Already 17 Cases? New Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct Against SOS Children's Villages Founder Gmeiner

In autumn it became known that the Children's Village founder had subjected boys to inappropriate treatment for decades. Eight cases were named at the time — now it turns out: that was probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Yesterday, Wednesday, at exactly 3 p.m., an online conference started on dozens of computer screens around the world. SOS Children's Villages International had invited its country associations to a so-called town hall meeting. The occasion: the successful financing of the umbrella organization. After months of reports of inappropriate treatment, there was finally reason to celebrate again.

One person did not celebrate: Friedrich Santner, supervisory board chairman of SOS Children's Villages Austria since November. The former industrial manager spoke up, according to insiders who told Falter, during the online meeting. There was no reason to celebrate, Santner is said to have said. Then he informed the participants about another catastrophe bearing down on the child protection organization: Children's Village founder Hermann Gmeiner (1919-1986) is alleged to have subjected many more children to inappropriate treatment than previously known.

On that Wednesday, Santner spoke of four additional cases. But in truth, it is five — four in Austria, one in Germany.

Upon Falter inquiry, SOS Children's Villages Austria confirmed five new affected person protection procedures. The alleged perpetrator: Hermann Gmeiner. But that is not all: "In addition, four further indications of misconduct have been received — including reports from persons who were never cared for by SOS Children's Villages, as well as from persons who themselves were not affected by reported misconduct," the organization writes.

Five new affected person protection procedures, four further reports: it is the next wave of allegations against the SOS Children's Villages founder.

Already in October 2025, the organization announced that Gmeiner had subjected at least eight children to inappropriate treatment between the 1950s and 1980s. The bosses, such as the now-terminated managing director Christian Moser, had known about it since the early 2010s. They paid the affected persons compensation, remained silent, and continued to glorify the Children's Village founder as the savior of thousands of children.

The trigger for the confession was Falter's investigations into cases of inappropriate conduct at the SOS Children's Villages Moosburg (Carinthia) and Imst (Tyrol). Educators had tormented children, photographed them in an exposed state, locked them in inappropriately, struck them, pinned them to the floor, and punished them with water deprivation. Not at some distant time, but until just a few years ago. The incidents were covered up. A study documenting the inappropriate treatment was stored by those responsible on a password-protected drive.

The uncovering of the abuses had far-reaching consequences: SOS Children's Villages, previously well-regarded, fell into the abyss — and pledged improvement.

A reform commission under the leadership of Irmgard Griss, former President of the Supreme Court and former Neos politician, is to examine the entire SOS Children's Villages apparatus. The first eight Gmeiner cases, which had long been known internally, can be considered the first working result of this body.

For the child protection organization, this means a turning point. The former child rescuer Gmeiner, nominated 103 times for the Nobel Peace Prize, venerated around the globe, overnight became a person who subjects minors to inappropriate treatment. Communities and cities dismantled statues and busts, renamed streets, squares, and schools, and posthumously revoked awards and honors. The name Gmeiner is to disappear from the public sphere.

But many suspected: these eight cases were probably just the tip of the iceberg. Hermann Gmeiner opened Children's Villages all over the world. He visited them regularly and stayed overnight there. The archives are full of photos of the man surrounded by children.

Friedrich Santner is also said to have addressed this at the online meeting on Wednesday: he called for a joint, international investigation of possible cases of inappropriate conduct by Gmeiner. Whether he was heard is questionable. So far, SOS Children's Villages International has not announced any investigation.

In Austria, since the first Falter reports in September, "several persons" have contacted the responsible reporting offices regarding Gmeiner. The five new cases are currently being processed in strictly controlled affected person protection procedures. The reform commission has been informed about all cases.

Particularly explosive are the allegations from Germany. The case there was only recently brought to SOS Children's Villages Austria, namely by the German support association SOS Children's Villages Worldwide. In 2019, a person is said to have contacted the association based in Munich in writing and stated that they had been subjected to inappropriate treatment in the 1960s. The incident is said to have taken place in a German hospital. SOS Children's Villages Worldwide initially only confirms that the child was not cared for by SOS Children's Villages.

According to Falter information, the incident was forwarded in 2019 to the then board of SOS Children's Villages Worldwide but apparently fizzled out there. Only after the allegations of inappropriate conduct against Gmeiner came to light in autumn 2025 did the German association also search its archives and email inboxes — and came across the case reported at the time. They are in an "ongoing investigation," SOS Children's Villages Worldwide tells Falter: "The final report is not yet available."

Austria also wants to continue investigating the cases and allegations. In addition, a historical study on Gmeiner and other founding persons is being prepared. Detailed information is expected on Monday. Managing director Annemarie Schlack and supervisory board chairman Friedrich Santner have promised Falter an extensive interview.