FROM THE CONTENTS OF THE CURRENT ISSUE:

• KHD chairman Andreas Mölzer: KHD remains the country's patriotic conscience pages 4–5

KHD-Activ

• 10. October celebrations:
  • Commemoration of the Carinthian local associations Page 6-7
  • Speech by Gerhard Dörfler Page 6–9
  • Steinacher memorial Seite 8
  • Carinthian Freedom Commers Seite 8
  • Commemoration of the Consensus Group Seite 9
  • Gedenkn in Annabichl Seite 9
• Andreas Mölzer: Maintain peace in the country! Pages 10-11
• Carinthia's culture of remembrance in discourse Pages 12-13
• Franz Jordan:
  • Book presentation: "Bleiburg" Seite 14
  • Active German-speaking youth in Slovenia Seite 15
• Sweep in front of your own door! – a replica from KHD chairman Mölzer Seite 17

From the associations

• Marjan storm: Consensus Group Statement Seite 18
• Andreas Mölzer: Together for Carinthia Seite 19

Our Carinthia

• 30 Years of “plowing” pages 20-22
• KHD condemns acts of vandalism Seite 23
• Ernst Brandl: Council of Europe audit report tears apart Slovenia's language policy Pages 24-25
• “Until the day of decision”: Peter Wassertheurer's latest work Seite 26

This edition of the Kärntner iis naturally characterized by reports about the celebrations and discussions surrounding the Carinthian state holiday, so that 10. Oktober.

It all started with a discussion in the Klagenfurt State Museum about the local culture of remembrance, which was initiated by the Carinthian Homeland Service. KHD boss Andreas Mölzer, together with the director of the Carinthian History Association Wilhelm Wadl and the representative of the Carinthian Consensus Group Marjan Sturm, met with the far-left representatives of the University of Klagenfurt, the Domplatz Initiative and the State Museum were discussed. Konsens konnte dabei natürlich keiner erzielt werden.

Then we continued with the celebrations for the national holiday itself, with the home associations already on 9. October held a ceremony in the Klagenfurt Landhaushof. Festredner war Alt-Landeshauptmann Gerhard Dörfler.

Afterwards there was a commemoration of Hans Steinacher at his monument in Miklauzhof and a joint commemoration with the Slovenian General Masters Association at the memorial plaque for those who fell on both sides in the border fighting 1918/19 am Friedhof in Völkermarkt.

Der Kärntner Heimatdienst und seine Mitarbeiter waren jedenfalls in den vergangenen Tagen und Wochen hoch aktiv.

Commemorating the defensive struggle and referendum of the Carinthian homeland- and traditional associations in the Klagenfurt Landhaushof on the day before the state holiday took place for the second time. Welcomed by the President of the State Parliament, Reinhard Rohr, and the Mayor of Klagenfurt, Christian Scheideer, came in front of the Carinthian Unity Monument, As is well known, the home associations include over a hundred Carinthian patriots, um bei Klängen der Sängerrunde Emmersdorf und der Khevenhüller Kapelle ein feierliches Gedenken zu begehen.

After the greetings from KHD – Chairman Andreas Mölzer, who also had critical words about the commemorative year 2025 found, and the chairman of the Kanaltaler Kulturverein Karl-Heinz Moschitz, the youth speech by Villach student Helena Wallner was the first highlight of the event. Sie zeichnete die Vision eines freien und sicheren Kärntner Heimatlandes für die Jugend.

The ceremonial speech was given by former state governor Gerhard Dörfler,
who once again pleaded for understanding and reconciliation between the German Carinthian majority population and the Slovenian ethnic group. Sein leidenschaftliches Bekenntnis für ein zukunftsweisendes Heimatgefühl und für eine Erhaltung des Friedens im Lande in der Zeit weltweiter Krisen beeindruckte die Zuhörer.

A church blessing, The traditional wreath-laying ceremony and the Carinthian local song concluded the successful event, which was routinely moderated by Bruno Burchhard. Although this was boycotted by the Carinthian Defense Fighters Association - they were not ready, to accept the keynote speaker Gerhard Dörfler – the homeland- und Traditions-Verbände des Landes damit neuerlich ein Zeichen des gelebten Patriotismus und der Kärntner Heimatliebe setzen.

