Austria's Communist Past: Red Vienna And Beyond

Austria has never been a communist country, but it does have a communist party, the KPÖ, which was established in 1918 and is one of the world's oldest communist parties. The KPÖ has not had representation in the National Council, Austria's federal parliament, since 1959. In the 2019 legislative election, the party won only 0.7% of the votes. However, in recent years, the KPÖ has made gains in local elections, and currently holds the mayorship of Graz, Austria's second-largest city. The party's success has sparked debates about its relationship to its historical legacy, including its identification with the Soviet Union and other communist countries.

The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ)

Background and Establishment

The KPÖ was officially established on November 3, 1918, during a time of supply shortages in Austria caused by the Allies' sea blockade during World War I. This led to worker protests and strikes, such as the 1918 "Jännerstreik." The left wing of the workers' movement established the KPÖ, with co-founders including Ruth Fischer, Karl Steinhardt, Franz Koritschoner, and Lucien Laurat.

First Republic, Second World War, and Resistance to Nazism

During the First Republic, the KPÖ had little influence and struggled to gain a mandate in parliament due to competition from the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and internal factional struggles. The party was banned between 1933 and 1945 under both the Austrofascist regime and the Nazi German administration of Austria. Despite the ban, the KPÖ continued to operate underground and played a significant role in the Austrian resistance during World War II, fighting alongside former political enemies like Christian socialists, Catholics, Monarchists, and farmers against Hitler's regime.

Post-World War II and General Strikes of 1950

After Austria regained its independence, the KPÖ gained national importance, partly due to the support of the occupying Soviet authorities. They participated in the first provisional government under Karl Renner and held various ministerial positions. However, their influence waned due to poor electoral performances, and they lost representation in the National Council in 1959. Post-war Austria also saw large-scale strike movements in 1950 due to a severe austerity programme implemented by the ÖVP-led government. The KPÖ played a prominent role in these strikes, which led to fears of a potential coup d'état.

Weaknesses and Crises

The closeness of the KPÖ to Moscow and the decline in their electoral performance raised concerns among Austrians about the party's aims and the potential division of the country. The party faced internal crises and a fall in support in the late 1970s and early 1980s, leading to a brief flirtation with eurocommunism and democratic socialism, which caused further divisions within the party.

After the Fall of the Socialist Bloc

With the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, the KPÖ faced new challenges and saw a decline in its core supporters. The party underwent leadership changes and attempted to renew itself, but these efforts were met with limited success.

Recent Developments

In the 21st century, the KPÖ has seen a revival, particularly in the state of Styria, and has made electoral gains. In 2021, Elke Kahr of the KPÖ became the mayor of Graz, Austria's second-largest city. The party has also retained its stronghold in Graz and made gains in other states, such as Salzburg. The KPÖ combines radical-democratic reform policies with a transformative perspective, striving for a democratic socialism that aims for a classless society, the protection of nature, and the end of patriarchy.

The party's history and its relationship with the Soviet Union

The Communist Party of Austria (Kommunistische Partei Österreichs, or KPÖ) was founded in November 1918, just after the end of World War I and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The party emerged from various left-wing groups and initially advocated for a socialist revolution and the creation of a dictatorship of the proletariat. However, the KPÖ struggled to gain widespread support in the early years, as Austria was facing significant economic and political challenges, and the social democratic parties were more dominant.

During the interwar period, the KPÖ remained a small but active party, and it often found itself at odds with the social democrats and the emerging fascist movements. The party's relationship with the Soviet Union during this time was complex. While the KPÖ admired the Soviet Union as the first socialist state, it also sought to maintain its independence and autonomy, which sometimes led to tensions with the Communist International (Comintern), the international organization of communist parties directed by Moscow.

With the outbreak of World War II, the KPÖ was banned by the authoritarian regime of Engelbert Dollfuss in 1933, and it continued its activities underground. Many party members fought against fascism, either by joining the Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War or by participating in resistance movements during the Nazi occupation of Austria from 1938 to 1945. During this time, the KPÖ received support and guidance from the Soviet Union, which saw Austria as a crucial front in the fight against fascism.

After World War II, the KPÖ emerged as a significant political force, particularly in the Soviet-occupied zones of Austria. The party played a central role in the reconstruction of the country and the establishment of a new political system. The KPÖ enjoyed its highest level of support during this time, with strong representation in parliament and even participating in coalition governments in several states. The party's relationship with the Soviet Union was close, and it generally followed the ideological line set by Moscow, including adopting a critical stance towards the social democrats during the Cold War.

However, as the Cold War intensified, the KPÖ's influence began to wane. The party faced internal divisions, and it struggled to adapt to the changing political landscape. The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 and the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 caused further damage to the KPÖ's reputation. The party was increasingly seen as a foreign entity, and its close ties to the Soviet Union became a liability.

