right|thumb|Occupation zones in [[Austria, 1945–1955]]

thumb|Occupation zones in [[Vienna, 1945–1955]]

thumb|Austrian State Treaty with signatures of Dulles, Thompson, Pinay, Lalouette, and [[Leopold Figl, foreign minister of Austria]]

The Austrian State Treaty ( ) or Austrian Independence Treaty established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on 15 May 1955 in Vienna, at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allied occupying powers (France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union) and the Austrian government. The neighbouring Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia acceded to the treaty subsequently.

After Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality, Austria was accorded full independence on 15 May 1955, and the last occupation troops left on 25 October that year.

Important points in the treaty

As well as general regulations and recognition of the Austrian state, the minority rights of the Slovene and Croat minorities were also expressly detailed. Anschluss (Austria's political union with Germany), as had happened in 1938, was forbidden (German recognition of Austria's sovereignty and independence and renunciation by Germany of territorial claims over Austria were later covered in general terms in the 1990 Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany about existing borders, but not specifically). Nazi and fascist organizations were prohibited.

Austrian neutrality

A common misconception is that the Austrian State Treaty contains a provision on Austria's permanent neutrality. This is not the case; there is no legal relation between Austria's neutrality and the State Treaty. However, there was a political connection, as the promise that Austria would declare their permanent neutrality was one of the reasons the Soviet Union agreed to the treaty.

Austrian neutrality was instituted through the Declaration of Neutrality, which was enacted as a Constitutional Law by the Austrian Parliament on 26 October 1955, one day after the last Allied troops were to leave Austria according to the treaty. This law states that "Austria of her own free will declares herewith her permanent neutrality" and provides that "Austria will never in the future accede to any military alliances nor permit the establishment of military bases of foreign States on her territory." Consistent with the declaration, Austria never joined either NATO or the Warsaw Pact.

Austria's neutrality model is often referred to as a "permanent neutrality" or "constitutional neutrality" model. This means that Austria has committed itself to a policy of neutrality in its foreign relations, which is anchored in the country's constitution and is not subject to change by simple legislation.

The key features of Austria's neutrality model are:

  1. Non-participation in military alliances: Austria does not participate in any military alliances, such as NATO or the Warsaw Pact (which dissolved in 1991);
  2. No foreign military bases: Austria does not allow any foreign military bases on its territory;
  3. Neutrality in international conflicts: Austria maintains a policy of neutrality in international conflicts, avoiding taking sides or providing military support to any party;
  4. UN membership: Austria is a member of the United Nations and participates in UN peacekeeping operations, but only in a non-combat role. This was different from the Swiss neutrality model, since Switzerland could not join the United Nations until its Swiss Federal Constitution was changed in 1999 Swiss referendums.

Austria's neutrality model has been successful in maintaining the country's independence and sovereignty, and it has allowed Austria to play a role as a bridge between East and West during the Cold War. Today, Austria continues to maintain its neutrality policy, while also participating actively in European and international affairs. The Austrian neutrality model has been cited as a possible inspiration for Ukraine's own neutrality aspirations, with some arguing that a similar model could provide a solution to the country's security challenges.

Result

As a result of the treaty, the Allies left Austrian territory on 25 October 1955. 26 October came to be celebrated as a national holiday (called the Day of the Flag until 1965). It is sometimes thought to commemorate the withdrawal of Allied troops, but in fact celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Neutrality.

See also

  • Allied-occupied Austria
  • Austrian Armed Forces
  • Samuel Reber

References

  • Full text of the treaty via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's UK Treaties Online database
  • www.staatsvertrag.at, a multimedia web exhibition on the treaty via the Österreichische Mediathek
  • Foreign Minister Leopold Figl shows the signed state treaty from the balcony of the Belvedere in Vienna, 15 May 1955 via Austria-Forum
  • , originally published by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Kriegsfolgenforschung
  • , originally published by the Federal Chancellery of Austria
  • Das Vorsorge-Paket gegen ein Jahr Heimat-Feiern!, an activist counter-website to the official 2005 national celebrations