Celebration of the Carinthian referendum from 10. Oktober 1920

When: Thursday, the 9. October 2025, one 11 watch
Wo: Sea of ​​the Carinthian unit in the Landhaushof in Klagenfurt

It would be an honor and joy,
To welcome you

Participant:
► Hunting horn players Rosental
► Carinthian flag wing
► Singing round Emmersdorf
► PFARERER MAG. Erich Ickelsheimer
► Moderation: Dr. Bruno Burchhart

program:
► Fanfare
► Welcome
► Carinthian flag wing
► Special greeting
► Music
► Greetings from guests of honor:
Landtag president Ing. Reinhart Rohr
Mayor of Klagenfurt Christian Scheider
► Network: Andreas Mölzer (KHD chairman)
► Music
► Fanfare
► Speech of the youth: Helena Wallner
► Greetings:
D.I. Karlheinz Moschitz (Volksdeutsche)
Dr. Massimiliano Lacotta (Italy)
Ivo Vrhuninc (Slovenia)
► Music
► Speech: Gerhard Doerfler (Governor a.d.)
► Music
► Prayer and intercession
► Nutrition of wreaths under the sounds of the "comrade" song
► Carinthian home song

“Where you can do with blood
The border wrote …“

It was the Carinthian defense fight, who brought a rethink with the victorious powers of the First World War, was zur Anordnung einer Volksabstimmung in Kärnten führte.
At the end of the First World War, the various peoples of the Habsburg Danube monarchy called for their own state. So the Südslavs claimed for their SHS state (Serbs Croatians, Slovenes) also parts of Carinthia. Without warning, the SHS troops marched into Carinthia. The Carinthians defended themselves against this land robbery under the leadership of the state administrator Dr. Arthur Lemisch und des Militärkommandanten Wilhelm Hülgerth im Abwehrkampf mit militärischem Widerstand.
Despite military setbacks, the Carinthian referendum on 10. October 1920, The one after the intellectual defensive struggle of the historic Carinthian home service, Under the direction of Hans Steinacher, im „Kampf um die Herzen“ zum Erfolg führte und Kärntens Einheit und Freiheit brachte.

ORF “Kärnten today” from 9. Oktober 2024

Around 300 Guests gathered in the morning 9. October in the Carinthian country house. The working group of Carinthian traditional associations invited people to the site of Carinthian unity, die im Eigentum des Kärtner Heimatdienstes und des Kärntner Abwehrkämpferbundes steht zum Gedenken die Opfer des Kärntner Abwehrkampfes und zur Feier der Kärntner Volksabstimmung ein.

After greetings from the First President of the Carinthian State Parliament, Reinhart Rohr, and the mayor of Klagenfurt, representatives of the Carinthian Defensive Fighters' Association and the Carinthian Windische, among others, commemorated the victims of the defensive struggle. The warning speech, to fill up old ditches, said the chairman of the Carinthian Homeland Service Andreas Mölzer. Hans Steinacher's great-grandson was in charge of the youth, Bernd Steinacher in seine Rede in die Zukunft.

Nach der Niederlegung wurde die würdige Feierlichkeit mit dem Kärntner Heimatlied beendet.

Report in the Kleine Zeitung (6. October 2024) in advance of the event:

FROM THE CONTENTS OF THE CURRENT ISSUE:

• KHD chairman Andreas Mölzer: at escort Seite 3

10. October

• Our referendum commemoration Pages 4-6

Old conflicts – new collaborations

• The scientific KHD symposium Page 7-8
• Meeting of cultures in Bleiburg Kulturni Cathedral Seite 9
• Peter Wasserheurer: Discuss old conflicts comprehensively Pages 10-11
• Marjan storm: Some thoughts on the 10. October celebrations 2023 Seite 12
• Erwin Angerer: Slovenia-Austria: "Without Borders" pages 14-15
• Filip Ogris-Martic: Carinthia as a business location Pages 15-17
• Wolfgang Pucher: Carinthia's industry and its international connections Pages 18-21
• Christof Zernatto im Interview pages 20-21
• Presseschau Page 22-23

Our Carinthia

• Civil defense: Carinthia is well equipped Pages 24-25
• Rudolf Schober im Interview Seite 24

From Carinthia's history

• Reinhold Gasper
  • 10. October – commemoration of victims Seite 26
  • 1754 Storm disaster on Lake Wörthersee Seite 27
  • Benediktinermarkt: 230 years anniversary Seite 27

