RichB
Well-known member
At the end of the war, Austria was spilt into four occupations zones, as Germany was. Like Berlin, Vienna was also split into four zones.
In late 1945, the Western Allies had begun creating Gendarmerie units to assist their occupation forces in keeping order. They were supplied with surplus and captured small arms as well as some vehicles. The Soviets relied on a large military presence maintain control of their sector and Vienna. Following the Berlin Blockade in 1948-49, the US grew more concerned about Soviet intentions in Austria. These concerns increased in 1950 with the outbreak of the Korean War. The US began to secretly train and equip a "future Austrian Army" and establish arms depots along the German-Austrian border.
With the death of Stalin in 1953, the new Soviet leadership no longer had any interest in an "East Austria". At the same time, the Western Allies were no longer interested in maintaining occupation forces in Austria leading to negotiations being opened for Austrian independence. A treaty was signed in May 1955, with several restrictions placed on the Austrian military, strict neutrality, no nuclear or chemical weapons, no foreign military bases and ,curiously, no submarines. The last US and Soviets forces withdrew from Austria in October 1955.
The newly reunited Austria's Army was equipped with a mix of World War Two Allied and Axis uniforms, arms and equipment. The departing Soviets left twenty-seven T-34/85's and one T-34 Armoured Recovery Vehicle. They had all seen combat during the war and been in storage since. The vehicles were overhauled and put into service with the fledgling Armoured Forces. Their training was interrupted when they were deployed along the Austria-Hungary border in October 1956 during the short lived Hungarian Revolution. The T-34 would remain on frontline duty until 1959 when they were passed to the reserves. During the 1960's they were deployed to fixed defensive bunkers, sometimes using only the turret, sometimes the entire tank. They remained in position until 2000. Many T-34's have survived until today and can be found on display at army barracks and museums throughout Austria.
For this project I'll be using an Academy T-34/85. This kit has the solid road wheels and turret configuration as seen on photos of Austrian vehicles. Of course there are some tweaks to be done once cutting and gluing begins.
Let the fun begin.
Cheers,
RichB
In late 1945, the Western Allies had begun creating Gendarmerie units to assist their occupation forces in keeping order. They were supplied with surplus and captured small arms as well as some vehicles. The Soviets relied on a large military presence maintain control of their sector and Vienna. Following the Berlin Blockade in 1948-49, the US grew more concerned about Soviet intentions in Austria. These concerns increased in 1950 with the outbreak of the Korean War. The US began to secretly train and equip a "future Austrian Army" and establish arms depots along the German-Austrian border.
With the death of Stalin in 1953, the new Soviet leadership no longer had any interest in an "East Austria". At the same time, the Western Allies were no longer interested in maintaining occupation forces in Austria leading to negotiations being opened for Austrian independence. A treaty was signed in May 1955, with several restrictions placed on the Austrian military, strict neutrality, no nuclear or chemical weapons, no foreign military bases and ,curiously, no submarines. The last US and Soviets forces withdrew from Austria in October 1955.
The newly reunited Austria's Army was equipped with a mix of World War Two Allied and Axis uniforms, arms and equipment. The departing Soviets left twenty-seven T-34/85's and one T-34 Armoured Recovery Vehicle. They had all seen combat during the war and been in storage since. The vehicles were overhauled and put into service with the fledgling Armoured Forces. Their training was interrupted when they were deployed along the Austria-Hungary border in October 1956 during the short lived Hungarian Revolution. The T-34 would remain on frontline duty until 1959 when they were passed to the reserves. During the 1960's they were deployed to fixed defensive bunkers, sometimes using only the turret, sometimes the entire tank. They remained in position until 2000. Many T-34's have survived until today and can be found on display at army barracks and museums throughout Austria.
For this project I'll be using an Academy T-34/85. This kit has the solid road wheels and turret configuration as seen on photos of Austrian vehicles. Of course there are some tweaks to be done once cutting and gluing begins.
Let the fun begin.
Cheers,
RichB
