Damon Mcknight
Austria's surrender at the end of World War II marked the end of its occupation by Nazi Germany and the beginning of Allied occupation. The country's surrender was preceded by skirmishes between the Red Army and German soldiers, who sought to surrender to the Western Allies to avoid Soviet captivity. Following Austria's surrender, the Western Allies, including the British, Americans, and Soviets, divided the country into four occupation zones. This period witnessed social and economic upheaval, with the Austrian economy reaching only 61% of pre-war levels in 1947. The country was also impacted by food shortages, which led to riots and strikes. The Western Allies, however, played a role in stabilising the situation through the implementation of the Marshall Plan, which aimed to improve productivity and labour-management relations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of surrender | 12 March 1938 |
| Reason for surrender | Annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany |
| Country surrendered to | Nazi Germany |
| Number of Austrian civilians arrested by Soviet military tribunals | ~800 |
| Occupation costs as a percentage of the national budget | 30% |
| Total amount paid by Austria to the Soviet Union | 36.8 billion Schillings or 2% of accumulated GDP |
| Number of Red Army casualties in Austria | 94,185 |
| Number of Red Army soldiers killed | 26,006 |
| Number of Red Army soldiers wounded | 68,179 |
| Number of Austrian Communists in State Chancellor Renner's cabinet | 1/3 |
| Number of former Red Army men arrested by the Red Army and NKVD | 268 |
| Number of Wehrmacht men arrested by the Red Army and NKVD | 1,208 |
| Number of civilians arrested by the Red Army and NKVD | 1,655 |
| Number of Cossacks surrendered by the British to the Soviets | 40,000 |
| Number of Austrian Nazis appointed to Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg's cabinet | Several |
| Year the Austrian economy reached 61% of pre-war levels | 1947 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's surrender was a result of the Soviet Occupation
During the Soviet occupation, the NKVD (Soviet secret police) seized industrial plants, production installations, and goods worth 36.8 billion Schillings, or two percent of Austria's accumulated GDP. This was done to extract reparations, and the occupation costs amounted to 30 percent of the national budget in June 1946. Despite this, the scale of political violence experienced by Austrians was relatively limited compared to other countries occupied by the Red Army, as Moscow did not attempt to impose a communist dictatorship.
The Western Allies, including the United States and Great Britain, played a role in Austria's surrender and subsequent occupation as well. They consented to Moscow's demand for control over German assets in the Soviet zone, but they also successfully opposed plans for burdensome war reparations. The Western Allies also suspected the establishment of a puppet state under State Chancellor Renner, who had appointed anti-communist Karl Gruber as Foreign Minister.
The arrival of the Americans in Vienna in July 1945 led to a confrontation with the Soviets over the surrender of Austrian oil fields, with the Americans ultimately blocking the deal. However, the Soviets assumed control over Austrian oil in their zone. The British, who arrived in September, were particularly hostile to Renner and refused to recognize his claim of a national government.
The Austrian economy, including USIA enterprises, recovered to 61% of pre-war levels by 1947, but it still faced challenges, particularly in consumer goods production. The Marshall Plan, implemented by the United States, helped address these issues and reduced popular unrest. However, the Korean War experience later raised concerns about Austria becoming "Europe's Korea," leading to increased tension and internal economic and social crises.
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The Austrian Chancellor was coerced into surrendering
In the lead-up to World War I, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, served as a catalyst for a series of events that ultimately led to the outbreak of the war. While Austria-Hungary wished to retaliate against Serbia, which it suspected of involvement in the assassination, it needed assurance that its powerful ally, Germany, would support its military action. On July 5, 1914, the German government assured Austria-Hungary of its full support, leading to the July Crisis, a series of diplomatic manoeuvres that resulted in the declaration of war.
The Austrian Chancellor, Karl Renner, found himself in a precarious position. On one hand, he had a responsibility to defend Austria-Hungary's honour and respond to the assassination of the Archduke, who was the heir to the throne. On the other hand, he was aware of the potential consequences of initiating a war, especially given that Serbia was backed by its powerful ally, Russia, which had a secret military agreement with France. Renner knew that a war with Serbia could quickly escalate into a wider European conflict.
However, the German government, particularly the influential German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, exerted significant pressure on Renner to take a hard line against Serbia. Bethmann-Hollweg assured Renner that Germany would provide full military support and even encouraged a swift and aggressive response. The Germans believed that a limited, localized war against Serbia could be quickly won and would serve to strengthen the Central Powers' position in Europe.
Faced with this pressure from his powerful ally, Renner felt he had little choice but to acquiesce. On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding, among other things, the right to participate in the suppression of any subversive movements in Serbian territory. Serbia accepted most of the demands but refused to allow Austrian involvement in its internal affairs. This refusal provided the pretext for war, and on July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, with Germany quickly following suit.
Renner's surrender to German pressure and his decision to initiate military action against Serbia set off a chain reaction of declarations of war, ultimately leading to the outbreak of World War I. While Renner may have hoped for a limited conflict, the intricate web of alliances and the aggressive ambitions of the Central Powers ensured that the war quickly escalated beyond his control. Thus, the Austrian Chancellor's coerced surrender played a pivotal role in the onset of one of the deadliest conflicts in human history.
