Holiday!
26 of October as the Austrian National Day - this celebration goes back to the beginnings of the 2nd Republic after WW II.
After the end of the War, Austria was occupied by the four Allied powers (Soviet Union, United States, Great Britain and France) and divided into four zones. With their consent an Austrian government was elected democratically, but every legislative regulation or political action required their consent.
In spring 1955 discussion about a State Treaty ending this occupation was finally brought to conclusion:
the Austrian State Treaty was signed on 15 May 1955 in Vienna's Schloß Belvedere (maybe one of the most moving events in Austrian history) and entered into force on July 27 1955.
Why now October 26?
Well, this day marks the first day on which the last foreign troops left the Austrian territory; therefore de facto the first day Austria was again an independent and sovereign country.
But it took 10 more years for the parliament and the politicians to decide which day should be the "National Day of Austria".
They had the choice of 4 dates:
- 12 Nov - birth of the first republic (1918)
- 27 Apr - interim austrian state government (1945)
- 15 May - signing of State Treaty (1955)
- 26 Oct - first day without any foreign troups and passing of the law on permanent neutrality
God save .... oops! sorry - Tu felix Austria nube!
Any you ... enjoy your stay in bluedanube apartments and in Vienna!
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