Iron Curtain: Austria's Complicated Cold War History

Austria was not behind the Iron Curtain. After World War II, it was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the UK, the US, France, and the Soviet Union. However, unlike Germany, there was a negotiated end to the military occupation in 1955, with the ratification of the Austrian State Treaty, which reinstated Austria's sovereignty. The country pledged neutrality in European affairs and would not host foreign military bases.

Austria was divided into four occupation zones

Following World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, each controlled by a different Allied power. The Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France each took control of a zone, with Vienna, the nation's capital, being split amongst the four. This division of Austria was a result of the Potsdam Conference and lasted until 1955, when the last occupation troops left.

The Soviet zone was the largest, and included Burgenland, Lower Austria, and the Mühlviertel area of Upper Austria, north of the Danube. The American zone included Salzburg and Upper Austria south of the Danube. The French zone included Vorarlberg and North Tyrol. Finally, the British zone included East Tyrol, Carinthia, and Styria.

The central district of Vienna was collectively administered by the four powers, with occupation forces changing every month. This unique arrangement was cumbersome and led to the four powers agreeing to end the military occupation in 1955.

Austria's fate turned out much better than that of Germany or other Central European countries, which fell under Soviet control. One reason for this was the 1943 Moscow Declaration, in which the US, UK, and USSR agreed to treat Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression and work towards establishing a free and independent Austria after the war.

The four powers negotiated an end to the occupation with the ratification of the Austrian State Treaty in 1955. As part of the treaty, Austria pledged neutrality in European affairs, agreed not to host foreign military bases, and vowed to never seek a reunion with Germany. In return, Austria gained its independence and sovereignty for the first time since the 1938 Anschluss with Nazi Germany.

The Austrian State Treaty

Austria was indeed occupied by the Soviets at the end of World War II. However, it did not fall behind the Iron Curtain, and this can be attributed to the Austrian State Treaty, which granted Austria independence and neutral status.

The basis for the treaty was the Moscow Declaration of October 30, 1943, in which the Allies agreed to treat Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression and as a liberated and independent country after the war. This recognition of Austria's unique situation during World War II set the stage for the negotiations and eventual independence of Austria.

Negotiations and Compromises

The road to Austrian independence was long and challenging. Initial attempts to negotiate a treaty failed due to the Allies' focus on securing a peace treaty with Germany first. Additionally, the development of the Cold War further complicated the process. However, Austria's successful defence of its territory against the demands of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia and the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 created a more favourable climate for negotiations.

The key sticking points during the negotiations were the issue of German assets in Austria and the question of Austrian neutrality. The Soviet Union had seized control of many German-held industries and demanded compensation. This issue was resolved through a revenue-sharing plan and economic concessions offered by the West. Regarding neutrality, Austria pledged to remain neutral, refraining from joining NATO or other defensive alliances, which was a condition agreed upon by both the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Outcome and Impact

Austria's independence from Nazi Germany

Austria was a 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 Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, which occurred on 12 March 1938. This was preceded by a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, learning of the conspiracy, met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, but was coerced into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.

On 9 March 1938, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss once and for all. However, before the plebiscite could take place, Schuschnigg gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on 11 March. In his resignation address, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country.

The next day, 12 March, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on 13 March the Anschluss was proclaimed. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria.

Austria was a part of Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany.

On 27 April 1945, the German forces in Italy surrendered. This surrender included the German troops in Austria, and the German troops in Austria's Alpine Redoubt. The German forces in Italy and Austria were the last significant Nazi forces to surrender.

The Austrian resistance groups were often ideologically separated and reflected the spectrum of political parties before the war. In addition to armed resistance groups, there was a strong communist resistance group, groups close to the Catholic Church, Habsburg groups, and individual resistance groups in the German Wehrmacht. Most resistance groups were exposed by the Gestapo and the members were executed.

The Austrian historian Helmut Konrad has estimated that out of an Austrian population of 6.8 million in 1938, there were around 100,000 Austrian opponents to the regime who were convicted and imprisoned, and an Austrian membership of the Nazi Party of 700,000.

The Aftermath of World War II

After World War II, many Austrians sought comfort in the myth of Austria as being the first victim of the Nazis. Although the Nazi Party was promptly banned, Austria did not have the same thorough process of denazification that was imposed on post-war Germany. Lacking outside pressure for political reform, factions of Austrian society tried for a long time to advance the view that the Anschluss was only an imposition of rule by Nazi Germany.

In 1986, the election of a former Wehrmacht intelligence officer, Kurt Waldheim, as a federal president put Austria on the verge of international isolation. Powerful outside pressure and an internal political discussion forced Austrians to reconsider their attitude to the past. Starting with the political administration of the 1990s and followed by most of the Austrian people by the mid-2000s, the nation admitted its collective responsibility for the crimes committed during the Nazi occupation and officially abandoned the "victim theory".

