Austria's Post-Wwii Division: Understanding The Carve-Up

Austria was divided into four occupation zones after World War II, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Vienna, the capital, was also divided into four sectors, with the central district, the 1st district, being collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. The division of Austria into occupation zones was similar to what was done in Germany, which was divided into East and West Germany in 1949. The occupation of Austria ended in 1955 when the Austrian State Treaty came into force, and the country was granted full independence.

Austria was divided into four occupation zones

After World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, each with its own military administration. The four victorious Allied powers—the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France—occupied the country from 1945 to 1955. The Austrian State Government had to submit all draft laws to the Allied Control Council and only gained further powers in June 1946; from that point on, only constitutional laws required Allied approval.

The division of Austria into four zones reflected the complex international politics of the post-war era. The Western Allies and the Soviet Union had joined forces to defeat Nazi Germany, but tensions between these powers were already emerging as the Cold War began. By occupying Austria together but maintaining separate zones, the Allies could monitor each other's activities and assert their influence in the country.

The four occupation zones were divided 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.

In addition to the four occupation zones, the capital city of Vienna was also divided among the four Allies, with the historical centre declared an international zone where occupation forces changed every month. This unique arrangement reflected the significance of Vienna as a cultural and political centre and ensured that no single power had exclusive control over the city.

The division of Austria into four zones had a significant impact on the country's politics and society. Each occupying power had its own policies and priorities, which influenced the administration of their respective zones. The occupation also shaped the development of Austria's foreign policy, as the country sought to balance its relationships with the Western Allies and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The Western Allies and the Soviet Union jointly occupied the country

Following World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1955. The country was divided into four occupation zones, with the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France each taking control of a specific region. This division mirrored the approach taken in Germany, where the four powers also established separate zones.

The Western Allies, including the United States, France, and Great Britain, only entered Austria in September 1945, several months after the initial Soviet presence following the country's liberation. The delay in their arrival was due to the focus on pushing Hitler's armies back into Germany. The occupation of Austria was characterised by military control, with an international patrol consisting of one military policeman from each occupying power commencing its work in August 1945.

During this period, the Austrian State Government had limited powers, as they were required to submit all draft laws to the Allied Control Council for approval. It was only in June 1946 that the government gained more autonomy, with only constitutional laws needing the consent of the Allies. The Allied Control Council, comprised of the four occupying powers, held its first meeting in Vienna on September 12, 1945, further solidifying their joint control over the country.

The division of Austria among the Western Allies and the Soviet Union was a result of the Vienna Offensive, which led to the country's liberation from Nazi Germany. On April 27, 1945, Austria was declared independent from Nazi Germany, marking a shift from its previous recognition as part of Nazi Germany after the Anschluss in 1938.

The occupation of Austria ended with the Austrian State Treaty, which came into force on July 27, 1955. This treaty restored Austria as a free, independent, and democratic country, with a commitment to neutrality. The last occupation troops departed on October 25, 1955, marking the conclusion of the joint occupation by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

The Austrian State Treaty came into force in 1955

The Austrian State Treaty, also known as the Austrian Independence Treaty, came into force on 27 July 1955, marking the end of the Allied occupation of Austria and establishing the country as a sovereign state. The treaty was signed on 15 May 1955 at the Schloss Belvedere in Vienna by the foreign ministers of the Allied occupying powers (France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union) and the Austrian government.

The road to Austrian independence began with the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the Allies agreed to treat Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression and a liberated and independent country after the war. This declaration set the basis for the Austrian State Treaty, which officially recognised Austrian independence and sovereignty. The treaty also included provisions for minority rights, prohibited any future political union between Austria and Germany, and banned Nazi and fascist organisations. Additionally, the treaty addressed the issue of German assets in Austria, with the West offering economic concessions to the Soviet Union in exchange for its relinquishment of claims on these assets.

