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Austria was occupied by the Allies and declared independent from Nazi Germany on 27 April 1945, with the occupation ending when the Austrian State Treaty came into force on 27 July 1955. The country was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. The British Eighth Army moved into Austria and became part of the occupation force, with the new command maintaining the gold crusader cross insignia of the Eighth Army. The end of the occupation was marked by the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in Vienna, which included the condition that Austria would never join a military alliance or allow foreign troops to be based within the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Allied-occupied Austria | 27 April 1945 |
| Date of the end of occupation | 27 July 1955 |
| Date of the first meeting of the Allied Council of four military governors | 12 September 1945 |
| Date of the first legislative election | 25 October 1955 |
| Date of the signing of the Austrian State Treaty | 15 May 1955 |
| Date the Austrian State Treaty came into force | 27 July 1955 |
| Date of the enactment of the Declaration of Neutrality | 26 October 1955 |
| Date of the Territorial Review Act | 1946 |
| Date the Territorial Review Act came into effect | 1954 |
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What You'll Learn
The Austrian State Treaty
Following World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France, and divided into four occupation zones. This occupation, which began on 27 April 1945, was a result of the Vienna Offensive and was formalised in the Berlin Declaration for Germany on 5 June 1945. The occupation forces aimed to address the issue of Nazi aggression in Austria, which had been politically united with Germany since the Anschluss in 1938.
In 1943, the Allies acknowledged Austria's unique position as a victim of Nazi aggression in the Moscow Declaration, also known as the Declaration of Moscow. This declaration set the foundation for the eventual independence of Austria, recognising it as a liberated and independent country following the war. The Moscow Declaration also addressed issues such as Soviet oilfield concessions, property rights of oil refineries in Eastern Austria, and the transfer of assets of the Danube Shipping Company to the USSR.
The negotiations for the Austrian State Treaty gained momentum with the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, which led to a period of improved relations known as the Khrushchev Thaw. Successful negotiations with Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov in February 1955 paved the way for Austria's independence. As part of the agreement, Austria committed to perpetual neutrality, pledging never to join a military alliance such as NATO or the Warsaw Pact. The treaty also expressly detailed the minority rights of the Slovene and Croat minorities in Austria.
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Austria's Declaration of Neutrality
The Allied occupation of Austria began at the end of World War II in 1945 and ended in 1955. On 27 April 1945, Austria was declared independent from Nazi Germany, which was later confirmed by the Berlin Declaration for Germany on 5 June 1945. The country was subsequently divided into four occupation zones, with the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France each taking control of a zone. Vienna, the capital, was also subdivided among the four powers.
The Austrian State Treaty, signed on 15 May 1955, marked the end of the Allied occupation and came into force on 27 July 1955. On 25 October 1955, the last of the occupying troops left Austria. The following day, on 26 October 1955, the Austrian Parliament enacted the Declaration of Neutrality, declaring the country permanently neutral. This declaration was made as a constitutional act of parliament and was formally promulgated voluntarily by the Republic of Austria.
The Declaration of Neutrality stated that Austria would never join a military alliance such as NATO or the Warsaw Pact and would not allow foreign troops to be based within its territory. This commitment to neutrality was a direct consequence of the previous decade of occupation by the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. It was also a political precondition for the conclusion of the Austrian State Treaty, as the Soviet Union would not have agreed to the treaty otherwise.
Austria's neutrality is deeply ingrained in its national identity, with opinion polls as recent as March 2022 showing strong support for maintaining neutrality. The country has interpreted its neutrality status in accordance with international law and has joined various international organizations, including the United Nations (UN) in December 1955. Austria has also engaged in UN-led peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, such as KFOR and EUFOR, while maintaining its neutral stance.
