National Day of the Austrian Republic (26/10)

On October 26, Austrians celebrate National Day in Austria. The history of the holiday is associated with the withdrawal of foreign troops from Austrian territory and in memory of the declaration of permanent neutrality in 1955.

The Allied occupation forces, after the end of World War II, were stationed in Austria for 10 years. In 1943, at a meeting in Moscow, the leaders of the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States announced their intention to recreate Austria as an independent, sovereign and democratic state.

Until 1948, when Yugoslavia was expelled from the Soviet bloc, Moscow supported Yugoslav claims to the border part of Austrian territory. But in March 1955, the Kremlin changed its position and invited the Austrian government to send a delegation to Moscow to determine the timing of the conclusion of the State Treaty, which was signed on May 15, 1955 in Vienna in an atmosphere of great jubilation.

The State Treaty restored Austria's independence and full sovereignty. It came into force on 27 July 1955, after which Allied troops were withdrawn from the country. In the same year, on October 26, following the withdrawal of the last foreign military units, the government approved a federal constitutional law declaring Austria's permanent neutrality and excluding the possibility of joining any military alliances or creating foreign military bases in Austria.

Heroes Square in Vienna — is one of the main venues for festive events (Photo: TTstudio, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

Today, the most significant festive events and official celebrations on October 26 take place according to tradition in the Austrian capital. In particular, a military parade and exhibition of military equipment is taking place on Heroes Square, the place where eternal neutrality was proclaimed, and in the buildings of the Austrian Parliament and the Federal Chancellery — this is an open day.

Since the National Day of the Republic of Austria is an official holiday in the country, on this day Austrians take part in festive events and mass entertainment, and many prefer to leave the noisy city and take family walks and short trips.

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