London: Vienna`s renowned Philharmonic orchestra has revealed that almost half of its musicians during World War II were Nazis, a report has said.
A panel of historians also revealed that 13 musicians were driven out of the orchestra for being Jewish or married to Jews.
The report comes after Vienna Philharmonic was accused of covering up the ties with the Nazi Party.
According to the BBC, for decades the Philharmonic allowed only selective access to its archives.
But political pressure led the orchestra to commission three historians, led by Oliver Rathkolb, to delve deeper into the years 1938-45.
Details revealed on Sunday showed that 60 of the orchestra`s 123 musicians were members of the Nazi party, a much higher percentage than in the broader Austrian population.
According to the report, of the 13 musicians driven out of the orchestra for being Jewish or married to Jews, five died in concentration camps, others were deported, but none returned, the report says.
There are details too on how the orchestra`s famous New Year`s Day Concert had its origins as a propaganda instrument for the Nazis , the report said.
The historians` full report will be published on the orchestra `s website on Tuesday, the 75th anniversary of the Anschluss, it added.
(ANI)
