The Austrian Encounter

Summary Mission Statement

The original and primary purpose of The Austrian Encounter (TAE) was and is to foster honest, revealing, thoughtful, ethical, intellectual, emotional and constructive encounters between descendants of victims of the Austrian component of the Holocaust (who are/were primarily but not exclusively Jewish, Roma or Sinti) and descendants of Austrian Nazi perpetrators and/or their collaborators who perpetrated in Austria (who are/were especially but not exclusively German and Austrian); "constructive" is meant importantly both interpersonally and internationally, and, as the dialogue(s) progress(es), often in the senses of a) providing leadership and coordination in this area, b) mollifying tensions and diminishing prejudices by deeply enhancing tolerance and understanding, and c) forging bridges and avenues of communication between individuals and groups with parallel, ethical intentions.

Summary History of Meetings

The Austrian Encounter (TAE) originally met in Vienna in June 1995 as a group of ~ thirteen people whose parents related primarily to Austria: sons and daughters of Holocaust victims (from the U.S.), and daughters and sons of Nazi perpetrators (from Austria and Germany). It was founded by Samson Munn, who facilitated for many years. The group has met many more times since 1995, mostly in Vienna but also in the Boston area (July 2000). TAE meets intensively and privately. TAE participants have been the subjects of positive newspaper articles, have written articles and chapters in books about such work, and have spoken publicly at open meetings in Berlin, in Boston, in Vienna and elsewhere.

Summary Financial Information

The Austrian Encounter may be financially supported by donation. A donation made to TRT would be gratefully received; donations are not tax-deductible. To make a donation, please contact either of the individuals listed below in the Contact section of this web page.

TAE has no paid employees. Thus,100 cents of your donated dollar go toward or TAE's work!

Thank you ! !

In-Depth Descriptions

For an in-depth discussion of the purpose, composition, activites and genesis of The Austrian Encounter:

Contact Information

Why "nach.ws" as our URL ?

In our case, the "ws" stands simply for "web site" — easy to remember !

"Nach" is a German word which (in different constructions) can mean "to", "toward" and "after." Since we in The Austrian Encounter address what and whom we came after, and what we look to and are striving toward, it is fitting that our address be:

nach.ws