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Austria and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations since 1956. The Israel-Austria stamp is dedicated to Simon Wiesenthal, who lived and worked in Vienna, Austria.
Simon Wiesenthal was born in 1908 in Galicia, then a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He studied architecture and worked in his profession until the persecution of the Jews began. After having lived through the hell of 13 work and concentration camps, he dedicated his life to the search for Nazi criminals.
Untiring, for many years, against all odds, and without any support or financial means, he persevered. Thanks to his efforts more than 1,100 war criminals were brought to justice, among them Eichmann, responsible for the systematic execution of the Final Solution; Franz Stangl, the commandant of Treblinka; Hermine Braunsteiner, the notorious wardress of Ravensbrueck and Majdanek; and Karl Silberbauer, the man who arrested Anne Frank.
The Holocaust dominated his life in all its facets, from documenting its history to collecting evidence of the unspeakable crimes perpetrated against Jews, from preparing testimonials for trials to dealing with the philosophical questions of humanity against a background of inhumanity. Wiesenthal fought relentlessly for public awareness of the Holocaust and against
anti-Semitism and prejudice. He wrote articles and books, gave lectures and spoke out against injustice towards minorities.
Wiesenthal died in 2005 in Vienna and is hurried in Herzliya, Israel.
Simon Wiesenthal's life motto was Justice not Vengeance.
The technique used in the production of
this joint issue is a world premiere!
The stamps were manufactured with
innovative laser etching & lacing
technology as well as laser philatelic
perforation.
