Bundespräsident Heinz Fischer, Nationalratspräsidentin Doris Bures und die Spitze der österr. Bundesregierung legten Kränze nieder. Zahlreiche Botschafter europäischer Staaten nahmen an dem Festakt teil. 

Zur offiziellen Befreiungsfeier zogen Chöre aus aller Welt ein. Der Chief Cantor der IDF sowie der Rabbinate Choir des IDF wirkten mit. Sie trugen zum Abschluß der Zeremonie das Gebet "El Male Rachamim" vor.

Botschafter Zvi Heifetz führte die israelische Delegation an und hielt eine Rede anläßlich der Gedenkfeier, die wir hier wiedergeben:

"Dear all,
Today, once again, we remember here, in Mauthausen – the Shoa, the holocaust.

But perhaps, this year is somewhat special as it marks 70 years since the liberation of the death and concentration camps. 70 years have passed since Mauthausen was freed. Exactly 70 years and 5 days ago, on May 5th 1945, the camp at Mauthausen was approached by a squad of US Army Soldiers of the 41st Reconnaissance Squadron of the US 11th Armored Division.  The troop disarmed the policemen and left the camp.

No big parades. No trumpets. Liberation came almost stealthily.

Of course it was not that simple.

War has been raging in Europe for nearly six years. Millions have lost their lives. Out of them – 6 million Jews who were targeted solely because they were Jewish. The Nazi machinery was directed to rid the world of this course – the course of the Jews.

Today, the IKG as representatives of the Jewish people, I as the representative of the State of Israel – the homeland of the Jews, and thankfully, you as representatives of Austria - remember. We remember the sounds. We remember the sights. We remember the names of those who perished.

And yet, while we remember the past, we are also very aware of the present. We are aware that anti-Semitism is once again raising its ugly head in Europe. The latest events in Brussels, Paris and Copenhagen are only the most violent and vile ones. Also here, in Austria, anti-Semitic incidents nearly doubled in the past year.

We are here today to remember the victims of the Shoa, particularly, the Austrian Jewish victims of the Shoa. But we are also here to make sure that every child in Austria not only knows about it and about Austria's part in it, but also understands the importance of preventing such horrors in the future and that each and every one of them feels a personal responsibility to do so if such a need shall arise.

While we remember the horrors of the past, the dangers of the present, we do not lose sight of the future. We do not lose sight of vision and rebirth, of construction and creation. We look ahead, and step into the future. In Israel, the homeland of the Jews, we continue to build a magnificent country; we continue to strive to construct another world, a safe world, full of promise - for us and for future generations.

There are those who mistakenly think that the State of Israel is some form of compensation for the Holocaust. There is no greater mistake. The State of Israel is NOT a compensation for the Holocaust. The State of Israel was established, in its own right, out of a love and longing for an ancient homeland, by virtue of a dream that came true, a dream that became a reality. Not out of fear of extinction or out of hatred of the other.

Yes, there are those who call for the destruction of Israel. Yes, there are those who refuse to recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jews. I can assure you; Israel will continue its struggle against them and will not surrender. However, the horrors of the past and the threats of the present, will not dictate our lives, nor shape the lives of our children. They will not dim our hopes for a future of creation and prosperity.

So today, we look back and remember. But we also look forward to the future and shape it with all the wisdom we have gained in more than 3000 years of Jewish history. I hope you will share with us both these endeavors.

Thank you."

(Botschafter Zvi Heifetz, 10.5.15)