Leslie Massey
Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945. This was the result of the Vienna offensive, and the occupation ended when the Austrian State Treaty came into force on 27 July 1955. In this text, we will explore how the Allies came to occupy Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Austria's status after World War II | Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945 |
| Austria's status after World War I | Austria was not allowed to make a military alliance with Germany, as per the Treaty of Versailles |
| Austria's status during World War II | Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938 and became officially part of the Third Reich |
| Austria's status during the Cold War | Austria was under joint occupation of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955 |
| Austria's status after the Cold War | Austria was accorded full independence on 15 May 1955 and the last occupation troops left on 25 October 1955 |
| Austria's status in relation to Germany | The Western Allies consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in Austria in their zone of occupation |
What You'll Learn
The Vienna offensive
In November 1943, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression, despite the country's role in Nazi crimes. The Western Allies also successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans to impose war reparations on Austria, but consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in Austria in their zone of occupation.
After the end of World War I, the Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany and Austria were not allowed to make any sort of military alliance. However, Hitler wanted to unite all German-speakers into one big country, including Austria and the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia. The annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938 was known as the Anschluss, and was enthusiastically supported by most of the Austrian population. Throughout World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and many others participated in the Nazi administration.
Austria's Nazi Alliance: Friend or Foe?
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The Declaration of Moscow
In November 1943, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression. This was despite the fact that many Austrians had supported the Nazis, and had fought for the Nazi German armed forces. The Declaration of Moscow stated that Austria would be treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. This was a significant shift in policy, as Austria had been recognised as part of Nazi Germany since the Anschluss in 1938.
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The Austrian State Treaty
Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945. The Berlin Declaration for Germany on 5 June 1945 confirmed this. The occupation ended when the Austrian State Treaty came into force on 27 July 1955.
Austria remained under joint occupation of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955. Its status became a controversial subject in the Cold War until the warming of relations known as the Khrushchev Thaw. After Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality, Austria was accorded full independence on 15 May 1955 and the last occupation troops left on 25 October that year.
The Western Allies also successfully opposed the Kremlin’s plans to impose burdensome war reparations on Austria. However, they did consent to Moscow’s demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in Austria in their zone of occupation.
The Austrians: A Country and Its People
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The Khrushchev Thaw
Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945. The occupation ended when the Austrian State Treaty came into force on 27 July 1955.
Austria's Budget: Surplus, Deficit, or Perfectly Balanced?
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The Anschluss
Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945, as a result of the Vienna offensive. The occupation ended when the Austrian State Treaty came into force on 27 July 1955.
In November 1943, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression, without denying Austria's role in Nazi crimes. This agreement stated that Austria would be treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. The Western Allies also opposed the Kremlin's plans to impose war reparations on Austria, but consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in Austria in their zone of occupation.
Austria remained under joint occupation of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955. Its status became a controversial subject in the Cold War until the warming of relations known as the Khrushchev Thaw. After Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality, Austria was accorded full independence on 15 May 1955, and the last occupation troops left on 25 October that year.
Austria's Grip on Europe: Politics & Control
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945.
Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938 and became officially a part of the Third Reich. However, after World War I, the Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany and Austria were not allowed to make any sort of military alliance.
The Western Allies successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans to impose burdensome war reparations on Austria. 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.
