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As a nation,Austria has played a huge part in the modern history of Europe.Since the creation of the Archduchy of Austria in 1453,the country has entered the world stage.Since then,the country evolved,first into the Austrian and later Austro-Hungarian Empires,all under the rule of the House of Habsburg.The “Double Monarchy”,as it was called,had great influence over European affairs.
Even with Austria’s immense power,the internal struggles between Austrians and the Hungarians led to continuing instability.When WWI started,the Empire joined the Central Powers.The Austro-Hungarian Army proved highly ineffective,losing many battles against the Serbs and the Italians.After the end of the war,the monarchy was abolished,and the Empire was dissolved.Among the other new countries that rose up after the fall of the Empire,was and the First Austrian Republic.
Austria became a federal parliamentary democracy.Like in neighboring Germany,division and instability run high,with continuous clashes between the far-left and far-right factions of the country.In 1934,the Austrofascist Fatherland Front took power,under the leadership of Engelbert Dollfuss.The new fascist regime lasted until 1938,when Dollfuss was assassinated by German agents,and after a rigged referendum,Austria was annexed by the German Reich.
Austria would remain under German control until the end of the war.In April 1945 the country was liberated by the Allies and put under joint Allied-Soviet occupation,just like Germany.After negotiations between the USSR and the Western powers,Austria was given its independence,and declared its neutrality,remaining outside of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
When the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated,the Austrian army started to mobilize.But it was already late.Soon,a combined Soviet-Hungarian force invaded and occupied the country.After the end of the conflict,the Soviets installed a new communist administration.On December 1st 1962,the Austrian Democratic Republic (Österreichische Demokratische Republik) was proclaimed.The country’s government was based on that of the neighboring German People’s Republic (which now controlled all of Germany).
The new communist Austria wasn’t really different from all the other nations of the Warsaw Pact:A single-party authoritarian dictatorship,that exercised power based on the concept of Marxism-Leninism.All land and factories were nationalized,while labour camps were created to house political prisoners.Media and the press were tightly controlled by the State,while citizens were terrorized by the State Security Forces,the secret services of the regime.Due to the country’s border with Switzerland,a large quantity of Soviet troops is stationed there.The USSR also has some military bases on Austrian territory.

Description

As a nation,Austria has played a huge part in the modern history of Europe.Since the creation of the Archduchy of Austria in 1453,the country has entered the world stage.Since then,the country evolved,first into the Austrian and later Austro-Hungarian Empires,all under the rule of the House of Habsburg.The “Double Monarchy”,as it was called,had great influence over European affairs.
Even with Austria’s immense power,the internal struggles between Austrians and the Hungarians led to continuing instability.When WWI started,the Empire joined the Central Powers.The Austro-Hungarian Army proved highly ineffective,losing many battles against the Serbs and the Italians.After the end of the war,the monarchy was abolished,and the Empire was dissolved.Among the other new countries that rose up after the fall of the Empire,was and the First Austrian Republic.
Austria became a federal parliamentary democracy.Like in neighboring Germany,division and instability run high,with continuous clashes between the far-left and far-right factions of the country.In 1934,the Austrofascist Fatherland Front took power,under the leadership of Engelbert Dollfuss.The new fascist regime lasted until 1938,when Dollfuss was assassinated by German agents,and after a rigged referendum,Austria was annexed by the German Reich.
Austria would remain under German control until the end of the war.In April 1945 the country was liberated by the Allies and put under joint Allied-Soviet occupation,just like Germany.After negotiations between the USSR and the Western powers,Austria was given its independence,and declared its neutrality,remaining outside of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
When the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated,the Austrian army started to mobilize.But it was already late.Soon,a combined Soviet-Hungarian force invaded and occupied the country.After the end of the conflict,the Soviets installed a new communist administration.On December 1st 1962,the Austrian Democratic Republic (Österreichische Demokratische Republik) was proclaimed.The country’s government was based on that of the neighboring German People’s Republic (which now controlled all of Germany).
The new communist Austria wasn’t really different from all the other nations of the Warsaw Pact:A single-party authoritarian dictatorship,that exercised power based on the concept of Marxism-Leninism.All land and factories were nationalized,while labour camps were created to house political prisoners.Media and the press were tightly controlled by the State,while citizens were terrorized by the State Security Forces,the secret services of the regime.Due to the country’s border with Switzerland,a large quantity of Soviet troops is stationed there.The USSR also has some military bases on Austrian territory.