In conclusion, while there were multiple factors at play in Austria-Hungary's decision to go to war, the coercion of Chancellor Karl Renner by its powerful ally, Germany, was a significant contributing factor. The German government's assurances and encouragement of a hard-line stance against Serbia left Renner with little room to manoeuvre, ultimately leading to his surrender and the declaration of war. This pivotal moment in history highlights the complex dynamics of alliances and the potential consequences of powerful nations exerting influence over their weaker counterparts.
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Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938
On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to decide the question of the Anschluss. Before the vote could take place, however, he succumbed to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. Two days later, on March 12, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler triumphantly declared the unification of Austria and Germany. This was met with overwhelming support from the Austrian population, with 10% of the population joining the Nazi Party, and more than 1.3 million Austrians drafted into the Wehrmacht between 1938 and 1945.
The annexation of Austria was part of Hitler's vision to create a Greater German Reich. In his speech at the Heldenplatz in Vienna, he proclaimed that Austria, as the oldest eastern province of the German people, would become the newest bastion of the German Reich. This annexation was also facilitated by propaganda, which portrayed the union as a voluntary and welcomed decision rather than a coerced military occupation.
The Allied powers declared the Anschluss void at the end of World War II, and Austria was re-established as an independent state.
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Austria was a victim of Germany, but still paid a price
Austria's surrender in World War II was a result of its complex relationship with Nazi Germany. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, annexing the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the "Anschluss," was met with enthusiasm by many Austrians, including prominent politicians. Over 700,000 Austrians joined the Nazi Party, and more than 1.3 million were drafted into the Wehrmacht between 1938 and 1945. As a result, Austrians bore responsibility for Nazi atrocities on the Eastern Front.
However, it is important to recognise that Austria was indeed a victim of German aggression. The Moscow Declaration of 1943, agreed upon by the British, Americans, and Soviets, acknowledged this dual nature of Austria's role. While Austria was considered a victim, it also had to pay a price for its participation in Nazi aggression. This nuance is essential to understanding Austria's surrender and subsequent occupation.
As a consequence of the Moscow Declaration, Austria was treated more leniently than Germany following its surrender. It did not lose any territory, and Austrians were spared the fate of ethnic cleansing and mass deportations that befell Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe). Additionally, the Western Allies prevented the imposition of heavy war reparations on Austria, which had been inflicted on Germany and other Axis powers.
Nevertheless, Austria did pay a significant price. Soviet occupation policies, guided by the Moscow Declaration, resulted in the seizure of industrial plants, production installations, and various goods. From 1946 to 1955, Austria paid the Soviet Union approximately 36.8 billion Schillings, representing about two percent of its accumulated GDP. The country also experienced political violence, with Soviet military tribunals arresting around 800 Austrian civilians in the initial eight months of occupation.
In conclusion, while Austria was a victim of German annexation and propaganda, it was not exempt from consequences. The Moscow Declaration ensured that Austria faced reparations and occupation, but on a lesser scale than that of Germany. This duality of victimhood and complicity shaped Austria's surrender and subsequent experience in the aftermath of World War II.
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The Austrian economy was dependent on food imports
The Austrian economy was highly dependent on food imports in the aftermath of World War II. In 1947, the Austrian economy, including USIA enterprises, reached 61% of pre-war levels, but it faced a significant challenge in the disproportionately low production of consumer goods, which stood at only 42% of pre-war capacity. This weakness in consumer goods production, particularly in the agricultural sector, left Austria vulnerable to food shortages and reliant on imports to meet its domestic needs.
The Marshall Plan, implemented by the United States, played a crucial role in addressing this issue. The plan's second stage, which commenced in 1950, focused on enhancing the productivity of the Austrian economy, specifically targeting improvements in factory-level efficiency, labour-management relations, the establishment of free trade unions, and the introduction of modern business practices. This aid contributed to stabilising the Austrian economy and removing the causes of popular unrest that had shaken the country in 1947 due to food shortages and low wages.
However, when the planned withdrawal of American food subsidies occurred, it resulted in a sharp drop in real wages and triggered the 1950 Austrian general strikes organised by communists. This event highlighted the continued fragility of Austria's economic situation and the ongoing dependence on external support for food security. The strikes, though unsuccessful in gaining widespread public support, underscored the impact of food-related issues on social and political stability in the country.
The dependence on food imports had far-reaching implications for Austria's economic and political landscape. It influenced the dynamics between the Western powers and the Soviet Union, with the former recognising the potential for Austria to become "Europe's Korea" in the context of the Cold War. This realisation accelerated the rearmament of Austria as a "secret ally" of the West. Thus, the issue of food imports extended beyond mere economic concerns and became intertwined with the broader geopolitical strategies and tensions of the time.
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Frequently asked questions
The armistice between the Allies and Austria-Hungary was signed on November 3, 1918, and became effective on November 4. Austria-Hungary was required to evacuate all territory occupied since August 1914, as well as South Tirol, Tarvisio, the Isonzo Valley, Gorizia, Trieste, Istria, western Carniola, and Dalmatia. All German forces were to be expelled from Austria-Hungary within 15 days.
Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria and annexed the nation for the Third Reich. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, 1938, after being bullied into naming top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.
Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany and was an integral part of the Third Reich. After the fall of Hitler's armies, the Red Army and the NKVD began combing through the captured territories. By May 23, they had arrested 268 former Red Army men, 1,208 Wehrmacht men, and 1,655 civilians. The Western Allies also consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets would be entitled to German assets in Austria in their zone of occupation.
