Following revelations of serious abuse allegations against Hermann Gmeiner, the founder of SOS Children’s Villages who died in 1986, Austria has begun debating the many centers, streets, and public places named after him. Renamings are now being considered, and the removal of monuments is also under discussion—two statues have already been taken down in Imst. The province of Tyrol is reviewing whether to revoke state honors. Several mayors expressed shock over the allegations.
In Imst, Tyrol, where the first SOS Children’s Village opened in 1951, local officials said they were shocked by the accusations. Two monuments dedicated to Gmeiner—a bronze statue in front of the St. John’s Church and another in front of a care home—have already been removed and are being kept in storage at a municipal depot. Plans are also underway to rename a street, a kindergarten, and an elementary school. “There will be a complete break from everything bearing his name,” said Mayor Stefan Weirather (ÖVP) in a statement to APA on Friday. Child abuse, he said, “is simply beyond discussion.” The possible revocation of Gmeiner’s honorary citizenship in Imst is also being considered. “Since events are unfolding so rapidly and Gmeiner has been dead for so long, we first need to verify whether he was even granted honorary citizenship,” Weirather said. He stressed, however, that current SOS Children’s Villages employees “do outstanding work” and should be protected from “blanket condemnation.”
The mayor of the district capital criticized the organization’s leadership for keeping information secret for so long: “That such information was withheld for so long is unacceptable.” The SOS Children’s Village in Imst, he said, had long operated like a “glass dome” where internal matters were never made public.
Tyrol Begins Review Of State Honors
At the provincial level, Tyrol is also considering action against the late Gmeiner. The provincial government confirmed Friday that a “revocation review” had been initiated for honors previously bestowed upon him. Gmeiner had received the “Ring of the State of Tyrol” in 1980—the highest provincial distinction, requiring a parliamentary resolution—and the Tyrolean Medal of Honor in 1959.
According to Tyrol’s awards law, an honor is automatically revoked or posthumously withdrawn if facts later emerge that would have prevented its bestowal, such as a conviction for crimes against sexual integrity and self-determination. “The allegations now known are unquestionably incompatible with any distinction by the State of Tyrol,” the statement from the provincial government said. The accusations make a reassessment of the honors “urgently necessary.” Any formal revocation must follow the procedures of the relevant bodies.
The province said it was “deeply distressed” by the allegations. “The accusations must be taken seriously and fully clarified. The State of Tyrol has already requested the management of SOS Children’s Villages in Tyrol to provide all relevant data regarding any possible cases in the province,” it stated.
Renaming Discussions In Vienna
In Vienna, discussions have begun about renaming the Hermann Gmeiner Park in the city’s first district. City culture councillor Veronica Kaup-Hasler (SPÖ) told ORF Vienna she supports a renaming, provided the district submits an official request. District officials said a name change would be “unavoidable” if the allegations were confirmed. A bust of Gmeiner stands in the park, which the Greens have already called to be removed.
In Graz, officials are open to renaming Hermann Gmeiner Way in the southwestern district of Straßgang. “With what we know today, we would not have chosen Gmeiner as the namesake,” the mayor’s office (KPÖ) said in response to inquiries, adding that it was a short street with few houses, making the process manageable. No objections have been received so far. The matter must be handled by the city’s surveying office and approved by the municipal council.
Deputy Mayor Judith Schwentner (Greens) called for an “open and careful review.” Twenty-nine households would be affected. In Wildon, Styria, Mayor Christoph Grassmugg (ÖVP) told “Antenne Steiermark” that “it is no longer state of the art to continue giving such a platform” to someone with such allegations. The local Hermann Gmeiner Way has about 15 properties, and the mayor said he believes no one wants to live on a street with a “tainted” name.
In Kleinstübing, north of Graz, where the first Styrian SOS Children’s Village is located, a renaming of the Hermann Gmeiner Settlement is currently ruled out. “This is not an issue at the moment,” the mayor told Kleine Zeitung.
