Austria's Political Spectrum: Is Communism A Factor?

Austria is not a communist country. It is a parliamentary representative democracy and a member of the European Union.

Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945. The country was partitioned into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France.

The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) was established in 1918 and is one of the world's oldest communist parties. The party currently holds two seats in the Styrian and four seats in the Salzburg Landtag (state parliament) but has not had representation in the National Council since 1959.

Austria maintained its neutrality during the Cold War, and its capital, Vienna, is home to many international organisations, including the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Austria's Communist Party (KPÖ)

The Communist Party of Austria (Kommunistische Partei Österreichs, KPÖ) is one of the world's oldest communist parties, established in 1918 as the Communist Party of German-Austria (KPDÖ). The party has played a significant role in Austrian politics and has a complex history.

History and Establishment:

The KPÖ was officially established on November 3, 1918, during a time of worker protests and strikes in Austria caused by supply shortages due to the Allies' sea blockade during World War I. The party's founding figures included Ruth Fischer, Karl Steinhardt, Franz Koritschoner, and Lucien Laurat.

Early Attempts and Struggles:

The KPÖ made an unsuccessful attempt to establish a Räterepublik (council republic) in Austria, which differed from similar attempts in Germany and Russia. They formed a "Red Guard" that integrated with the Volkswehr (People's Resistance Army). However, their attempt at a coup d'état on November 12, 1918, was swiftly defeated.

During the First Republic, the KPÖ had minimal influence and struggled to gain parliamentary representation due to competition from the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and internal factional struggles. The party's alignment with Joseph Stalin's rise to power in the Soviet Union and the principles of democratic centralism helped them overcome these struggles by the late 1920s.

Ban and Resistance:

In 1933, the KPÖ was banned by the Austrofascist government of Engelbert Dollfuss, forcing them to operate underground. Despite this, they continued their activities and participated in the failed workers' rebellion in February 1934, which was an attempt to resist the rise of Austrian fascism.

World War II and Post-War Period:

During World War II, the KPÖ played a crucial role in the Austrian resistance against Nazi rule, fighting alongside former political enemies. After Austria regained its independence, the KPÖ gained national importance, with representation in the provisional government under Karl Renner. However, their influence gradually declined due to various factors, including their criticism of capitalist reconstruction and their rejection of the Marshall Plan.

General Strikes and Crises:

In 1950, the KPÖ played a prominent role in the largest post-war strike action in Austria, which started in the Steyr and Voest factories. While the strikes caused concern among politicians, the KPÖ denied allegations of attempting a coup d'état.

Divisions and Losses:

The closeness of the KPÖ to Moscow and the loss of Soviet support after the fall of the Soviet Union led to a decline in popularity and internal crises. The party's failure to condemn the suppression of the 1956 Hungarian uprising and the 1968 Prague Spring further contributed to withdrawals and a fall in support.

Recent Developments:

In the 21st century, the KPÖ has experienced a revival, particularly in the state of Styria. They regained representation in the Styrian Landtag (state parliament) in 2005 and have successfully campaigned on issues like housing and rent control. In 2021, Elke Kahr of the KPÖ was elected mayor of Graz, Austria's second-largest city. The party continues to be a presence in Austrian politics, advocating for affordable housing and improved living standards for all Austrians.

Austria's role in WWII

Austria was invaded by Nazi Germany on March 12, 1938, in an event known as the Anschluss. The country was incorporated into Germany the following day, and a Nazi government was established in Austria. The German annexation was approved in a plebiscite that was manipulated to show that about 99% of the Austrian people supported the union. During this time, many Austrians, especially those of Jewish origin, were forced into exile.

During World War II, hundreds of thousands of Austrians fought as German soldiers, and a substantial number served in the SS. By the end of the war, approximately 250,000 Austrians had been killed or were missing in action. The Austrian resistance was small but not negligible, and consisted of left-wing groups (mostly communists, with a smaller number of socialists) and conservative resisters (mainly Christian Socialists and monarchists).

After the outbreak of the war, the Allied governments began to reconsider their attitude towards the Anschluss. In 1941, Soviet premier Joseph Stalin informed the British that the restoration of an independent Austrian republic was an essential part of the postwar order in central Europe. 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.

In 1945, Soviet commander Fyodor Tolbukhin's troops crossed the former Austrian border, and the Austrian politician Karl Renner established contact with the Soviets. The Soviets instructed Renner to form a provisional government, which took office and declared Austria's independence from Nazi Germany. The Western allies suspected the establishment of a puppet state and refused to recognize Renner's government.

In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones and jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Vienna was similarly subdivided, with the central district collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. The occupation ended when the Austrian State Treaty came into force on July 27, 1955, and Austria was granted full independence.

The Soviet occupation of Austria

Austria is not a communist country. However, it does have a Communist Party, established in 1918, which is one of the world's oldest.