Austria's status during the Cold War

Austria was recognised as the first victim of Nazi aggression and was treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. However, it remained under the joint occupation of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955. During this time, the country was governed by a provisional government led by Karl Renner, which declared Austria's independence from Nazi Germany and called for the creation of a democratic state.

The Western Allies suspected the establishment of a puppet state and refused to recognise Renner's government. However, Renner managed to secure inter-party control by designating two Under-Secretaries of State in each of the ministries, appointed by the two parties not designating the Secretary of State.

In 1947, the first allied talks on Austrian independence were held, but they deadlocked over the issue of "German assets" in Soviet possession. The continuing talks on Austrian independence stalled in 1948 but progressed to a "near breakthrough" in 1949 when the Soviets lifted most of their objections. However, the Western powers still suspected foul play and were concerned that the withdrawal of their troops would leave the country open to Soviet invasion.

Finally, in 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed, ending the occupation and granting Austria full independence. The last occupation troops left on 25 October that year. As a condition of their withdrawal, the occupying powers required Austria to declare its neutrality and pledge not to host foreign military bases or seek a reunion with Germany.

Thus, during the Cold War, Austria was officially neutral and not part of either the Eastern or Western blocs. However, its borders to the West were open, while those to the Eastern bloc were mostly closed. As a result, Austria became culturally and economically connected to the West, but politically restrained from joining either Superpower bloc.

The Soviet Union's presence in Austria

The Occupation of Austria:

After World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, with the Soviet Union controlling one of the largest zones, bordering future Warsaw Pact states. This division was similar to what occurred in Germany, which was split into East and West. The Soviet zone in Austria included areas such as Burgenland, Lower Austria, and the Mühlviertel area of Upper Austria. Vienna, the Austrian capital, was also divided among the four Allies, with a unique arrangement where occupation forces rotated monthly in the city's historical center.

Soviet Policies and Actions in Austria:

The Soviet Union's policies and actions during its occupation of Austria had a significant impact on the country. Here are some key aspects:

• Recognition of Austrian Victimhood: The Moscow Declaration of 1943, agreed upon by the British, Americans, and Soviets, proclaimed that Austria was the first victim of Nazi Germany. This recognition played a crucial role in shaping the post-war treatment of Austria and set the foundation for its eventual independence.
• Reparations and Economic Impact: While Austria avoided some of the harshest aspects of Germany's post-war fate, it still faced significant economic burdens. Moscow demanded reparations in the form of "German assets" in the Soviet occupation zone, which resulted in substantial payments and the confiscation of industrial assets. The cost of maintaining occupation troops also fell on Austria, further straining its economy.
• Political Violence and Repression: The Soviet repressive apparatus arrested and prosecuted Austrians for various charges, including war crimes, espionage, and everyday criminal activities. While the scale of political violence was more limited compared to other countries occupied by the Red Army, it still resulted in executions and lengthy prison terms for many Austrians.
• Sexual Violence and Looting: Soviet troops, including those from the 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts, committed widespread sexual assaults and looting in Austria. Estimates suggest that between 70,000 and 100,000 women were raped in Vienna alone. However, Soviet commanders did issue orders discouraging criminal conduct and differentiating between ordinary Austrians and Nazis.
• Establishment of a Provisional Government: The Soviets played a role in the formation of a provisional Austrian government led by Karl Renner, an Austrian socialist politician. However, the Western Allies suspected the establishment of a puppet state and refused to recognize Renner's government initially.
• Neutrality Agreement: In exchange for the withdrawal of Soviet and Western Allied troops in 1955, Austria pledged to remain neutral in the Cold War confrontation between the East and the West. This neutrality has been a defining feature of Austria's foreign policy ever since.

Long-Term Relations:

Even after the occupation ended, Austria and the Soviet Union, and later Russia, continued to have significant interactions and relations. Here are a few notable aspects:

• Spying and Intelligence Activities: Austria, due to its neutrality, often became a venue for spy exchanges between the East and the West. Additionally, Russian intelligence services have maintained a significant presence in the country, with Vienna hosting the largest European station of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) according to Austrian police sources.
• Economic Relations: Austria and Russia have had long-standing economic ties, particularly in the energy sector. Austria was the first Western European country to import natural gas from the Soviet Union in 1968, and it continues to be a significant importer of Russian gas today.
• Diplomatic Relations: Despite Austria's criticism of Russian actions in Ukraine and its support for EU sanctions, commercial ties between the two countries remain fairly intact. Austria has also refrained from expelling Russian diplomats in retaliation for the poisoning case in Salisbury, setting it apart from other EU countries.

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