In the post-Cold War era, the KPÖ has undergone a transformation, moving away from its traditional Marxist-Leninist ideology and towards a more democratic socialist platform. The party has also sought to emphasize its independence from Moscow, and it has been critical of some aspects of Soviet-style socialism. Today, the KPÖ remains a small but active force in Austrian politics, with a presence in several state parliaments and local governments. While its relationship with the Soviet Union was a defining feature of its history, the KPÖ has sought to forge a new path in the post-Soviet era.

The party's current political status

The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) is one of the world's oldest communist parties, established in 1918 as the Communist Party of German-Austria. It 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 (Nationalrat, Austria's federal parliament) since 1959. In the legislative election held on 29 September 2019, it won only 0.7% of the votes, well below the 4% minimum threshold to obtain seats in the National Council. The party's vote share increased to 2.4% in 2024, but it still fell below the threshold.

At the local level, the KPÖ has made significant strides, holding the mayorship of Graz, Austria's second-largest city, since 2021, and over 130 seats on district and municipal councils across the country. The party's success in Graz is largely attributed to its focus on housing as a political issue, with popular town councillor Ernest Kaltenegger ensuring that each public housing unit had its own toilet and bathroom. The KPÖ's vote share in Graz increased to 20.75% in the 2005 local council elections and nearly 20% in 2012 and 2017. In the 2021 elections, the party's vote share surged to 29%, making it the party with the most seats on the council, and Elke Kahr of the KPÖ was subsequently elected mayor.

The KPÖ's recent electoral gains have sparked debates about its stance on communist dictatorships and its policy of donating large portions of its elected officials' salaries. The party has been accused of having a criminal history and not sufficiently addressing its past. However, the KPÖ has actively engaged in reappraising its history, with numerous publications over the last twenty to thirty years critically examining its past and recognising its historical achievements.

The KPÖ's relationship with the Soviet Union and its uncritical stance towards the socialist countries have been major factors in its marginalisation and isolation during the Cold War. The party's influence declined at the general political level from the 1950s onward, but it retained a significant role at the municipal level and in large industrial firms. The KPÖ also participated in extraparliamentary movements, such as the peace movement, anti-fascist initiatives, and solidarity movements with countries like Vietnam and Nicaragua.

The party's current focus is on overcoming capitalism and striving for a socialist society. It remains to be seen if the KPÖ can capitalise on its recent local successes and gain representation in the National Council in future elections.

Austria's liberation from Nazi Germany

Austria was part of Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 (an event known as the Anschluss) until 27 April 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany.

The Annexation of Austria

On 12 March 1938, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier, with around 25,000 entering the country in total. Supporters of the Austrian Nazi Party, along with members of the SS and SA, occupied public buildings and offices throughout Austria. The formation of the Greater German Reich was announced from the balcony of the Council House in Linz. On 13 March 1938, the second session of the Government passed the “Reunification with Germany Law”.

The Liberation of Austria

The liberation of Austria came about as a result of the Vienna offensive. On 29 March 1945, Soviet commander Fyodor Tolbukhin's troops crossed the former Austrian border at Klostermarienberg in Burgenland. On 3 April, at the beginning of the Vienna Offensive, the Austrian politician Karl Renner, then living in southern Lower Austria, established contact with the Soviets. On 20 April 1945, the Soviets instructed Renner to form a provisional government. Seven days later, Renner's cabinet took office, declared the independence of Austria from Nazi Germany, and called for the creation of a democratic state.

On 27 April 1945, Austria was declared independent from Nazi Germany. However, the country remained under Allied occupation until 25 October 1955, when the last occupation troops left.

Austria's role in the Cold War

Austria was never a communist country. The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) was established in 1918 and banned between 1933 and 1945 under the Austrofascist regime and the Nazi German administration of Austria.

During the Cold War, Austria was occupied by the Soviets, Americans, British, and French. The country was divided into four occupation zones, with Vienna being subdivided and the central district being collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. The Western Allies and the Soviet Union jointly occupied Austria until 1955.

The Communist Party of Austria played a significant role in the country's post-World War II politics, particularly in the first provisional government under Karl Renner. However, the party's influence waned, and it failed to gain significant support in subsequent elections. The party's last representation in the National Council, Austria's federal parliament, was in 1959.

Austria's experience with Soviet occupation and the country's desire to maintain its independence also shaped its role in the Cold War. The Soviets imposed heavy reparations on Austria and engaged in systematic sexual violence and looting during their occupation. This led to a negative perception of the Soviets among Austrians, and the country sought to maintain its neutrality to avoid being drawn into the conflict between the East and West.

In summary, Austria's role in the Cold War was characterized by its occupation by the four Allied powers, its eventual independence and neutrality, and its position as a buffer state between the Eastern and Western blocs. The country's domestic politics were influenced by the Communist Party, but it never became a communist country, and the party's influence declined over time.

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