The negotiations leading up to the Austrian State Treaty were protracted and influenced by the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Cold War. The breakdown of the "Grand Alliance" and the emergence of the Cold War extended the Austrian occupation beyond what was initially anticipated. Tensions between the East and West, as well as the Korean War, contributed to delays in the talks. However, a turning point came with the death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in 1953, which led to a "peace offensive" aimed at reducing international tensions. This, along with negotiations between Austrian Chancellor Julius Raab and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, paved the way for the eventual signing of the treaty.

The Austrian State Treaty was significant as it marked the only instance in the Cold War era where the Soviet Union withdrew from a territory it had occupied. Additionally, it was the only treaty signed by both the Soviet Union and the United States in the decade following the 1947 Paris Peace Treaties. The treaty's recognition of Austrian neutrality created a buffer zone between the East and West blocs during the Cold War.

The Soviet Union's occupation policies

The Red Army occupied only parts of Austria, including the capital Vienna, while Anglo-American troops entered from Germany and Italy. Austria was then divided into four occupation zones, similar to the division of Germany. Despite being treated as a defeated power, Austria avoided some of the harshest consequences due to its status as a victim of Germany. It retained its territory and its citizens were not subjected to ethnic cleansing or mass expulsions.

The Western Allies consented to Moscow's demand for control over German assets in Austria within their zone of occupation. This, along with other forms of reparation, resulted in a significant economic burden for Austria. The Soviets also deployed NKVD (Soviet secret police) teams to extract reparations through seizures and confiscations. The costs of maintaining the occupation forces were also levied on the Austrian government, further straining their resources.

The Soviet Union did not attempt to impose a communist dictatorship in Austria, which limited the scale of political violence compared to other occupied countries. Soviet military tribunals arrested and prosecuted Austrians for various charges, including war crimes, espionage, and weapons possession. By 1955, when the Red Army withdrew, they had arrested 2,400 Austrians, with around 150 being executed or receiving lengthy prison sentences.

Soviet propaganda played a significant role in shaping the troops' attitudes towards Austrians. Initially, there was vicious anti-German propaganda to sustain morale, but as they approached Austria, the tone changed. Propaganda began to emphasize that ordinary Austrians and Germans were not responsible for Nazi crimes and that Austria was Hitler's first victim. Soviet commanders issued orders to discourage criminal conduct and respect Austrian civilians, but looting, sexual assaults, and murders still occurred.

The Soviets worked to re-establish district administrations and appointed local mayors, often following the advice of locals. They also accepted Austrian politician Karl Renner, who formed a provisional government and declared Austria's independence from Nazi Germany. However, the Western Allies suspected a puppet state and refused to recognize Renner's government.

Overall, the Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were shaped by a combination of factors, including the Moscow Declaration, economic exploitation, political influence, and propaganda. The goal was to extract reparations, maintain control, and shape the country's political future while dealing with the challenges of maintaining order and discipline among their troops.

The Austrian victim theory

The theory was based on a unilateral interpretation of the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the Allies agreed that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression, despite its role in Nazi crimes. The Soviets, in particular, adhered to this view, stating that Austria was a victim of Germany. This stance shielded Austria from some of the harshest treatments imposed on Germany, such as territorial losses and ethnic cleansing.

The victim theory was used by Austria to deflect guilt and strengthen its negotiating position during the discussions on the State Treaty. It allowed Austria to shift the blame for Nazi crimes onto Germany and a close circle of leaders surrounding Hitler. As a result, the country made only half-hearted attempts to prosecute former Nazis and address restitution and compensation for victims.

The myth that Austria was the first victim of Nazi Germany began to unravel in the mid-1980s due to the affair surrounding Kurt Waldheim, a federal presidential candidate. In 1991, Chancellor Franz Vranitzky acknowledged the shared responsibility of Austrians for Nazi crimes in two highly acclaimed speeches before the Austrian National Council and the Israeli Knesset. This marked a turning point, leading to the establishment of institutions dedicated to remembering and educating about the Holocaust.

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