression.

This methodological approach is not limited to BIG's portfolio, but is fundamentally transferable to other real estate holdings. The project thus also contributes to the further development of scientific standards in the field of institutional provenance and usage history.

Quality Control

The academic work was overseen by an international advisory board of experts, bringing together specialists in contemporary history, real estate, and Jewish history. The board evaluated the methodology, interim results, and communication strategies, ensuring that the project met both academic and societal requirements.

Especially when dealing with sensitive historical issues, this institutional safeguarding is crucial to ensure transparency and credibility.

From research to communication

The project does not end with the submission of a research report on the pilot study. Rather, BIG views the analysis and processing of the findings as a long-term process. Guided by the principle of "Science to Public," formats are currently being developed to make the results accessible in a differentiated and contextualized manner.

This approach takes into account that the buildings differ significantly in terms of use, location, and public perception. Therefore, communication formats must be designed specifically for each building – ranging from scholarly documentation and digital information services to site-specific contextualizations.

The aim of the mediation is to shape the culture of remembrance not in an abstract way, but in a place-specific and institutionally anchored manner.

Transparency and sustainability

The project “Contaminated Heritage?” demonstrates that historical responsibility can be, and should be, an integral part of modern, sustainable corporate governance within the public sector. Transparent investigation strengthens institutional integrity, adopts long-term perspectives, and creates a sound basis for decision-making. It enables the early identification of contaminated properties, their objective assessment, and appropriate communication.

Sustainability encompasses not only ecological and economic dimensions, but also historical and social responsibility.

Conclusion

The close cooperation between BIG and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on the Consequences of War ensures the scientific quality of the study and guarantees methodological traceability.

With its initiative, BIG demonstrates how a historically significant topic can be professionally addressed: through clear methods, external expertise, and a sensitive, quality-assured structure. Within Austria, this creates a reference model for dealing with historical issues within the framework of modern ESG standards.

BIG's transparency about the past will strengthen trust in the present and future.