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 û 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 (╓VP) and Social Democratic Party (SP╓) 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* 1955 Soviet troops finally withdrawn.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 ╓VP under Federal Chancellor Bruno Kreisky. Although a minority administration, the ╓VP's political strength grows throughout the 1970s.
* 1983 Socialists and the Freedom Party (FP╓) form a coalition government.
* 1986 Dr. Kurt Waldheim, former UN secretary-general, elected president, despite war crimes allegations. Franz Vranitsky, Federal Chancellor. Nationalist J÷rg Haider succeeds more moderate Norbert Steger as FP╓ leader. SP╓ pulls out of government due to FP╓'s swing to right. Elections produce stalemate. Return to "grand coalition" between SP╓ and ╓VP.
* 1990 ╓VP loses 17 seats in parliamentary elections.
* 1992 Thomas Klestil (╓VP) elected president, replacing controversial Kurt Waldheim. Elections confirm some traditional ╓VP supporters defecting to FP╓.
* 1993 FP╓ splits into two. Break-away Liberal Forum takes over 5 FP╓ seats. Liberal Forum voices opposition to FP╓'S nationalism.
