Austria's Soviet Ties: Understanding 1984'S Complex Political Landscape

Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945. 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, but the central district was collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. Austria was granted full independence on 15 May 1955, and the last occupation troops left on 25 October that year. Therefore, Austria was not part of the USSR in 1984.

The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria from 1945-1955

Austria was not part of the USSR in 1984. In fact, it had been an independent country since 1955, when the last Soviet troops left the country.

In the aftermath of World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the four Allied powers: the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. This occupation lasted from 1945 until 1955 and was the result of the Vienna Offensive, which ended on April 27, 1945, with the liberation of Vienna.

The occupation of Austria was divided into four zones, with each power controlling a separate area. Vienna, the capital, was also subdivided among the four Allies, with the central district being collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. The Soviet zone included the provinces of Burgenland, Lower Austria, and the Mühlviertel area of Upper Austria, while the American zone included Salzburg and Upper Austria south of the Danube. The British zone comprised East Tyrol, Carinthia, and Styria, and the French zone included Vorarlberg and North Tyrol.

During the occupation, the Soviet Union, like the other Allies, played a role in re-establishing the Austrian government. On April 20, 1945, the Soviets instructed Austrian politician Karl Renner to form a provisional government, which took office a week later and declared Austria's independence from Nazi Germany. Renner's cabinet included Austrian Communists in key positions, leading the Western Allies to suspect the establishment of a puppet state and refuse to recognize the government. Despite this, the Soviets worked with Renner to re-establish district administrations and appoint local mayors, even before the end of the war.

The Soviet occupation of Austria was not without challenges and tensions. The Red Army suffered significant casualties in the Battle of Vienna, losing 17,000 lives, and was accused of engaging in systematic sexual violence against women during the early days and weeks of the occupation. There were also reports of looting and plunder by Soviet troops, which affected the Austrian population and contributed to a negative perception of the Soviet presence.

The Soviet Union, as one of the occupying powers, played a role in the administration of Austria during the occupation. They exerted influence over the Austrian government, particularly in economic matters, and imposed burdensome reparations on the country. The Soviets demanded and received control over Austrian oil fields and seized industrial plants and production installations as part of reparations. This contributed to economic challenges for Austria during and after the occupation.

The occupation of Austria by the Soviet Union and the other Allies lasted for about 10 years, until 1955. The Austrian State Treaty, signed on May 15, 1955, marked the end of the occupation and the restoration of a free, independent, and democratic Austria. The treaty included a declaration of neutrality, which was an important negotiating criterion. The last occupation troops left Austria on October 25, 1955, and the country has maintained its neutral status since then.

Austria's independence and neutrality

Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, with the support of the Austrian population. In 1941, Hitler's regime launched a genocidal war against the Soviet Union. After almost four years of brutal combat, the Red Army approached Austria's border from Hungary in the winter of 1945. The Soviets occupied parts of Austria, including Vienna, while Anglo-American troops entered from Germany and Italy. Thereafter, France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union divided Austria into four occupation zones.

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. On April 27, 1945, Austria was declared independent from Nazi Germany, confirmed by the Berlin Declaration for Germany on June 5, 1945. However, the occupation continued, and the country was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955.

In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed by the governments of the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States, and France. This treaty granted Austria independence and arranged for the withdrawal of all occupation forces. The agreement was made with the understanding that Austria would declare its neutrality, creating a buffer zone between the East and the West during the Cold War. The Soviet Union would not have agreed to the State Treaty if Austria had not committed to declaring neutrality after the allied forces left the country.

Austria's neutrality was enforced by the Moscow memorandum, in which the Soviet Union demanded Austria's neutrality on the model of Switzerland. Austria's neutrality was also enshrined in its constitution, prohibiting the country from entering into military alliances or allowing foreign military bases on its territory. Austria has maintained its neutral status since then, even after joining the European Union in 1995.

The Soviet Union's economic exploitation of Austria

Austria was not part of the USSR in 1984. In fact, it was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945. From 1945 to 1955, Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, until it was granted full independence on 15 May 1955.

Now, onto the Soviet Union's economic exploitation of Austria.

Seizure of Industrial Assets

The Soviet Union used the vagueness of the Potsdam Agreement, which allowed for the confiscation of "German external assets" in Austria, to dismantle and ship industrial equipment from Austria to the East. This equipment was valued at around $500 million. The Soviets also expropriated hundreds of Austrian businesses, particularly those in their zone of occupation, and amalgamated them into the USIA, a conglomerate of over 400 enterprises. While the USIA controlled less than 5% of Austrian economic output, it held a substantial or monopolistic share in key industries such as glass, steel, oil, and transportation. The profits from these enterprises were confiscated by the Soviets, and taxes went unpaid, giving the USIA a competitive advantage that kept it afloat despite its mounting obsolescence.

