Lyla Lindsey
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. The country was gradually emancipated from foreign control over the next nine years, and on 15 May 1955, it was accorded full independence. The last occupation troops left on 25 October 1955, following the Austrian State Treaty, which came into force on 27 July 1955.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of independence from Nazi Germany | 27 April 1945 |
| Date of Austrian State Treaty | 27 July 1955 |
| Date of full independence | 15 May 1955 |
| Date occupation troops left | 25 October 1955 |
| Date of Second Control Agreement | 28 June 1946 |
| Date of Vienna Offensive | April 1945 |
| Date of Moscow Declaration | 1943 |
| Date of Anschluss | 13 March 1938 |
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What You'll Learn
- Austria was a part of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 27 April 1945
- The country was divided into four occupation zones by the Allies
- The Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France jointly occupied Austria
- The Austrian State Treaty came into force on 27 July 1955, ending the occupation
- Austria promised perpetual neutrality to gain independence
Austria was a part of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 27 April 1945
Austria was a part of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 1945. On March 12, 1938, German troops, accompanied by Hitler himself, entered Austria. This event, known as the Anschluss, resulted in the unification of Austria and Germany, with the overwhelming support of the Austrian population. Austrian Nazis had been gaining supporters since 1931–1932, and by 1933, the rise of the Nazis in Germany further destabilized Austrian politics, which was already characterized by infighting and political violence.
On March 13, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany. Austria was no longer an independent country but a province of Nazi Germany. The Nazis worked to erase any traces of a separate Austrian identity, even renaming the country to Ostmark. Upper and Lower Austria became the Upper and Lower Danube, respectively.
During World War II, approximately 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and many others participated in the Nazi administration, including death camp personnel and senior Nazi leadership. The majority of the bureaucrats who implemented the Final Solution were Austrian. Additionally, a substantial number of Austrians served in the SS, the elite military corps of the Nazi Party.
After World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Vienna was also 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 gained full independence.
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The country was divided into four occupation zones by the Allies
Austria was jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France after World War II. The country was divided into four occupation zones, similar to the division of Germany and Berlin. Vienna, the Austrian capital, was also subdivided among the four Allies, with the central district being collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. The historical centre of Vienna was declared an international zone, with occupation forces changing every month.
The zones were decided upon on July 9, 1945, and the movement of occupation troops, or "zone swaps", continued until the end of the month. The French and American zones bordered their countries' respective zones in Germany, while the Soviet zone bordered future Warsaw Pact states. Vorarlberg and North Tyrol were assigned to the French zone, Salzburg and Upper Austria south of the Danube to the Americans, East Tyrol, Carinthia, and Styria to the British, and Burgenland, Lower Austria, and the Mühlviertel area of Upper Austria, north of the Danube, to the Soviets.
The first Americans arrived in Vienna at the end of July 1945, when the Soviets were pressuring Renner to surrender Austrian oil fields. The Americans objected and blocked the deal, but ultimately the Soviets assumed control over Austrian oil in their zone. The British arrived in September, and on September 12, 1945, the Allied Council of four military governors convened for its first meeting in Vienna.
The Allied occupation force peaked at around 150,000 Soviet, 55,000 British, 40,000 American, and 15,000 French troops. The Soviets continued to exercise control in their zone, pulling out of the country only in 1955 along with the Western Allies, in exchange for Austria's promise to remain neutral during the Cold War.
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The Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France jointly occupied Austria
Austria was jointly occupied by the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France from 1945 until 1955. During World War II, Austria had been a part of Nazi Germany, and the country was subsequently divided into four occupation zones by the Allies after the war.
The Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were influenced by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, which was agreed upon by the British, Americans, and Soviets. The declaration stated that Austria was the first victim of Nazi Germany's aggression but also held the country accountable for its participation in the war and complicity in Nazi crimes. As a result, the Soviets treated Austria as a defeated Axis power, but they also adhered to the line that Austria was a victim of Germany. This meant that Austria avoided some of the harshest consequences of Germany's defeat, such as territorial loss and burdensome war reparations.
In April 1945, the Soviets, acting independently of their Western allies, instructed Austrian politician Karl Renner to form a provisional government. Renner's cabinet declared Austria's independence from Nazi Germany and called for the creation of a democratic state. The Western Allies consented to Soviet demands for German assets in Austria within their zone of occupation. This resulted in a significant financial burden for Austria, as they ended up paying more than what was initially demanded.
In June 1946, the Allies signed the Second Control Agreement, which reduced their control over the Austrian government. From this point on, decisions made by the Austrian parliament could only be overturned by a unanimous vote of all four occupying powers. Over the next nine years, Austria gradually regained its independence, with the last occupation troops leaving in October 1955.
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The Austrian State Treaty came into force on 27 July 1955, ending the occupation
Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945. However, the country remained under joint occupation by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955. During this time, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, with Vienna being similarly subdivided.
The Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were largely shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets proclaimed that Austria was Germany's first victim but also bore responsibility for its participation in Nazi aggression. In June 1946, the Allies signed the Second Control Agreement, which loosened their control over the Austrian government. Over the next nine years, the country gradually emancipated from foreign rule, eventually regaining full independence.
The Austrian State Treaty, which came into force on 27 July 1955, officially ended the occupation. This occurred after Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality, and the last occupation troops departed on 25 October 1955. The treaty restored Austria's sovereignty, which had been lost following the Anschluss in 1938 when the country was incorporated into Nazi Germany.
The road to Austrian independence was not without challenges. The political landscape in the years leading up to World War II was fraught with infighting and violence, making resistance to Nazi occupation difficult. Additionally, the issue of German assets in Soviet possession and the burden of occupation costs on the war-ravaged country complicated negotiations. Nevertheless, the Austrian State Treaty's entry into force in 1955 marked a significant turning point, allowing Austria to emerge from occupation and rebuild as a neutral and independent nation.
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Austria promised perpetual neutrality to gain independence
Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945. In November 1943, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and would be treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. However, Austria remained under the joint occupation of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955.
Austria's status during this time was a controversial subject in the Cold War. The country was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. The central district of Vienna was collectively administered by the Allied Control Council.
The first allied talks on Austrian independence were held in January 1947 but deadlocked over the issue of "German assets" in Soviet possession. On 28 June 1946, the Allies signed the Second Control Agreement, which loosened their dominance over the Austrian government. Over the next nine years, the country gradually emancipated itself from foreign control and evolved towards full independence.
Austria finally gained full independence on 15 May 1955 with the Austrian State Treaty, also known as the Austrian Independence Treaty. This treaty was signed in Vienna among the Allied occupying powers and the Austrian government. The last occupation troops left on 25 October 1955. Austria's independence was granted in exchange for promises of perpetual neutrality, which was declared by the Austrian Parliament on 26 October 1955. This declaration stated that Austria would not join any military alliances or permit foreign military bases on its territory.
Since 1955, neutrality has become a deeply ingrained element of Austrian identity. Even in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Austrian politicians protested a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a violation of Austria's neutrality. An opinion poll from March 2022 found that 76% favoured Austria remaining neutral, versus 18% who supported joining NATO.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria gained independence from Allied occupation on the 27th of July 1955 when the Austrian State Treaty came into force.
Yes, Austria was a part of Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945. This event is known as the Anschluss.
On 27 April 1945, Allied-occupied Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany.
Austria was divided into four occupation zones and jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France after World War II. In 1943, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and would be treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. Austria was gradually emancipated from foreign control over the next few years and was finally accorded full independence on 15 May 1955, after promising perpetual neutrality.
