Austrian State Treaty facts for kids

The Austrian State Treaty was a very important agreement that made Austria a fully independent country again. It was signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna. This treaty was signed between the main countries that won World War II (called the Allied powers) and the Austrian government.

What the Treaty Did for Austria

This treaty did several key things for Austria:

• It officially ended the occupation of Austria by the Allied powers after World War II.
• It made Austria a sovereign nation, meaning it could govern itself without outside control.
• It stated that Austria could not join with Germany. This was to prevent a repeat of events before World War II.
• It also made sure that Nazism and Fascism (types of strict, often violent, governments) would not be allowed in Austria.
• Austria promised to always be a neutral country, meaning it would not take sides in future wars or military alliances.

Who Signed the Treaty?

The treaty was signed by representatives from the Allied powers and Austria. The Allied powers included:

• The United States
• The United Kingdom
• The Soviet Union
• France

The Austrian Foreign Minister, Leopold Figl, signed for Austria.

Why Austria's Neutrality Was Important

Austria's promise to be neutral was a big part of the treaty. Being neutral means a country does not join military groups or take sides in conflicts between other countries. This helped Austria stay out of the Cold War, which was a period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Austria became a bridge between the East and West during this time.

Images for kids

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  Occupation zones in Vienna, 1945–1955

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

See also

In Spanish: Tratado de Estado austriaco para niños