Who Authored The Austrian Treaty?

The Austrian State Treaty, signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna, established Austria as a sovereign state. Representatives of the governments of the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States, and France signed the treaty, which granted Austria independence and arranged for the withdrawal of all occupation forces. The treaty was significant as it marked the only Cold War-era withdrawal by the Soviet Union from a territory it occupied. The Austrian situation was unique in postwar Europe, as it had been the only nation entirely annexed by Nazi Germany, raising questions about its role during the war. The treaty re-established a free, democratic, and neutral Austria, with the neighbouring Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia acceding to it subsequently.

The Austrian State Treaty

The Austrian situation post-World War II was unique in postwar Europe. In 1938, Austria had been annexed in its entirety by Nazi Germany, raising questions about its role during the war. At the Potsdam Conference in 1945, the Allies agreed to jointly occupy Austria, dividing the country and its capital, Vienna, into four zones, similar to the plan for Germany and Berlin. The Allies also demanded reparations from Austria due to its annexation by Nazi Germany, but these requests were eventually dropped due to Austria's nonbelligerent status.

Negotiations over Austria's final status began in 1947, but they were challenging due to the emergence of the Cold War and disputes over German assets in the country. The Soviet Union repeatedly delayed the completion of the treaty to reconsider its benefits. However, after the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, the climate for negotiations improved with the Khrushchev Thaw.

• Political and territorial provisions
• Military and air travel provisions
• Ownership, Law, and Interests
• Compensation to the Soviet Union for German assets
• Nature of Austrian neutrality
• Upper limits on Austrian armed forces
• Voluntary repatriation of displaced persons
• Recognition of the Austrian state
• Minority rights of Slovene and Croat minorities

One of the critical points of the treaty was Austrian neutrality, which was declared by the Austrian parliament on October 26, 1955, after the last Allied troops left the country. This neutrality created a buffer zone between the East and the West during the Cold War. The treaty also prohibited any future political union between Austria and Germany, known as Anschluss, as had occurred in 1938. Nazi and fascist organisations were banned.

Austria's independence

The Treaty of Saint-Germain, signed in 1919, concluded World War I and officially broke up the Habsburg Empire, recognising the independence of several nations formerly part of the Empire. However, the issue of Austrian independence was complicated by the desire for union with Germany among many Austrians and Germans. The Treaty of Saint-Germain forbade this union without the consent of the Council of the League of Nations, and the Allies took steps to prevent any such union, such as breaking up the Austro-Hungarian Navy and limiting Austria's army to 30,000 men.

In 1938, Austria was annexed in its entirety by Nazi Germany, and the country was considered a part of Nazi Germany until 1943, when the Allies agreed in the Moscow Declaration that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. Despite this, Austria remained under joint occupation by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955.

The Austrian State Treaty, signed on 15 May 1955, ended seventeen years of occupation by foreign troops and established Austria as a sovereign state. The treaty was signed by the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States, and France, and it granted Austria independence on the condition that it would declare its neutrality, creating a buffer zone between the East and the West. This was the only treaty signed by both the Soviet Union and the United States in the decade following the 1947 Paris Peace Treaties, and it marked the only Cold War-era withdrawal by the Soviet Union from a territory it occupied. The treaty also restored Austria's pre-1938 frontiers and forbade any future union between Germany and Austria.

Withdrawal of foreign troops

The Austrian State Treaty, signed on May 15, 1955, marked the withdrawal of foreign troops from Austria and the country's independence from occupying forces. The treaty was signed by representatives of the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States, and France, with the understanding that Austria would declare its neutrality, creating a buffer zone between the East and West during the Cold War.

The withdrawal of foreign troops from Austria ended a seventeen-year occupation by foreign troops, including the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, who had jointly occupied the country since the end of World War II in 1945. The occupation was a result of Austria's annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938, which raised questions about the extent of the country's collaboration with Nazi Germany during the war.

The Allied Powers, including the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom, had agreed at the Potsdam Conference in 1945 to jointly occupy Austria and divide the country into four zones, similar to the plan for Germany and Berlin. This occupation lasted far longer than anticipated due to the breakdown of the wartime "Grand Alliance" and the emergence of the Cold War.

The first attempts to negotiate a treaty for Austrian independence were made by the first postwar Austrian government, but they failed as the Allies wanted to prioritize a peace treaty with Germany. The negotiations were further complicated by the issue of German assets in Austria and the question of reparations to the Soviet Union.