Imposition of Occupation Costs

From 1945 to 1946, Austria was required to pay the entire cost of the Allied occupation forces, which peaked at around 150,000 Soviet troops, 55,000 British troops, 40,000 American troops, and 15,000 French troops. In 1946, occupation costs were capped at 35% of Austrian state expenditures, to be split equally between the Soviets and the Western Allies. This still placed a significant burden on the war-ravaged country.

Extraction of Reparations

Local governments in Austria were obliged to feed and clothe the Red Army, which was an enormous burden given the number of troops. The Soviets also deployed NKVD (Soviet secret police) teams to extract reparations through requisitions, seizing industrial plants, production installations, and goods amounting to 31,200 freight cars. In total, Austria paid the Soviet Union 36.8 billion Schillings, or about 2% of its accumulated GDP from 1946 to 1955.

The economic exploitation of Austria by the Soviet Union had significant negative consequences for the country, contributing to poverty and food shortages in the post-war years.

The Austrian State Treaty of 1955

Austria was not part of the USSR in 1984. In fact, Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945.

The basis for the treaty was the Moscow Declaration of 30 October 1943, in which the Allies agreed that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. The treaty's nine parts included political and territorial provisions, military and air travel provisions, and ownership, law, and interests. It also expressly detailed the minority rights of the Slovene and Croat minorities, prohibited Anschluss (Austria's political union with Germany), and banned Nazi and fascist organisations.

The Austrian State Treaty came into force on 27 July 1955, with the last occupation troops leaving on 25 October 1955. On 26 October, the Austrian parliament declared the country's neutrality, and this day became a national holiday, known as the Day of the Flag. The treaty was a historic milestone, ending the four-power occupation and re-establishing Austria as a democratic and sovereign nation. It remains a fundamental part of Austria's identity today, symbolising the emergence of Austrian independence and serving as an important reminder of the country's commitment to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

The Soviet Union's withdrawal from Austria

The Soviet Occupation of Austria:

The Soviet Union's involvement in Austria started with the Red Army's invasion in 1945 as part of their offensive against Nazi Germany. The Soviets, along with the Western Allies, sought to defeat Nazi Germany and undo its territorial gains, including the annexation of Austria in 1938. While the Western Allies viewed Austria as a victim of Nazi aggression, the Soviet Union was more sceptical due to the support many Austrians showed for the annexation.

The Four-Power Occupation:

After the war, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, with the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France each controlling a zone. Vienna, the capital, was also subdivided among the four powers. This arrangement mirrored the division of Germany into occupation zones and was intended to deny Germany the territory it had annexed.

The Moscow Declaration of 1943:

In 1943, the Allies agreed in the Moscow Declaration that Austria would be treated as the first victim of Nazi aggression while also acknowledging its role in Nazi crimes. This declaration set the framework for Austria's post-war status and paved the way for its eventual independence.

Soviet Policies in Austria:

During the occupation, the Soviet Union implemented policies that shaped Austria's political and economic landscape. They re-established local administrations, appointed mayors with input from locals, and allowed non-communist political parties to operate in their zone. However, they also engaged in systematic sexual violence, looting, and repression, damaging their reputation and straining relations with the Austrian population.

Negotiations for Independence:

Negotiations for Austria's independence began in 1947 but were protracted due to Cold War tensions and disagreements over the compensation for German assets in Austria. The Soviet Union sought to maximise its gains, while the Western Allies wanted to limit Soviet influence. The death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 and the subsequent ""peace offensive"" by his successors created an opportunity for progress.

The Austrian State Treaty, 1955:

In April 1955, after intense negotiations, representatives of the Austrian government travelled to Moscow and secured an agreement with the Soviet Union. This agreement outlined compensation for German assets and the nature of Austrian neutrality. On May 15, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed by the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, granting Austria independence and arranging for the withdrawal of all occupation forces.

Withdrawal of Soviet Troops:

As per the treaty, the Soviet Union withdrew its troops from Austria, marking the only Cold War-era withdrawal by the Soviet Union from a territory it occupied. The last occupation troops left on October 25, 1955, and Austria maintained its neutrality throughout the Cold War.

In summary, the Soviet Union's withdrawal from Austria was a result of complex political negotiations, the desire to reduce international tensions, and the recognition of Austria's unique status as a victim of Nazi aggression. The withdrawal contributed to Austria's independence and its role as a neutral buffer state during the Cold War.

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