Austria celebrates 70th anniversary of end of WWII

Austria marked here the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in a festive ceremony at the Federal Chancellery on Friday.

Chancellor Werner Faymann and Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner greeted concentration camp survivor Marko Feingold at the ceremony, who gave a speech detailing the horrors of the Nazi regime.

Feingold, who had been captive at numerous concentration camps before being freed by U.S. troops on April 11, 1945, said "we were no longer numbers or Jews, but became human beings again."

Faymann paid tribute to those who had been pursued by the Nazi regime, along with "all those who freed Austria" from the regime.

Austria has not yet fully dealt with its past, but it is never too late for a "comprehensive reappraisal" of its history, the chancellor said.

Celebrations lasted into the night with the "Fest der Freude" ("Festival of Joy") at the Heldenplatz square in the capital, where Austrian leaders such as President Heinz Fischer gave speeches, along with other guests such as resistance fighter Helga Emperger. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra also played during the evening.