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Following World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France, and Vienna was subdivided among the four powers. The Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were largely shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the Soviets, Americans, and British proclaimed that Austria was the first victim of Nazi aggression. In 1955, the Soviet Union, along with the Western Allies, withdrew from Austria in exchange for Austria's promise to remain neutral during the Cold War.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Soviet withdrawal from Austria | 1955 |
| Austria's promise in exchange for Soviet withdrawal | Neutrality in the Cold War |
| Year Austria was divided into four occupation zones | 1945 |
| Countries that occupied Austria | United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France |
| Year Austria was declared independent from Nazi Germany | 1945 |
| Year Austria finalized its Marshall Plan program | 1947 |
| Year of Stalin's death | 1953 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's promises of neutrality
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. Vienna was similarly subdivided, but the central district was collectively administered by the Allied Control Council.
The Soviet Union's policies in Austria were largely shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets proclaimed that Austria was the first victim of Germany's aggression. This declaration guaranteed Austria's independence and ensured that it avoided some of the harsher aspects of Germany's fate. The Soviets pulled out of the country in 1955, along with the Western Allies, in exchange for Austria's promises of perpetual neutrality in the Cold War.
Austria's neutrality was a strategic decision to distance itself from the Cold War tensions between the Western powers and the Soviet Union. By remaining neutral, Austria could rebuild its economy and reintegrate into western Europe. The country had suffered from a severe internal economic and social crisis, with food shortages and low wages. The communists attempted to exploit this situation during the 1950 Austrian general strikes, but they failed to gain sufficient public support.
Additionally, the Soviet Union's occupation policies had negatively impacted Austria economically. They expropriated over 450 formerly German-owned businesses, and by 1955, most of these companies were close to bankruptcy. The Soviets had also dismantled and shipped industrial equipment valued at around $500 million to the East. These actions made Austria an economic and political liability for the Soviet Union, providing an opportunity for Austrian diplomats to forge alliances with Western governments.
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The Soviet Union's adherence to the Moscow Declaration
The Moscow Declarations were four declarations signed during the Moscow Conference on 30 October 1943. The Soviet Union, along with the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of China, were the signatories to these declarations. The four declarations were: The Declaration of the Four Nations on General Security, the Declaration on Italy, the Declaration on Austria, and the Declarations on Atrocities.
The Moscow Declaration also addressed the issue of atrocities committed by German officers, men, and members of the Nazi party. It declared that those responsible for atrocities, massacres, and executions in countries occupied by Hitlerite forces would be sent back to those countries to be judged and punished according to the laws of the liberated nations. This was a joint decision by the governments of the Allies, including the Soviet Union, to ensure justice for the victims of these crimes.
Additionally, the Soviet Union, along with the United States and the United Kingdom, agreed on a joint policy towards Italy. They affirmed their commitment to destroying Fascism and its influences, and to supporting the Italian people in establishing democratic institutions. This included the establishment of an Advisory Council for Italy, which would include representatives from the Allied powers and later, Greece and Yugoslavia, to address the aggressions of Fascist Italy during the war.
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Austria's independence
Following World War II, Austria was occupied by the Allies, including the Soviet Union, and divided into four occupation zones. The Soviet Union's policies in Austria were shaped by the Moscow Declaration, which guaranteed Austria's independence but also held it accountable for its participation in Nazi crimes. The Soviets pulled out of the country in 1955, along with the Western Allies, after Austria promised to remain neutral in the Cold War. This withdrawal marked the end of the Soviet occupation and the restoration of Austria's independence.
The Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were complex and had both positive and negative impacts on the country. On the one hand, the Soviets adhered to the Moscow Declaration and guaranteed Austria's independence. They also released Austrian prisoners at a faster rate than the Germans, contributing to the country's recovery. However, the Soviet Union also engaged in economic exploitation, expropriating over 450 formerly German-owned businesses, and dismantled and shipped industrial equipment to the East.
The Western Allies played a crucial role in Austria's independence by successfully opposing the Kremlin's plans for burdensome war reparations and preventing the imposition of heavy war reparations on Austria, as was the case with Germany, Romania, and Hungary. Additionally, the Western Allies provided food subsidies and economic aid through the Marshall Plan, which helped stabilize the Austrian economy.
