Based on a broad array of sources from Russian and Austrian archives, this collection provides a comprehensive analysis of the Soviet occupation of Austria from 1945 to 1955. The contributors cover a wide range of topics, including the Soviet Secret Services, the military kommandaturas, Soviet occupation policies, the withdrawal of troops in 1955, everyday life, the image of "the Russians," violence against women, arrests, deportations, Soviet aid provisions, as well as children of occupation.
Stefan Karner is professor at the Universtiy of Graz; former chair of the Institute for Economic, Social and Business History; and longstanding director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on the Consequences of War, Graz - Vienna - Raabs. Barbara Stelzl-Marx is director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on Consequences of War, Graz - Vienna - Raabs; professor of contemporary history at the University of Graz; and vice-president of the Austrian UNESCO-Commission.
Part I Austria in the Global Policy Chapter 1: The Policies of Presidents Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower toward Austria, 1943-1955 Part II Soviet Diplomacy toward Austria Chapter 2: Soviet Plans for Rebuilding Austria from 1941 to 1945 Chapter 3: Under Soviet Control: The Establishment of the Austrian Government in 1945 Chapter 4: Soviet Policy toward Austria from 1945 to 1955 Chapter 5: The Development of Soviet Policy toward Austria after Stalin's Death from 1953 to 1955 Part III Aspects of Occupation Chapter 6: Occupation and Exploitation: Soviet Economy Policy toward Austria from 1945 to 1955/63 Chapter 7: Intelligence in occupied Austria 1945 to 1955 - The Soviet Side Chapter 8: Stalin's Judiciary in Austria: Arrests and Convictions during the Occupation Chapter 9: Ivan's Children: The Consequences of Sexual Relations between Red Army Soldiers and Austrian Women
Based on an unprecedented richness of primary sources from Austrian and Russian archives, this volume presents important contributions to the interpretation of Soviet policy towards Vienna during and after World War II. The contributors aptly analyze the multifaceted interconnections between economic and broader strategic conceptions in Soviet decision-making. They demonstrate the Cold war's all-encompassing scope and its-sometimes contradictory-influence on all aspects of social and individual life. The findings provide a challenging example of multi-perspective research on international history that can inspire future research on the multifaceted dimensions of the early Cold War and beyond. -- Andreas Hilger, German Historical Institute Moscow
