Austria's Post-Wwii Land Loss: What Happened?

Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany in 1945, following the Vienna offensive. In the aftermath of World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Despite Yugoslavia's claims to Carinthia, a province in the south of the country, Austria did not lose any territory after World War II.

Austria was occupied by the Allies and divided into four zones

The occupation of Austria began on April 27, 1945, when the country was declared independent from Nazi Germany as a result of the Vienna Offensive. This declaration was confirmed by the Berlin Declaration for Germany on June 5, 1945. The occupation ended a decade later, on July 27, 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty came into force, and the last occupation troops departed on October 25, 1955.

The division of Austria into four zones was as follows:

• Vorarlberg and North Tyrol were assigned to the French Zone.
• Salzburg and Upper Austria, south of the Danube, were assigned to the American Zone.
• East Tyrol, Carinthia, and Styria were assigned to the British Zone.
• Burgenland, Lower Austria, and the Mühlviertel area of Upper Austria, north of the Danube, were assigned to the Soviet Zone.

Vienna, the capital of Austria, was divided among all four Allies. The historical center of the city was declared an international zone, with occupation forces rotating monthly.

During the occupation, the Western Allies and the Soviet Union disagreed over the treatment of Austria. The Western Allies refused to recognize Karl Renner's provisional government, suspecting it was a puppet state. In contrast, the Soviets supported Renner and worked with him to establish a democratic state. The occupation of Austria became a controversial subject during the Cold War until the Khrushchev Thaw improved relations between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union's occupation policies

Soviet occupation policies in Austria were influenced by their desire to exploit the country economically. They expropriated over 450 formerly German-owned businesses, and by 1955, most of these companies were close to bankruptcy. The Soviet Union also took control of Austrian oil fields and placed them under the management of the "Sowjetische Mineralölverwaltung" (SMV). This economic exploitation was facilitated by the presence of Soviet troops, who numbered around 700,000 during the Vienna Strategic Offensive.

While the Soviet Union did not impose a communist dictatorship in Austria, political violence and repression were still prevalent during the occupation. Soviet military tribunals arrested around 800 Austrian civilians during the initial eight months, with charges ranging from belonging to the Nazi resistance to war crimes and violent acts. By 1955, when the Red Army withdrew from the country, they had arrested 2,400 Austrians, prosecuting 1,250 of them for various crimes.

The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria ended in 1955, with the signing of the Austrian State Treaty, which granted Austria full independence in exchange for promises of perpetual neutrality.

Austria's independence

The End of World War I and the Austro-Hungarian Empire

The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I in 1918 was a pivotal moment in shaping Austria's path towards independence. The empire's collapse resulted from a combination of internal social contradictions, economic crises, and the growth of nationalist movements. The empire's territories were inhabited by diverse peoples, and as the war progressed, these nationalist movements gained momentum, demanding full independence. This ultimately led to the disintegration of the multiethnic empire.

The Formation of the First Austrian Republic

With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the remaining territories fell into the composition of existing or newly formed states. The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1919 formally ended the state and reduced Austria to a small, landlocked country. The Republic of Austria emerged, facing significant territorial losses and a challenging economic situation.

The Annexation by Nazi Germany: The Anschluss

In 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in an event known as the "Anschluss." This marked a significant setback for Austrian independence, as the country became an integral part of the Third Reich. Many Austrians supported the annexation, and a substantial number joined the Nazi Party. However, not all Austrians welcomed this union, and some, like Karl Renner, an Austrian socialist politician, played a role in the first post-Nazi government.

World War II and the Soviet Occupation

During World War II, the Soviet Union's Red Army approached Austria's border from Hungary in the winter of 1944-45. The fighting in Hungary was brutal, and the Red Army suffered significant casualties. After the German forces launched their last major offensive at Lake Balaton, the Soviets counterattacked and advanced towards Vienna, eventually capturing the Austrian capital. The occupation of Austria by the Red Army brought with it challenges and difficulties for the Austrian people.

The Declaration of Independence from Nazi Germany

On April 27, 1945, Austria was declared independent from Nazi Germany by the Allies, a decision confirmed by the Berlin Declaration for Germany on June 5, 1945. However, Austria was still occupied and divided into four zones, each controlled by one of the four Allied powers: the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Vienna, the capital, was also subdivided among the four powers.

The Austrian State Treaty and Full Independence

The process towards full independence continued with the Austrian State Treaty, which came into force on July 27, 1955. This treaty ended the occupation, and the last occupation troops left the country on October 25, 1955. Austria's promises of perpetual neutrality played a crucial role in regaining its independence. Additionally, the country's parliament enacted a Declaration of Neutrality, committing to not joining any military alliances like NATO or the Warsaw Pact.

The Austrian State Treaty

In the aftermath of World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, and divided into four zones, with Vienna being subdivided similarly. This occupation lasted until 1955, with the status of Austria becoming a controversial subject during the Cold War. The first attempts to negotiate a treaty failed due to the Allies' desire to prioritize a peace treaty with Germany. The emergence of the Cold War further complicated matters, making a treaty less likely.

The turning point came with the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, which led to a "peace offensive" by the Soviet Union to reduce international tensions. Negotiations with Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov resulted in a breakthrough in February 1955. The Austrian government promised perpetual neutrality, and on May 15, 1955, representatives from the four occupying powers signed the Austrian State Treaty.

The treaty included several important provisions:

• Austria's sovereignty and independence were recognized, and German territorial claims over Austria were renounced.
• The Anschluss, or Austria's political union with Germany, was forbidden.
• Nazi and fascist organizations were prohibited.
• The minority rights of the Slovene and Croat minorities were expressly detailed.
• Austria declared its neutrality and would not join military alliances like NATO or the Warsaw Pact.
• All occupation forces agreed to withdraw from Austria.
• The Soviet Union was granted concessions, including oilfield concessions and property rights of oil refineries in Eastern Austria, as well as the transfer of assets of the Danube Shipping Company.
• Economic concessions were offered to the Soviet Union in exchange for relinquishing Yugoslav claims.
• Compensation was outlined for the Soviet Union regarding German assets.

Austria's neutrality

The history of Austria's neutrality can be traced back to the end of World War II. After the war, Austria was divided into four occupation zones by the Western Allies (the United Kingdom, the United States, and France) and the Soviet Union. In 1943, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. This was confirmed on April 27, 1945, when Austria was declared independent from Nazi Germany.

The occupation of Austria by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union lasted until 1955. During this time, the country's status was a controversial subject in the Cold War. However, after promising perpetual neutrality, Austria was granted full independence on May 15, 1955, and the last occupation troops left on October 25 of that year.

The Austrian State Treaty, which came into force on July 27, 1955, formally established Austria's neutrality. The treaty was signed by representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union, and Austria. The Soviet Union had demanded Austria's neutrality in the Moscow Memorandum of 1955, modelling it after Switzerland. This demand was accepted by all countries with which Austria had diplomatic relations.

In recent years, there have been debates and controversies within Austria and among its allies regarding its neutrality, especially with Sweden and Finland abandoning their neutrality and joining NATO. Despite these challenges, Austria remains committed to its neutrality, with strong public support for maintaining this status quo.

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