The Austrian independence process was influenced by several factors, including the Cold War dynamics, the Korean War, and the internal economic and social crisis in Austria. The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria ended in 1955 with the Austrian State Treaty, which was signed by all four occupying powers and guaranteed Austria's permanent neutrality. This date, October 26, 1955, has since become a memorable Austrian national holiday, marking the country's independence and reintegration with Western Europe.
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Soviet occupation policies
The Soviet Union's occupation policies in Austria were largely shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets agreed that Austria was the first victim of Nazi Germany, but that it must also pay the price for its participation in Nazi aggression. The Declaration guaranteed Austria's independence and ensured it avoided the fate of Germany, which was divided into East and West.
In the immediate aftermath of 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 Red Army occupied only parts of Austria, including its capital, Vienna, which was captured after the Vienna Strategic Offensive Operation. The Soviet Union, therefore, had a military advantage in the eastern part of the country, containing approximately a quarter of the Austrian population.
The Soviet Union's policies in Austria were not without controversy. The Red Army engaged in systematic sexual violence and looting, which harmed its reputation and caused a public relations problem for Moscow. Despite orders from Moscow reminding troops that attacking civilians was impermissible and promising harsh penalties, the assaults and crimes continued throughout 1945 and 1946. The Soviets also expropriated hundreds of businesses in their zone, amalgamating these assets into the USIA, a conglomerate of over 400 enterprises, giving them substantial control over key industries. Additionally, the Western Allies consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in Austria in their zone of occupation, which further burdened the war-ravaged country.
The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria continued until 1955, along with the Western Allies, when Austria promised to remain neutral in the Cold War. The last occupation troops left on 25 October 1955, and Austria was granted full independence.
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The Soviet Union's economic exploitation of Austria
Following World War II, the Soviet Union, along with the Western Allies, occupied Austria, dividing it into four zones. The Soviet Union's occupation zone included 65% of Austrian agricultural output and nearly all of its oil, which complicated the Western Allies' efforts to feed the population in their zones. The Soviets also deployed NKVD (secret police) teams to confiscate industrial plants, production installations, and other goods, amounting to 31,200 freight cars' worth. According to historian Walter Iber, Austria paid the Soviet Union approximately 36.8 billion Schillings or two percent of its accumulated GDP from 1946 to 1955.
The Western Allies consented to the Soviet Union's demand to claim German assets in Austria within their occupation zone. This included all property with German owners or investors at the end of the war. As a result, Austria ended up paying far more than Stalin initially demanded. Additionally, local governments were responsible for feeding and clothing the Red Army, which imposed a significant burden on the war-ravaged country.
The Soviet Union's economic presence in Austria also extended to the USIA (United States of Indonesia and Austria), a monopolistic public sector of the economy that was weakly integrated with the rest of the Austrian economy. The USIA's products were primarily shipped eastward, with profits confiscated by the Soviets, who had no intention of reinvesting them. This competitive advantage allowed USIA enterprises to remain afloat despite their obsolescence.
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Frequently asked questions
The Soviet Union released Austria because it had become an economic and political liability. The Soviet Union expropriated over 450 formerly German-owned businesses by 1955, and the majority of these companies were close to bankruptcy. Austrian diplomats built alliances with Western governments, which prepared the ground for Austria's reintegration into Western Europe.
The Moscow Declaration of 1943 was a proclamation by the British, Americans, and Soviets that Austria was Germany's first victim, but that it would also have to pay the price for its participation in Nazi aggression. The declaration meant that Austria would emerge as an independent state.
The Austrian State Treaty was signed by all four occupying forces (the UK, the Soviet Union, the US, and France) on 15 May 1955, and came into force on 27 July 1955. It guaranteed Austria's independence in exchange for Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality.
The Soviet Union occupied only parts of Austria, including Vienna, while Anglo-American troops entered from Germany and Italy. The Soviet Union treated Austria as a defeated Axis power, but also acknowledged that it was a victim of Germany. This meant that Austria avoided some of the worst aspects of Germany's fate, such as the expulsion of ethnic Germans to Germany or the Soviet Union for slave labor.