This edition of “Kärntner” is of course entirely under the sign of 10. October. We report on the commemorations, in which the home service took part and also document our thoughts for deserving members of the KHD, an deren Gräber Bouquets niedergelegt wurden.
The focus of this issue is also on the scientific symposium, which the home service carries out every year in September. This time it was all about “old conflicts and new collaborations.”. The keynote speeches by the speakers and discussants are reproduced in full. On the one hand, the statements by the KAB historian Wassertheurer and the Slovenian Stergar on the subject of “old conflicts”. And on the other hand, the comments from the manager Ogris-Matic, from FPÖ boss Angerer and the representative of the Pucher Industrial Association on the topic of “new cooperations”. Darüber hinaus findet sich ein Interview mit Alt-Landeshauptmann Zernatto.
Finally there is an interview with Rudi Schober, the head of civil defense in Carinthia and historical reports from our employee Reinhold Gasper

Memorial words from KHD chairman Josef Feldner

Ladies and gentlemen! Ladies and gentlemen

We are unveiling a plaque today, on which fallen fighters are named by both sides, but not according to national, state or military affiliation, but according to the alphabet. With this we are writing a new chapter in the cross-border culture of remembrance and have been setting an act of reconciliation that is unique in Austria in the pursuit of overcoming both sides 100 Jahren bestehenden Aversionen und Misstrauen.

But there is still a long way to go, especially in 100 Years ago, here and there, branded nationalisms, combined with a one-sided view of history, jegliches Bemühen um Versöhnung im Keim erstickten.

As beautiful and important as it is, at workshops, to advocate understanding and reconciliation in seminars or other events, it is so ineffective, wenn die wichtigen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse nicht auch in die Tat umgesetzt werden.

We in the Carinthian Consensus Group didn't just talk, we have acted and nailed our heads:

Starting with the compromise on the signposts sixteen years ago, which has become the basis for a finite place-name sign solution, bis zu unseren seit Jahren jeweils im Oktober durchgeführten gemeinsamen Veranstaltungen im Gedenken an die Opfer beider Kampfparteien.

With great success, that after initial hesitation, in the year 2016 for the first time also top representatives of the "General Maister Association" – Nachkommen unserer einstigen militärischen Gegner aus Slowenien – teilgenommen haben.

But we don't want to be satisfied with that either! With our plaque we want to take this important step towards reconciliation, visible and tangible for everyone, öffentlich dokumentieren als bleibendes Monument eines gelungenen Kapitels im Bereich der Vergangenheitsbewältigung.

Yet: We must not let up in our reconciliation work. Too many people with both tongues have yet to be convinced of the necessity, overcome linguistic and ethnic barriers. Not just to consolidate peaceful coexistence, but also to face the enormous challenges that threaten the world together. Darüber hinaus wollen wir aber auch europaweit Vorbildwirkung erzielen und zur Nachahmung anregen.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Even if a lot, there is a lot to do, so we can already say in view of a largely conflict-free coexistence of the people in the once hotly contested Carinthian border region:

The defensive battle is over!

Today we can increasingly use our forces away from opposing one another for a fruitful togetherness. Das kommt auch der slowenischen Volksgruppe im Streben nach Festigung und Weiterentwicklung ihrer sprachlichen und ethnischen Besonderheit zugute.

Even after the First World War, the minorities in all of Europe did not do well for much too long. But also after the National Socialist terror regime was smashed, in which the minority has been threatened with extinction, waren auch in der Zweiten Republik die Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten unserer slowenischen Mitbürger nicht zufriedenstellend.

I say that quite self-critically as someone, who has always seen ethnic group rights in the civil society area static and not dynamic, was etwa in der Ortstafelfrage mit zu einem jahrzehntelangem Stillstand beigetragen hat.

Today there is a departure from static adherence to the letter of Article 7 of the State Treaty 1955 The Slovene ethnic group also has new opportunities for linguistic and cultural development. A willingness to engage in dialogue and a sense of proportion should be demonstrated:

For further development in a biotope, in welchem Mehrheit wie Minderheit befreit von gegenseitigen Schuldzuweisungen und frei von Misstrauen und Aversionen ihre Sprache und Kultur pflegen können.

Ladies and gentlemen!

When today we celebrate the common commemoration of the victims as an important act of reconciliation, as documented on a memorial plaque, then for the Carinthian Heimatdienst this does not mean turning away from its sense of tradition. In addition to maintaining our common culture and our German mother tongue, we will continue to honor the Carinthian defensive fighters in the future, just as we show understanding, für das Gedenken in Slowenien an die Kämpfer um die Nordgrenze.

With mutual respect, without any pretense, free from aversions and distrust, we can also adopt the words of the Slovenian national poet France Prešeren from his toast Zdravljica as a common cultural asset:

"Long live all peoples, who longingly wait for the day, that under this sun the world renounces the old strife! Then everyone is free, not enemy, only neighbor from now on!

image: fritzpress