BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

With the support of the Cultural Department of the City of Vienna – MA 7 and the Future Fund of the Republic of Austria

The short film DENN SIE WISSEN, WAS SIE TUN/BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING re-enacts the 'first act' of right-wing extremist violence in the Second Republic of Austria, which resulted in a fatality. Anti-fascist Ernst Kirchweger was attacked by a right-wing extremist student at a demonstration on 31 March 1965 and died from his injuries two days later. The film depicts the anti-fascist demonstration from the Karlskirche to the Hotel Sacher in Vienna in five scenes. Today, a little-noticed plaque marks the spot where Kirchweger was knocked down. The soundtrack features a collage of recordings of right-wing extremist demonstrations in Vienna between 2015 and 2025.