Austria Chronology

Austria came under the control of the Habsburgs in 1273. In 1867, the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary was formed under Habsburg rule. Defeat in World War I led to the abdication of the last Habsburg emperor, Charles, in 1918. 

*  1920 Republic of Austria formed after breakup of Habsburg Empire.
*  1934 Chancellor Dollfuss dismisses parliament and starts imprisoning Social Democrats, Communists and National Socialist Party (NAZI) members. NAZIs attempt coup.
*  1938 The Anschluss – Austria forcibly incorporated into Germany.
*  1945 End of German rule. Austria occupied by Russian, British, US and French forces. Provisional government under Karl Renner, veteran of World War I peace negotiations. Elections result in People's Party (ÖVP) and Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) coalition, remains in power for most of the post-war period. 
*  1950 Attempted coup by Communist Party fails. Marshall aid helps economic recovery. USSR resists calls from France, USA and UK for independent Austria.
*  1955 Soviet troops finally withdrawn. USSR recognizes Austria as a sovereign state.
*  1971 First single-party government formed by ÖVP under Federal Chancellor Bruno Kreisky.  Although a minority administration, the ÖVP's political strength grows throughout the 1970s. 
*  1983 Socialists and the Freedom Party (FPÖ) form a coalition government.
*  1986 Dr. Kurt Waldheim, former UN secretary-general, elected president, despite war crimes allegations. Franz Vranitsky, Federal Chancellor. Nationalist Jörg Haider succeeds more moderate Norbert Steger as FPÖ leader. SPÖ pulls out of government due to FPÖ's swing to right. Elections produce stalemate. Return to "grand coalition" between SPÖ and ÖVP.
*  1990 ÖVP loses 17 seats in parliamentary elections.
*  1992 Thomas Klestil (ÖVP) elected president, replacing controversial Kurt Waldheim. Elections confirm some traditional ÖVP supporters defecting to FPÖ.
*  1993 FPÖ splits into two. Break-away Liberal Forum takes over 5 FPÖ seats. Liberal Forum voices opposition to FPÖ'S nationalism.