Lyla Lindsey
The Austrian State Treaty, signed on May 15, 1955, was an agreement that recognised Austria's independence and sovereignty, reversing its previous political union with Germany (Anschluss) and prohibiting any future union between the two countries. The treaty also led to the withdrawal of all Allied occupation troops from Austria and established its neutrality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 15 May 1955 |
| Location | Vienna, Austria |
| Signatories | Her Majesty |
| Purpose | Re-establishment of an independent and democratic Austria |
| Effects | Withdrawal of Allied occupation troops, restoration of Austria's pre-1938 frontiers, forbidding of future political union with Germany, Establishment of Austrian neutrality, protection of minority rights of Slovene and Croat minorities |
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What You'll Learn
The Moscow Declaration of 1943
The declaration opened with a strong condemnation of Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938, known as the "Anschluss." The allies declared that this act had been "imposed upon the Austrian people by German force and intimidation" and was therefore null and void. They asserted that the annexation violated the rights of the Austrian people to determine their own form of government and that Austria would be regarded as a separate and distinct country from Germany. This statement was significant as it laid the groundwork for the eventual restoration of an independent Austrian state.
The Moscow Declaration went on to outline the allies' plans for the post-war era. It stated that the primary aim of the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union regarding Austria was to "re-establish an independent democratic Austria" and to "liberate the Austrian people from German domination." This included the restoration of the borders of Austria as they existed on January 1, 1938, effectively reversing the territorial gains made by Germany during the Anschluss.
The declaration also addressed the issue of war reparations. It stated that, while Austria as a whole was not responsible for the war, those Austrians who were members of the Nazi Party or had supported the Nazi regime would be held accountable. Reparations would be demanded from these individuals, as well as from the external assets of Germany and German-controlled enterprises in Austria. This provision was important in ensuring that Austria was not burdened with excessive reparations that could hinder its post-war recovery.
The Moscow Declaration served as a foundation for the eventual Austrian State Treaty, signed on May 15, 1955, which officially ended the allied occupation of Austria and restored the country's full independence. The declaration's recognition of Austria's unique circumstances and its rejection of collective responsibility for the actions of the Nazi regime were crucial factors in paving the way for Austria's re-emergence as a sovereign nation.
Overall, the Moscow Declaration of 1943 played a critical role in shaping the future of Austria by expressing the allies' commitment to Austrian independence and self-determination, setting the stage for the post-war reconstruction of the country, and ultimately leading to the Austrian State Treaty that formally restored Austria's sovereignty.
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Allied occupation of Austria
The Allied occupation of Austria began on April 27, 1945, after the Vienna Offensive, when Austria declared independence from Germany. The basis for the treaty was the Moscow Declaration of October 30, 1943, which stated that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and treated as a liberated and independent country after World War II.
The Austrian State Treaty was signed on May 15, 1955, in the Belvedere Palace, Vienna, and led to the withdrawal of all Allied occupation troops and the restoration of Austria's pre-1938 frontiers. The treaty also forbade any future political union between Austria and Germany, similar to the Anschluss of 1938, and prohibited Nazi and fascist organisations.
The negotiations with the Soviet Union were challenging due to the Cold War tensions, but they improved after Joseph Stalin's death in 1953, during the Khrushchev Thaw. The breakthrough in negotiations came in February 1955, when Austria promised perpetual neutrality. As a result, Austria gained full independence on May 15, 1955, and the last occupation troops departed on October 25, 1955.
The Austrian State Treaty Act of 1955, enacted by the UK Parliament, provided the legal framework for implementing the treaty and ensuring the re-establishment of an independent and democratic Austria. The Act gave Her Majesty the power to take necessary measures to give effect to the treaty.
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Austria's independence
The Austrian State Treaty was a result of improved negotiations between the Allies and the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, and the Khrushchev Thaw. The Soviet Union secured oilfield concessions and property rights to oil refineries in Eastern Austria, and in return, Austria was granted full independence and the last occupation troops left on October 25, 1955. Austria declared its neutrality on October 26, 1955, which became a national holiday.
The treaty also expressly detailed the minority rights of the Slovene and Croat minorities in Austria. It is important to note that Austrian neutrality was not explicitly mentioned in the original text of the treaty but was a result of the agreement and subsequent troop withdrawal. The Austrian State Treaty Act 1955 was enacted to give power to Her Majesty to carry out the provisions of the treaty.
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Austria's neutrality
The Austrian State Treaty of 1955 restored Austria's pre-1938 frontiers and prohibited any future political union between Germany and Austria (Anschluss). The treaty was signed in the Belvedere Palace, Vienna, on 15 May 1955, and led to the country's independence and the withdrawal of all Allied occupation troops by 25 October 1955.
The Austrian State Treaty was made possible by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the Allies agreed that Austria would be treated as the first victim of Nazi aggression, and as a liberated and independent country after the war. However, the development of the Cold War made a treaty less likely. The climate for negotiations improved with the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 and the warming of relations known as the Khrushchev Thaw.
The treaty included general regulations and recognition of the Austrian state, as well as the minority rights of the Slovene and Croat minorities. It also provided for the first Soviet military withdrawal since the war and brought into being a neutral Austrian state.
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The Anschluss
However, the unification of Austria and Germany was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. Despite this, support for unification with Germany grew in Austria after Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933. The Nazis pursued an aggressive foreign policy and used propaganda to convince Austrians to advocate for the annexation. Slogans such as "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") were employed to garner support for the cause.
In February 1938, Hitler invited the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to Germany and forced him to agree to allow the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite (referendum) on the question of the annexation, but he was pressured to cancel it and resign. On March 12, 1938, Germany invaded Austria, and the enthusiasm that followed gave Hitler the cover to annex Austria outright on March 13. A controlled plebiscite held on April 10 gave a 99.7% approval rating.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian State Treaty was an agreement signed in 1955 that recognised Austria as an independent and democratic state.
The treaty restored Austria's pre-1938 frontiers and prohibited any future political union between Austria and Germany. It also led to the withdrawal of all Allied occupation troops and established Austrian neutrality.
The treaty was negotiated during the Cold War and built upon the Moscow Declaration of 1943, which recognised Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression. After World War II, Austria was initially considered part of Nazi Germany, but the Allies agreed to treat it as a liberated and independent country following the war.