Debate Over Centers And Streets Nationwide
The SOS Children’s Villages organization itself is now considering how to handle Gmeiner’s legacy. The SOS-operated outpatient centers in Moosburg and Villach (“Hermann Gmeiner Centers”) in Carinthia may also be renamed, a spokesperson told Kleine Zeitung.
In Pinkafeld, Burgenland, the local SOS Children’s Village could soon have a new address. Currently located on Hermann Gmeiner Street, the site may be renamed, Mayor Kurt Maczek (SPÖ) told APA. He plans to bring the issue before the city council, saying that if the allegations are confirmed, “a name change must be seriously considered.”
In Klagenfurt, a street bearing Gmeiner’s name will also be discussed during next Tuesday’s city council meeting, according to Mayor Christian Scheider’s (FSP) office.
Gmeiner had been honored in numerous locations across Austria, with streets and pathways named after him in at least 14 municipalities, according to Statistics Austria.
Salzburg, Lower Austria, And Vorarlberg Also Review Names
In Salzburg, the city government will also discuss the issue in detail. “The allegations against SOS Children’s Villages founder Hermann Gmeiner have deeply shocked me,” said Salzburg Mayor Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ). “If the scope of these accusations is confirmed, we must act decisively and send a clear signal—there would be no way around renaming.” Auinger said he would consult with SOS Children’s Villages representatives and other municipalities facing similar naming issues. He emphasized the importance of direct dialogue with residents of Hermann Gmeiner Street.
Seekirchen am Wallersee Mayor Konrad Pieringer (ÖVP) declined to comment, saying he was not sufficiently informed about the matter. Seekirchen also has an SOS Children’s Village located on a street named after Gmeiner.
In St. Pölten, where there is a Hermann Gmeiner Alley, officials plan to install additional information plaques. These signs—using QR codes—will inform the public about individuals with “controversial” or “notable” street names, the city said. The initiative aims to bring awareness to both those who contributed positively and those connected to problematic histories.
In Hinterbrühl (Mödling District), discussions are expected on renaming Dr. Hermann Gmeiner Street and the Hermann Gmeiner School. “We must act with reason, balance, and according to the insights of our time,” Mayor Erich Moser (ÖVP) told APA.
In Gmeiner’s home province of Vorarlberg, the late founder was honored extensively. He is an honorary citizen of his birthplace, Alberschwende, where the community hall bears his name and a monument stands in his memory. “The image of Hermann Gmeiner, shaped over decades, has been severely shaken by the recent allegations,” Mayor Klaus Sohm said Friday. “The accusations cast a long shadow over his life’s work.” The municipality will deliberate carefully on how to handle the matter and hopes for full clarification for the victims.
In Dornbirn, both a park and a street are named after Gmeiner, and city officials are reportedly considering how to proceed. Gmeiner received the Golden Medal of Honor of the State of Vorarlberg in 1974. While revocation is possible for living recipients under certain conditions, posthumous withdrawal is not currently permitted by law.
The Greens have long criticized this limitation, citing the case of Natalie Beer, a pro-Nazi writer who received the Silver Medal of Honor in 1975. A change in the law, so far opposed by the ÖVP and FPÖ, could now gain momentum due to the Gmeiner case. The SPÖ also called Friday for a legal amendment to allow posthumous revocations in justified cases.
Provinces Demand Full Transparency
At a conference in Salzburg on Friday, Austria’s state ministers for child and youth affairs expressed themselves “deeply affected” by the latest revelations. They said they expect “full transparency and cooperation from SOS Children’s Villages, including the immediate and comprehensive provision of all documents necessary for a complete investigation.”
Salzburg’s regional councilor for social affairs, Wolfgang Fürweger (FPÖ), went further in a statement, calling for a “public apology without excuses or PR wording. A sincere acknowledgment of the suffering is long overdue.” He also demanded a thorough and transparent investigation, leading to a robust monitoring system to prevent future abuses. “Clarification does not mean appeasement; it means ending these wrongs once and for all,” Fürweger said. He added that the state expects a final report with clear structural measures by the end of 2026.
