Austria's Historic Victory: Expelling The Russians

Austria's efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian energy have been slow, with the country still receiving 57% of its gas from Russia in February 2023. This is in stark contrast to other EU countries, which have cut off Russian gas completely following the invasion of Ukraine. Austria's energy infrastructure has historically been oriented to the east, and the country has a tradition of dependence on Russia. However, public opinion is turning against this reliance, with critics arguing that the government is not doing enough to cut ties.

The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria

Austria was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Vienna was similarly subdivided, with the central district under the collective administration of the Allied Control Council.

The Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets proclaimed that Austria was the first victim of Nazi aggression, but that it would also have to pay the price for its participation in Nazi crimes. The Declaration ultimately meant that Austria would emerge as an independent state.

The Soviets treated Austria as a defeated Axis power but adhered to the general line that it was a victim of Germany. As a result, Austria avoided some of the harshest aspects of Germany's fate. It did not lose any territory, and Austrians avoided the mass expulsions and deportations that affected ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe. The Western Allies also successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans to impose heavy war reparations on Austria.

However, the Western Allies consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in Austria within their zone of occupation. This resulted in the Soviets extracting reparations through requisitions, seizing industrial plants, and confiscating goods. The burden of feeding and clothing the Red Army also fell on local governments.

The Soviets did not attempt to impose a communist dictatorship in Austria, and the scale of political violence experienced by Austrians was more limited compared to other countries occupied by the Red Army. By 1955, when the Soviets withdrew from the country, they had arrested 2,400 Austrians, with around 1,250 prosecuted for crimes ranging from war crimes to everyday criminal activity.

The Soviets pulled out of Austria in 1955, along with the Western Allies, after Austria pledged to remain neutral in the Cold War confrontation between the Soviet Union and the U.S.-led West. This was formalized in the Austrian State Treaty of 1955, which also mandated that Austria never seek to unify with other German-speaking nations and that it maintain the Soviet War Memorial in Vienna.

The Austrian government's dependence on Russian energy

Austria's energy infrastructure has been oriented to the east for decades, and the country's landlocked status makes it difficult to quickly reduce its dependence on Russian gas. The Austrian government has acknowledged the need to end this dependency and has set a target to do so by 2027. However, critics argue that they are not doing enough to achieve this goal, and the progress has been sluggish. The government has blamed the slow pace on its unique circumstances and the past mistakes of previous governments.

The partly state-owned energy company, OMV, has continued to pay for Russian gas using euros through an EU "sanctions-compliant" scheme. This has raised suspicions that Vienna is going slow on cutting ties to save its economy. OMV was also a financial backer of Gazprom's Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was denounced by Kyiv and Washington. The project never pumped gas and is now partly destroyed.

Austria's dependence on Russian gas increased to 98% two years after the Ukraine war, causing concern among politicians. The energy minister, Leonore Gewessler, has pledged to end Russian gas supplies by 2027 by reducing gas consumption, increasing the use of renewables and biogas, and finding alternative suppliers. However, critics like Herbert Lechner, the chief scientific officer of the Austrian Energy Agency (AEA), have branded these efforts as "marketing," pointing out the lack of concrete steps to achieve the goal.

The deep-rooted relationship between Austria and Russia in the energy sector has been acknowledged by both sides. Yuri Shafranik, Russia's former energy minister, accused Vienna of pursuing an "anti-Russian policy" and abandoning its neutral status. At the same time, Austria has been cautious in its response to the war in Ukraine, providing limited military aid and maintaining good relations with Russia.

In summary, the Austrian government's dependence on Russian energy is a complex issue with historical, infrastructural, and geopolitical factors at play. While the government has expressed intentions to reduce this dependency, the slow progress and ongoing energy imports from Russia continue to fuel suspicions about their commitment to cutting ties.

The Vienna Offensive

The fall of Vienna was a significant blow to the German war effort and paved the way for the Red Army's advance towards Linz and Graz in early May. Skirmishes between the Red Army and German soldiers, who desperately sought to surrender to Western Allies to avoid falling into Soviet captivity, continued into late May, even as fighting had ceased elsewhere in Europe. The Red Army suffered 94,185 casualties in Austria, with 26,006 killed and 68,179 wounded.

The Moscow Declaration of 1943

The Declaration of Four Nations on General Security affirmed the commitment of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China to continue fighting against the Axis powers until they achieved unconditional surrender. It also recognised the need to establish a general international organisation, based on the sovereign equality of peace-loving states, to maintain international peace and security.

The Declaration Regarding Italy stated that Fascism must be destroyed in Italy and that the Italian people should be given the opportunity to establish democratic institutions. It outlined several measures to achieve this, including the inclusion of anti-Fascist representatives in the government, restoring freedom of speech and religious worship, and removing Fascist elements from public administration.

The Declaration on Austria addressed the German annexation of Austria in 1938, declaring it null and void. It called for the liberation of Austria from German domination and the re-establishment of a free and independent Austria. However, the declaration also held the Austrian people responsible for their participation in the war alongside Germany, stating that this would be taken into account in the final settlement.

The Statement on Atrocities addressed the atrocities, massacres, and executions committed by Hitlerite forces in occupied countries. It declared that, after any armistice with Germany, individuals suspected of involvement in these crimes would be sent back to the affected countries for trial and punishment.

The Austrian State Treaty

Austria's situation following World War II was unique. In 1938, it was annexed by Nazi Germany, raising questions about its role during the war. The Allies, recognising this complexity, agreed at the Potsdam Conference in 1945 to jointly occupy Austria, dividing the country and Vienna into four zones, similar to the plan for Germany and Berlin. However, Austria's government continued to function, albeit with the caveat that the Four Powers could veto new legislation unanimously.

Negotiations over Austria's final status began as early as 1947, but the breakdown of the "Grand Alliance" and the Cold War prolonged the occupation. The principle sticking point during the negotiations was the issue of German assets, with the Soviet Union seizing control of various industries and offering to sell them back at high prices. Additionally, the Soviet Union's claims on behalf of Yugoslavia and their desire for economic concessions complicated the process.

The death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 and the subsequent "peace offensive" by his successors in the Soviet Union contributed to a shift in negotiations. The Soviet Union relaxed restrictions and worked towards establishing formal diplomatic relations with Austria. By 1955, a breakthrough was achieved with Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality, leading to the signing of the Austrian State Treaty.

The treaty's important points included the re-establishment of a free, sovereign, and democratic Austria, recognition of the state, minority rights for Slovenes and Croats, and the prohibition of any future political union with Germany (Anschluss). Additionally, Nazi and fascist organisations were banned. Austria's neutrality, while not explicitly mentioned in the original text, was declared by parliament after the last Allied troops departed, and the country maintained this stance throughout the Cold War.

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