Department of Defense Files

The United States High Commissioner for Austria (Keyes) to the Department of the Army

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P 3666. From ComGenUSFA Vienna sgd Keyes cite PAGCT to Department of Army for CSGPO. Rerad WAE 92017.1

1. A general plan of organization of the Austrian Army was received from the Austrian Government on 29th July 49 condensation of this information is as follows:

A.
The Austrian Army legislation will receive high priority in an effort to achieve concrete results.
B.
The Austrian Government is aware of the dangers to Austrian security which will exist and considers it an obligation to create an effective Federal Army which will insure the stability of Austria. Basic principles have been agreed upon between the Socialist and Peoples Parties and constitutes the Government’s concept of the basic principles on which to formulate the Army. Basic principles as follows:
(1)
Enrollment to be based on compulsory military service.
(2)
Initially recruiting will be from trained individuals of the years 1926, 1928 and 1927, and without restriction from the untrained class of 1928.
(3)
Period of service for previously trained conscripts will be 6 months; for untrained a maximum of 1 year.
(4)
Age limit for Officers including rank of Major will be 45 and for Senior Officers, 60.
(5)
Officers will be selected on the basis of regulations established by the Austrian law providing for the Army.
(6)
Officers who were not accepted by the German Army in 1938 and who were considered unworthy for military service by the Nazis will be subject to selection under the new law.
(7)
Negotiations with Allied authorities will be started immediately in order to secure arms and equipment (meaning the US).
(8)
Based on the consideration of the Federal-State structure of Austria and in consideration of operational, training and organizational requirements, 6 combined garrisons and recruiting centers will be formed initially and stationed in:
a.
Tyrol-Vorarlberg-Salzburg, Hq Innsbruck.
b.
Upper Austria, Hq Linz.
c.
Carinthia, Hq Klagenfurt.
d.
Styria, Hq Graz.
e.
Lower Austria, Hq St Poelten.
f.
Vienna and Burgenland, Hq Vienna.
(9)
The equipment desired, first of all, is light and medium armament, vehicles and Signal equipment.
(10)
Until formation of the new Government based on the coming elections2 the Federal Chancellor personally will carry out the preparatory agenda.
(11)
To assist the Chief Command of the Federal Army, a Land Defense Council will be created as a consultative body according to representation in the newly elected Parliament.
(12)
The preliminary strength in the first draft is to be 20,000 to 30,000 men and it will develop later to the strength laid down in the State Treaty.

2. The following information was obtained verbally from Chancellor Figl at a conference between him and my representative on 28th July in addition to the items mentioned above. Chancellor Figl stated:

A.
The initial Army strength of 20 to 30,000 will be built-up to Treaty strength in 12 years.
B.
The Austrian Govt will seek authority from the Occupying Powers to start organization as of Treaty signing date.
C.
The Government aims to ready the Army for field service as of withdrawal date.
D.
With ref to Par 1-Sub Para B (8) above, the 6 garrisons indicated will be the nuclei for Brigades of combined arms to be eventually organized in each of the specified locations, and generally of Constabulary type.
[Page 1252]

3. It is contemplated to include the: above information in the briefing of the Joint Chiefs in addition to detailed equipment lists which we have been promised prior to the Joint Chiefs arrival here.3

4. Reference last Para WAR 92017. Specific comments later. This message submitted as interim information.

  1. Not found in Department of State files.
  2. For documentation relating to the Austrian national elections, October 9, 1949, see pp. 1206 ff.
  3. The Joint Chiefs were in Vienna on August 7 and 8.