The Austrian State Treaty, 1955 (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes

The Austrian State Treaty, 1955

Context: Khrushchev's foreign policy objectives

Following Stalin's death, Khrushchev developed a distinct approach to Soviet foreign relations. His strategy rested on several interconnected objectives:

The Soviet Union needed to maintain its position as the unchallenged leader of the socialist movement, particularly within Eastern Europe. This leadership faced growing competition from China under Mao Zedong, making Soviet authority over satellite states essential to preserve.

Khrushchev recognised that German rearmament posed a direct threat to Soviet security. Preventing Germany from developing military capacity capable of challenging the USSR remained a priority throughout his leadership.

The USSR needed to continue expanding its nuclear capability to maintain parity with the West in the arms race between East and West. However, spending on military security, including conventional Soviet forces stationed throughout Eastern Europe, required reduction to free resources for domestic development.

Background: Soviet policy towards Austria

Soviet policy towards Austria connected directly to broader concerns about Germany. Immediately after the war ended in 1945, the USSR favoured creating a unified German state that would be neutralised and pose no threat to Soviet security. Like Germany, Austria had been divided into occupation zones following the war, with the USSR receiving economic aid from Austria as it had from the Soviet Zone of Germany.

Austria carried potential to become as divisive an issue between East and West as Germany had been since 1949. Austrian leaders in the Western Zones actively promoted the idea that Austria could easily be absorbed into the Soviet sphere of influence, similar to how Czechoslovakia had been incorporated several years earlier. Some observers even characterised Austria as "Europe's Korea", suggesting it might become another flashpoint for Cold War confrontation.

Stalinist aggression had generated escalating expenses and government debt at precisely the time when Khrushchev wanted to concentrate Soviet resources on domestic developments. Despite genuine commitment to exporting revolution, Khrushchev understood the risks of nuclear war more clearly than his American counterparts. Consequently, he adopted peaceful coexistence, which involved engaging the USA diplomatically to diffuse tensions where possible and prevent direct confrontation.

The Austrian State Treaty, May 1955

By 1955, the USSR began demonstrating genuine willingness to enter negotiations over Austria's future. In May 1955, the four occupying powers reached agreement in the form of the Austrian State Treaty.

The treaty established the following terms:

• All occupying powers would withdraw their forces from Austrian territory
• Austria would be declared a neutral state, following models established by Finland and Yugoslavia
• Austria would not be subjected to joining the Soviet sphere of influence, distinguishing it from the fate of Eastern European satellite states

Significance for East-West relations

The Austrian State Treaty demonstrated genuine commitment to mutual cooperation between the Cold War powers. More substantially, it removed a source of potential conflict that had threatened to become as divisive as the German question. Agreement over Austria eased tension between East and West considerably.

Following this agreement, Western powers removed their occupation forces from West Germany. This cooperation consolidated the East-West division of Europe and exemplified the practice of peaceful coexistence. Rather than seeking to expand Soviet control, Khrushchev accepted the creation of a neutral buffer state.

The cooperative atmosphere generated by the Austrian State Treaty contributed directly to the decision to resume summit diplomacy between Cold War leaders.