The climate for negotiations improved after the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, when his successors in the Soviet Union launched a "peace offensive" to reduce international tensions. This, along with pressure from U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who made the completion of the Austrian State Treaty a condition for a summit meeting with the Soviet Union, led to a breakthrough in negotiations.

The Austrian State Treaty granted Austria independence and ensured the withdrawal of all occupation forces. It also addressed issues such as the minority rights of the Slovene and Croat minorities and prohibited a political union between Austria and Germany, known as the Anschluss, which had occurred in 1938.

On October 25, 1955, the last occupation troops left Austria, and the country declared its neutrality on October 26, which has been celebrated as a national holiday. Austria's neutrality was maintained throughout the Cold War, and the country became a buffer zone between the East and West during this tense period.

Austrian neutrality

The Austrian State Treaty, signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna, established Austria as a sovereign state and ended 17 years of occupation by foreign troops. The treaty was signed by the Allied occupying powers, including France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union, and the Austrian government. One key aspect of the agreement was Austria's promise of perpetual neutrality, which served as a buffer zone between the East and West during the Cold War. While Austrian neutrality was not explicitly mentioned in the original text of the treaty, it was later declared by the Austrian parliament on October 26, 1955, after the last Allied troops left the country.

Austria's neutrality was a significant factor in the country's post-World War II history and its relationship with both Western and Eastern blocs during the Cold War. By declaring neutrality, Austria aimed to maintain its independence and avoid being drawn into the political and military conflicts between the two sides. This stance was respected by both blocs, and Austria was able to develop economically and politically without aligning with either group.

The path towards Austrian neutrality began with the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the Allies agreed to treat Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression rather than a collaborator. This recognition set the stage for the eventual independence and neutrality of Austria. After World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, similar to the division of Germany. However, unlike Germany, Austria remained a single country under occupation until 1955.

The Austrian State Treaty was a result of lengthy negotiations between the occupying powers and the Austrian government. The issue of Austrian neutrality was a key point of contention during these discussions. The Western powers, particularly the United States, were initially opposed to the idea of Austrian neutrality as they feared it could set a precedent for West Germany, which would have significant implications for American security plans in Europe. However, the Austrian government remained firm in its commitment to neutrality, and it was eventually accepted as part of the final agreement.

The declaration of Austrian neutrality had several important implications. Firstly, it ensured that Austria would not become a member of NATO or any other defensive alliance during the Cold War. Secondly, it established a buffer zone between the Eastern and Western blocs, providing a degree of stability in Europe during a tense period. Finally, Austrian neutrality allowed the country to develop economically and politically without the constraints of alignment with either side, fostering a unique identity and path in the post-war era.

The Moscow Declaration of 1943

The Moscow Declarations were four declarations signed during the Moscow Conference on 30 October 1943. The declarations were distinct from the communique issued following the Moscow Conference of 1945. They were signed by the foreign secretaries of the governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and the Republic of China.

The four declarations signed at the conference were: The Declaration of the Four Nations on General Security, the Declaration on Italy, the Declaration on Austria, and the Declarations on Atrocities.

Declaration of the Four Nations on General Security

The governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China agreed to continue hostilities against the Axis powers until they agreed to an unconditional surrender. They also recognised the necessity of establishing a general international organisation (the United Nations) at the earliest opportunity, based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all peace-loving states.

Declaration on Italy

The foreign secretaries of the US, UK, and USSR declared that fascism and its influence should be completely destroyed and that the Italian people should be given every opportunity to establish governmental and other institutions based on democratic principles.

Declaration on Austria

The Foreign Secretaries of the US, UK, and USSR declared that the annexation (Anschluss) of Austria by Germany was null and void. It called for the establishment of a free Austria after victory over Nazi Germany. Austria was to be liberated from German domination and treated as a free and independent country after the war. However, the declaration also reminded Austria of its responsibility for its participation in the war alongside Hitlerite Germany.

Declaration on Atrocities

The Declaration on Atrocities was signed by the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. They noted evidence of atrocities, massacres, and cold-blooded mass executions perpetrated by Hitlerite forces in many countries. They declared that, after any armistice with the present or future German government, German individuals suspected of involvement in wartime atrocities would be sent to those countries for trial and punishment.

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