In 1945, after almost four years of brutal combat, the troops from the 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts approached Austria's border from Hungary. In the winter of 1945, the Soviets regrouped to invade Austria, and the Germans launched their last major offensive of the war at Lake Balaton. After the 3rd Ukrainian Front absorbed the attack, they launched a counterattack, resulting in the elimination of German forces in the south and the capture of Vienna. The Soviets then advanced towards Linz and Graz in early May. Skirmishes between the Red Army and German soldiers, who were desperately trying to surrender to the Western Allies, lasted into late May.

Austria was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. The Western Allies and the Soviet Union occupied the country until 1955. The Soviet zone included Burgenland, Lower Austria, and the Mühlviertel area of Upper Austria, north of the Danube.

The Soviet occupation policies in Austria were largely shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, which stated that Austria was the first victim of Nazi aggression but would also have to pay the price for its participation. The Soviets adhered to the general line that Austria was a victim of Germany, and so the country avoided losing territory or having its citizens expelled or deported. However, the Western Allies consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets were entitled to German assets in their zone.

The Soviets deployed NKVD (Soviet secret police) teams to extract reparations through requisitions, seizing industrial plants and production installations. In June 1946, 30% of the national budget went towards covering occupation costs. From 1946 to 1955, Austria paid the Soviet Union 36.8 billion Schillings, or two percent of its accumulated GDP.

By the standards of the Soviet justice system, and given the significant Austrian contribution to Nazi war crimes, the Soviet repressive apparatus showed considerable restraint. This was partly because Moscow did not fully control Austria, and partly because Austria was not a high priority for the Kremlin. It was more important to have a friendly or communist regime in neighbouring countries such as Romania or Poland, which shared a border with the Soviet Union.

Soviet commanders issued orders to discourage criminal conduct as soon as troops entered Austria. On April 4, 1945, a directive was issued to all soldiers on the front lines, stating that Austria was Hitler's first victim and that the Red Army had entered the country to liberate it and destroy German forces. It called Nazi propaganda a lie and urged soldiers not to confuse Austrian civilians with German occupiers.

Order was gradually restored in the Soviet zone in the summer and fall of 1945. The number of troops was reduced, and frontline troops were placed under stricter control in encampments and barracks. The occupation troops that remained were more disciplined and better trained, mostly from the NKVD. As the war turned into an occupation, sexual relations between Soviet men and Austrian women became less violent and more transactional, and in many instances, consensual.

Post-War Elections

In the November 1945 parliamentary election, the Communist Party of Austria received less than six percent of the national vote. The new government was formed by a coalition of Social Democrats and Christian Democrats, the traditional center-left and center-right Austrian parties. The Soviets continued to exercise control in their zone until 1955, when they pulled out along with the Western Allies in exchange for Austria's promise to remain neutral in the Cold War.

Austria's post-war neutrality

Austria is not a communist country. The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) was banned between 1933 and 1945 under both the Austrofascist regime and the Nazi German administration of Austria. The party has not had representation in the National Council since 1959.

The first attempts to negotiate a treaty for Austrian independence failed because the Allies wanted to see a peace treaty with Germany first. The development of the Cold War further diminished the likelihood of a treaty. However, the climate for negotiations improved with Joseph Stalin's death in 1953 and the warming of relations known as the Khrushchev Thaw.

On May 15, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed in Vienna by the Allied occupying powers and the Austrian government. This treaty officially ended the state of war in Austria and established the country as a sovereign state. As part of the agreement, the Austrian government had to proclaim the country's military neutrality in exchange for the withdrawal of occupation forces. On October 26, 1955, the Austrian Parliament enacted a Declaration of Neutrality, declaring the country permanently neutral. This declaration was made after the last Allied troops left Austria and was a direct consequence of the previous occupation.

Austria's neutrality has become a deeply ingrained element of Austrian identity, with a 2022 opinion poll showing that 76% favored remaining neutral, versus 18% who supported joining NATO. However, Austria's membership in the European Union and its participation in certain UN-led missions have been controversial due to the country's commitment to neutrality.

The Austrian State Treaty

Austria is not a communist country. The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) was established in 1918 and is one of the world's oldest communist parties. The party has had varying levels of influence in the country, but it has not had representation in the National Council (Austria's federal parliament) since 1959.

Now, onto the Austrian State Treaty:

The treaty established Austria as a sovereign and democratic state, with the explicit prohibition of any future political union with Germany (Anschluss), as had occurred in 1938. It also included provisions for Soviet oilfield concessions and property rights of oil refineries in Eastern Austria, as well as the transfer of assets of the Danube Shipping Company to the USSR. The treaty acknowledged that Austria's involvement in World War II had not been voluntary and was intended to re-establish an independent and democratic state.

The negotiations over the final status of Austria began in 1947 but were protracted due to several factors, including Cold War tensions, disputes over German assets, and the issue of Austrian neutrality. The death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 and the subsequent "peace offensive" by the Soviet Union helped to ease tensions and advance the negotiations. The Soviet Union also relaxed restrictions on the press and travel in its sector and worked to establish formal diplomatic relations with the Austrian Government.

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