Young Men Face Trial For Playing Hitler’s Speech In ÖBB Train

Young Men Face Trial For Playing Hitler’s Speech In ÖBB Train

ÖBB/Roland Rudolph
ÖBB/Roland Rudolph

On Wednesday, an unusual trial took place at the Vienna Regional Court involving two young men who, in May 2023, played a Hitler speech over the loudspeaker system of an ÖBB Railjet train traveling between St. Pölten and Vienna.

After continuing to prank the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) by fraudulently obtaining hotel stays and taking control of an ÖBB train engine to impersonate train conductors, the pair had to answer for their actions in court.

The incident on the ÖBB Railjet garnered significant media attention. The two young men accessed the train’s communication system using a special key typically reserved for ÖBB staff. Instead of the usual onboard announcements, they broadcasted a Hitler speech accompanied by “Heil Hitler” and “Sieg Heil” chants. The investigation, aided by surveillance camera images, revealed the perpetrators, who admitted to neo-Nazi activities and had no prior criminal record, allowing them to avoid prosecution through a diversion program. They agreed to participate in “Dialogue Instead of Hate” through the Neustart association, leading the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office to suspend the case, sparing them from trial conditionally.

However, the ÖBB issued them a ban from using their services and accessing their facilities, which the two admitted was difficult for them when they appeared before Judge Katharina Adegbite-Lewy. The younger of the two, an 18-year-old, admitted, “We are train enthusiasts,” expressing regret for not pursuing an apprenticeship with ÖBB. He had met his co-defendant, a 21-year-old trained mechatronics technician who also loved trains, locomotives, and rail routes, on Instagram.

On March 1, 2024, the two climbed onto a train engine at Leobersdorf station, part of a ready-to-depart commuter train bound for Vienna. They explained to the judge that the engine was a special 1144 series locomotive. The 21-year-old said, “We just wanted to ride to Vienna on this old locomotive. The Westbahn only has modern trains, which aren’t as interesting. I wanted to experience an old locomotive again.”

The pair allegedly entered the unlocked locomotive door, accessed the driver’s cabin, engaged an auxiliary brake, and pressed several buttons on the control panel. This was noticed by the train conductor, who, when attempting to operate the front control car, observed warning lights illuminating. “I realized something was wrong,” the 34-year-old conductor testified. Upon inspecting the entire train, he discovered the two defendants in the rear engine, posing as train conductors and wearing ÖBB shirts. When he demanded their ÖBB IDs, they accused him of incompetence, which frustrated the conductor.

The police were eventually called. Since it was uncertain whether the manipulations posed a safety risk, 140 passengers had to disembark, and the train was taken empty to Floridsdorf station for a safety check. It was determined that the defendants caused no damage, leading to their acquittal on charges of serious property damage. Judge Adegbite-Lewy concluded, “Their goal was to ride the locomotive, not destroy it. In doubt, I cannot recognize an intent to damage.”

The two were convicted of commercial fraud. Between December 6, 2023, and January 9, the 18-year-old tricked the ÖBB into providing him with seven hotel stays, claiming under a false name that he had missed connecting trains to Germany due to weather and was stranded without shelter in the snow. The 21-year-old participated in one instance and received a five-month suspended sentence. The 18-year-old, a minor at the time of the offense, avoided punishment to prevent hindering his future career prospects. If he remains offense-free during a two-year probationary period, the conviction will remain without penalty. This decision is not yet final, as the prosecutor requested time for consideration. Both young men were assigned probation officers.

“I won’t do anything like this again,” the 18-year-old promised the judge. The 21-year-old mentioned that he now has a driver’s license: “I’m driving now. I’ll stay away from trains.”

The incidents brought before the court were only part of the antics that had troubled the ÖBB recently. A company representative testified that they had been reported for impersonating ÖBB staff, conducting ticket inspections while wearing ÖBB uniforms and carrying an ÖBB key ring. The witness suspected they obtained these items from online sales platforms. “They are also responsible for 67 prank calls, mocking train attendants. They just won’t stop,” she said. Broadcasting the Hitler speech was “the pinnacle” of their antics, and they had also played distorted announcements by Chris Lohner, she noted. The ÖBB’s main concern is “for this to finally stop.”

After the hearing, the 18-year-old approached the ÖBB representative from the company’s legal department, saying, “Nice to finally meet you in person!” He remarked that he had tried to contact her by phone several times. “Sweetheart, if you call ten times in a row, eventually, I stop answering,” the witness replied.

 

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