Welcome to the website dedicated to the 650 years of University of Vienna history.
This history is presented through varied approaches via hypertextually connected content.
Topical access allows comprehensive insights with over 70 topics and articles in English.
Temporal and spatial references can be found on the interactive timeline and map.
Current topic
40 Years since the Waldheim Affair
During the 1986 presidential campaign, Austrian and international media revealed Kurt Waldheim’s concealed past as a Wehrmacht officer and his possible involvement in crimes committed during the Nazi era. Despite fierce criticism both at home and abroad, Waldheim won the runoff election on June 8, 1986. However, the affair led to a broad societal debate about the involvement of Austrians in Nazi crimes and to a shift away from the “victim narrative” regarding Austria. At the University of Vienna as well, a more systematic examination of National Socialism within the institution began in 1986 and continued with the “Year of Reflection” in 1988 (marking 50 years since the “Anschluss” to the German Reich).
Interested?
Seven main topics
Persons
Currently more than 3,400 individuals with particular importance to the university history of Vienna are gathered in this profile database. This database includes basic data about the individuals, their functions (e.g. rector) and honors, as well as a growing number of short biographies.
See also main topic Actors
Images
The display depot offers an image-oriented approach to the website’s contents.
You can research in it with the help of filter and search functions.
Buildings
This category includes important historical and current university buildings with brief information on each building’s history.
These can be located on historic and current maps of Vienna and can be contextualized with the help of additional texts via links within the website.








