Russia's Post-Wwii Occupation Of Austria: Did It Happen?

After World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. The country was divided into four occupation zones, with Vienna being subdivided into four sectors, plus a central district that was collectively administered by the four powers. The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria lasted from 1945 to 1955, and it was during this time that the country was exploited for economic gain and experienced political unrest.

The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria

The Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were influenced by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets proclaimed that Austria was the first victim of Nazi Germany but would also have to bear responsibility for its participation in Nazi aggression. As a result, Austria was treated differently from Germany and avoided some of the harshest consequences of defeat. It retained its pre-war borders and did not suffer territorial losses, unlike Germany, which had to cede land to neighbouring countries. Additionally, Austrians were not subjected to ethnic cleansing or mass expulsions, and the Western Allies successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans for burdensome war reparations.

However, the Soviets did exploit Austria economically. They expropriated and took control of numerous businesses, particularly those previously owned by Germans, and extracted reparations through requisitions. The burden of occupation costs also fell heavily on Austria, with the country having to pay for the upkeep of the occupying troops.

During the initial months of occupation, the Soviets arrested around 800 Austrian civilians, with charges ranging from membership in the Nazi resistance to espionage, war crimes, and weapons possession. By the time the Soviet troops withdrew from Austria in 1955, they had arrested a total of 2,400 Austrians, with 1,250 being prosecuted for various crimes, including war crimes and everyday criminal activities. About 150 individuals were executed, while others received lengthy prison sentences.

The Soviet occupation was also marked by widespread looting, rapes, and sexual assaults committed by Soviet soldiers. This conduct was partly fueled by anti-German propaganda during the war, which portrayed Austrians and Germans as villains. However, as the war drew to a close and the Soviets began to think about governing the conquered territories, their propaganda tone shifted. They began to differentiate between ordinary Germans and Austrians and the Nazis, encouraging their soldiers to treat civilians more respectfully.

The end of the Soviet occupation of Austria came with the signing of the Austrian State Treaty on May 15, 1955, which restored Austria's sovereignty and independence. This treaty was the result of negotiations and a shift in Soviet policy under Nikita Khrushchev, who favoured a more flexible approach of "peaceful coexistence." Austria's declaration of permanent neutrality was a crucial factor in securing the withdrawal of occupying troops, including those of the Soviet Union.

The Austrian State Treaty

On May 15, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty, also known as the Austrian Independence Treaty, was signed in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere. Representatives from the governments of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France, as well as the Austrian government, signed the treaty, which established Austria as a sovereign and democratic state. The treaty came into force on July 27, 1955, marking the end of the Allied occupation of Austria and the withdrawal of all foreign occupation forces.

The treaty's negotiations began in 1947 but were stalled due to disagreements over German assets and reparations, as well as the emergence of the Cold War. The Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were influenced by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, which proclaimed Austria as Germany's first victim while acknowledging its participation in Nazi aggression. The Soviets demanded and received entitlement to German assets in their zone, resulting in significant economic exploitation.

The final agreement in 1955 was facilitated by the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, which led to a "peace offensive" and improved relations with the West. The Austrian State Treaty was unique in postwar Europe, as it marked the only Cold War-era withdrawal by the Soviet Union from a territory it occupied. To secure their independence, the Austrians promised perpetual neutrality, agreeing to stay out of military alliances such as NATO or the Warsaw Pact.

The Austrian Independence Treaty

The Austrian State Treaty, also known as the Austrian Independence Treaty, was signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna, at the Schloss Belvedere. The treaty was signed by the Allied occupying powers—France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union—and the Austrian government. The treaty re-established Austria as a free, sovereign, and democratic state, ending 17 years of occupation by foreign troops.

Background

After the Anschluss in 1938, Austria was generally recognized as part of Nazi Germany. However, in 1943, 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. As a result, on April 27, 1945, Austria declared independence from Germany as a result of the Vienna Offensive. Despite this declaration, Austria remained under joint occupation by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955.

Negotiations

Negotiations over Austria's final status began as early as 1947, but progress was slow due to disagreements over the issue of German assets in Austria and the question of Austrian neutrality. The breakthrough in negotiations came in February 1955, following the death of Joseph Stalin and a warming of relations between the Soviet Union and the Western powers.

Terms of the Treaty

The main terms of the Austrian State Treaty included:

• The re-establishment of Austria as a free, sovereign, and democratic state.
• The withdrawal of all occupation forces from Austria.
• Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality, creating a buffer zone between the East and West during the Cold War.
• The restoration of Austria's pre-1938 frontiers and the prohibition of a future union between Germany and Austria.
• The minority rights of the Slovene and Croat minorities in Austria were expressly detailed.
• The prohibition of Nazi and fascist organizations in Austria.

Outcome

The Austrian State Treaty came into force on July 27, 1955, and the last occupation troops left on October 25, 1955. Austria's parliament enacted a Declaration of Neutrality on October 26, 1955, committing the country to neutrality in international relations and prohibiting the establishment of foreign military bases in the country. The treaty successfully secured Austria's independence and neutrality during the Cold War era.

The Moscow Declaration of 1943

The Declaration on Austria stated that the German annexation of Austria in 1938 was null and void and called for the establishment of a free and independent Austria after victory over Nazi Germany. It described Austria as "the first free country to fall victim to Hitlerite aggression" and emphasised the need for political and economic security as the basis for lasting peace. However, the declaration also reminded Austria of its responsibility for participating in the war alongside Germany and stated that this contribution would be considered in the final settlement.

The Moscow Declaration had a significant impact on the treatment of Austria after World War II. In November 1943, the Allies agreed that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. As a result, Austria was occupied by the Allies and divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. This differed from the treatment of Germany, which was divided into East and West.

The Four Powers

Following World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the four Allied powers: the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. This period of occupation lasted from 1945 to 1955, during which time Austria was divided into four zones, with each power controlling a specific region.

The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria began in April 1945, and they were the first of the four powers to arrive. The Western Allies (the United States, France, and Great Britain) followed later, with American troops entering in April and French and British troops arriving in May. The Soviets' presence in Austria was marked by pillaging and looting, and they exploited the country economically, confiscating or dismantling industrial equipment and extracting reparations.

Despite their differences and competing interests, the four powers worked together to govern Austria through the Allied Control Council, mirroring a similar arrangement in Berlin. They held elections in the fall of 1945, in which the Communist Party performed poorly. This displeased Moscow, but they eventually allowed Leopold Figl to become chancellor.

The occupation ended with the signing of the Austrian State Treaty on May 15, 1955, which restored Austria's sovereignty and independence. The treaty included a declaration of Austrian neutrality and the withdrawal of all occupying forces. The last occupying troops left the country on October 25, 1955, marking the end of a decade of foreign control and the beginning of Austria's path towards a neutral and independent future.

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