What was it like living in Austria after WWII?

I can't give you anything for christmas. I can't give you candles for your christmas tree - if you even have one, not a single piece of bread, no cole, no decoration. We have nothing. I can only beg you: Have faith in this young Austria! read more

Austrians who felt that the Austria after the Habsburg empire was not strong enough to survive by itself now realized that also large countries can fail and keeping your head down (like Switzerland) might be the smartest thing to do. read more

In the immediate aftermath of the war, Austria, like Germany, was divided into four occupation zones and jointly occupied by the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and France. Vienna, like Berlin, was similarly subdivided but the central district was administered jointly by the Allied Control Council. read more

After the speech, Nazis throughout Austria took to the streets amid wild shouts of 'Sieg Heil!' and 'Heil Hitler!' Chancellor Schuschnigg, having regained his nerve to some degree, responded to Hitler four days later via a speech of his own in Vienna. He said Austria had conceded enough to the Nazis and would never give up its independence. read more