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The Vienna Offensive
As the Soviets approached Vienna, they were met by fierce resistance from German forces, who desperately tried to defend the city. The Germans had retreated to the Vienna area after the failure of Operation Spring Awakening and were determined to hold off the Soviet advance. The fighting in Vienna was intense, with street-to-street battles raging for several days. The Germans put up a strong defense, but they were ultimately outnumbered and outmaneuvered by the Soviets. By 8 April, some troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front had already bypassed Vienna and advanced on Linz and Graz. On 10 April, all but two of the bridges in the city had been destroyed, and the Germans were forced to retreat.
The fall of Vienna was a significant victory for the Soviets and a major blow to the Germans. The city had been a strategic target for the Soviets, as it controlled access to the Danube and overland trade routes. The Soviets suffered heavy casualties during the offensive, with the Red Army losing 17,000 lives in the Battle of Vienna alone. Unfortunately, the Soviet victory was marred by reports of looting, rape, and violence committed by undisciplined Soviet troops in the city. Despite this, the success of the Vienna Offensive played a crucial role in the postwar negotiations and the subsequent occupation of Austria by the Allies.
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The Moscow Declaration of 1943
The Allied occupation of Austria ended on July 27, 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty came into force.
The Declaration on Austria stated that the annexation (Anschluss) of Austria by Germany was null and void and called for the establishment of a free and independent Austria after victory over Nazi Germany. The Allies agreed that Austria was the first country to fall victim to Hitlerite aggression and should be liberated from German domination. However, they also recognized Austria's responsibility for its participation in the war alongside Germany and stated that this would be taken into account in the final settlement.
The Moscow Declaration also included agreements to establish a European Advisory Commission to make recommendations for the joint powers and to continue hostilities against the Axis Powers until they surrendered unconditionally. Additionally, it emphasized the necessity of establishing an international organization (the United Nations) based on the sovereign equality of all peace-loving states to maintain international peace and security.
The Declaration on Italy stated that fascism and its influence should be destroyed, and the Italian people should be given the opportunity to establish democratic institutions and enjoy freedoms of speech, religion, political belief, press, and public meeting. The Declaration on Atrocities warned that German officers and members of the Nazi Party responsible for atrocities, massacres, and executions would be sent back to the countries where these acts occurred to be judged and punished according to the laws of those liberated countries.
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The Soviet Occupation of Austria
In the aftermath of World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. The country was divided into four occupation zones, with Vienna being subdivided among all four allies. The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria, however, began before the end of the war.
The Soviet occupation policies in Austria were influenced by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, which stated that Austria was the first victim of Nazi Germany but would also have to pay for its participation in Nazi aggression. The Soviets did not establish a separate socialist government in their zone, unlike in East Germany. Instead, they followed the general line that Austria was a victim of Germany, which spared Austria some of the harsher treatments imposed on Germany. The Soviet Union's zone included Burgenland, Lower Austria, and the Mühlviertel area of Upper Austria, north of the Danube. This zone also contained 65% of Austria's agricultural output and nearly all of its oil, which complicated the Western Allies' efforts to feed the population in their zones.
The Red Army's conduct during the occupation included systematic sexual violence against women and repression of civilians, damaging the army's reputation. In September 1945, Moscow issued an order prohibiting violent interrogations. Throughout the occupation, the Soviet command struggled to contain desertion and plunder by their troops. In 1947, the Austrian economy, including the USIA enterprises, reached 61% of pre-war levels, but consumer goods production lagged, and food remained a significant problem. The average Viennese consumed significantly less fat, meat, and bread in 1946 than in 1937.
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Frequently asked questions
The Allied Powers left Austria on 27 July 1955 when the Austrian State Treaty came into force.
The Austrian State Treaty was signed in Vienna on 15 May 1955 and came into force on 27 July 1955. It ended the occupation of Austria by the Allied Powers and restored the country's independence.
After 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, the capital, was similarly subdivided, with the inner-city district being administered by all four powers.
Austria was occupied by the Allied Powers as a result of the Vienna offensive and the country's involvement with Nazi Germany during World War II. The occupation lasted from 1945 until 1955, during which time the country was governed by the Allied Powers and underwent economic and political changes.
