Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria was occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union from 1945 until 1955. However, the country was not subjected to the same level of political violence and repression as other countries occupied by the Red Army. This was due to a combination of factors, including Moscow's limited control over Austria, its lower geopolitical priority, and the Austrian promise of perpetual neutrality. Additionally, the Western Allies successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans for burdensome war reparations, resulting in a more favourable outcome for Austria compared to other occupied nations.
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What You'll Learn
- Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union
- The Soviet Union showed restraint in its occupation of Austria
- The Western Allies blocked attempts by the Kremlin to impose war reparations on Austria
- Austria was granted independence after promising perpetual neutrality
- Austria was not occupied after 1955
Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union
The Western Allies and the Soviet Union had differing policies regarding the occupation of Austria. The Soviet Union considered Austria a defeated Axis power, but also believed that Austria was a victim of Germany. This belief was reflected in the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets proclaimed that Austria was Germany's first victim. The Soviet Union's restraint in Austria can also be partly explained by the fact that Moscow did not fully control Austria and that Austria was not a priority for the Kremlin. The Western Allies successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans to impose war reparations on Austria, but they did consent to Moscow's demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in their zone of occupation.
The Western Allies and the Soviet Union had different goals during the occupation of Austria. The Western Allies sought to prevent the spread of communism and to ensure that Austria remained aligned with the West. On the other hand, the Soviet Union sought to extract reparations from Austria and to ensure that the country remained neutral in the Cold War. The Western Allies and the Soviet Union also had differing levels of involvement in Austria's internal affairs, with the Western Allies generally taking a more hands-off approach while the Soviet Union was more involved in influencing Austrian politics and economics.
The occupation of Austria by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union came to an end in 1955 with the Austrian State Treaty. Austria was granted full independence on May 15, 1955, after promising perpetual neutrality. The last occupation troops left on October 25, 1955, and Austria enacted a Declaration of Neutrality, pledging to never join a military alliance or allow foreign troops to be based within its borders.
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The Soviet Union showed restraint in its occupation of Austria
Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union from 1945 until 1955. The Soviet Union's occupation policy in Austria was notably restrained compared to other countries occupied by the Red Army. This can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Moscow did not possess full control over Austria, and the country was not a high geopolitical priority for the Kremlin due to its distance from the Soviet Union's frontiers.
Secondly, the Soviet Union aimed to cultivate a favourable image of itself in Austria, which is evident from a directive issued to Soviet soldiers on April 4, 1945. The directive emphasised that the Red Army had entered Austria as liberators and instructed soldiers to respect Austrian civilians, their traditions, families, and private property. This directive contradicted years of Nazi propaganda in Austria, which had spread fear among Austrians by portraying atrocities committed by Soviet soldiers. By refuting these claims and demonstrating respect for Austrians, the Soviet Union aimed to foster positive relations with the local population.
Moreover, the Soviet Union did not impose a communist dictatorship in Austria, which limited the scale of political violence experienced by Austrians compared to other occupied countries. While Soviet secret police teams were deployed to extract reparations through requisitions, the overall level of repression was relatively restrained. This can be partly attributed to the Western Allies' opposition to imposing burdensome war reparations on Austria, which resulted in a more moderate outcome.
Additionally, the Soviet Union's occupation of Austria was influenced by the country's previous support for Nazi Germany. Austria had enthusiastically welcomed its annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss, and actively participated in Nazi atrocities. Despite this, the Soviet Union did not pursue large-scale retribution against Austrians. Instead, it focused on extracting reparations and ensuring a friendly relationship with Austria, which ultimately contributed to the country's independence in 1955.
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The Western Allies blocked attempts by the Kremlin to impose war reparations on Austria
Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union from 1945 until 1955. The Western Allies included the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was governed by the Kremlin and Moscow.
The Western Allies' objection to the Kremlin's attempts to impose war reparations on Austria is an important factor in the overall context of Austria's occupation and eventual independence. The Western Allies' stance likely contributed to the outcome of Austria being accorded full independence on May 15, 1955, with the last occupation troops leaving on October 25, 1955.
It is worth noting that, despite the Western Allies' efforts, Austria still ended up paying a significant amount to the Soviet Union. Historian Walter Iber estimated that Austria paid the Soviet Union 36.8 billion Schillings, or two percent of its accumulated GDP from 1946 to 1955. This amount was largely due to the costs of occupying and maintaining the Red Army, which was an enormous burden on war-ravaged Austria.
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Austria was granted independence after promising perpetual neutrality
Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, an event known as the Anschluss, which was supported by a large section of the Austrian population. This marked the beginning of a period of active Austrian participation in Nazi crimes, with 950,000 Austrians fighting for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II. Additionally, Austrians served in senior Nazi leadership positions and were involved in the administration of death camps.
Following World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955. During this time, the country experienced political and social upheaval, with the Communist Party of Austria receiving only around 5% of the vote in the 1945 election. The Western Allies also opposed Soviet plans for burdensome war reparations, which ultimately amounted to a significant sum.
In 1943, the Soviet Union, United States, and the United Kingdom jointly declared that the German annexation of Austria was "null and void", signalling their intent to create a free and independent Austria after the war. However, they also acknowledged Austria's responsibility for its participation in the war alongside Nazi Germany.
In April 1955, Austrian Chancellor Julius Raab visited Moscow, and an agreement was reached for Austria's independence in exchange for a promise of perpetual neutrality. This agreement stunned the Western powers, as it granted Austria freedom from occupation and the ability to pursue a neutral path, similar to Switzerland. On May 15, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed in Vienna, and by October 25 of that year, all occupation troops had left the country.
Austria's promise of perpetual neutrality played a crucial role in securing its independence, allowing it to emerge from the shadow of its involvement with Nazi Germany and establish itself as a neutral state in the Cold War era.
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Austria was not occupied after 1955
Austria was occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union from 1945 until 1955. On 27 April 1945, a provisional government in Allied-occupied Austria declared the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 ("Anschluss") "null and void".
Austria's independence was the result of a deal struck in Moscow in April 1955, which saw the Austrians agree to pay for "German assets" and oil fields left by the Soviets. The Austrian State Treaty also included a promise of Austrian neutrality, which was a significant concession to the Soviets, who had sought to maintain influence in the country. The Western powers were surprised by the deal, with British diplomat Geoffrey Wallinger reporting to London that it "was far too good to be true, to be honest".
Austria's occupation by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union differed from the occupation of Germany, which was divided into two separate states. Austria, on the other hand, was occupied jointly by the Western Allies and the Soviets, and after promising perpetual neutrality, was granted full independence in 1955.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria did get occupied by the Soviet Union and the Western Allies from 1945 to 1955.
No, the Western Allies successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans to impose war reparations on Austria. However, they did consent to Moscow's demand to be entitled to German assets in their zone of occupation.
Yes, Austria was far from the Soviet Union's frontiers and so it was more important for the Kremlin to have a friendly regime in neighbouring countries such as Romania or Poland.
No, the Austrian government did not resist the occupation. In fact, Chancellor Dollfuß was shot and killed by a group of Austrian SS personnel who forced their way into his office during a Nazi coup in 1934.
No, there was never an effective Austrian armed resistance of the sort found in other countries under German occupation.
