Vienna Philharmonic Revokes Honors to Nazis

The Vienna Philharmonic orchestra has revoked the medals it awarded to six high-ranking Nazis during Hitler’s rule. Founded in 1842, the orchestra began its annual New Year’s concert of Strauss waltzes in 1941 as a Nazi propaganda instrument. According to Vienna historian Oliver Rathkolb, there is evidence that the orchestra also planned to present a medal to Hitler himself. If this is the case, that medal would also be revoked.