Austria Today
History, Facts and Figures
Austrian – American Relations
Located in the Heart of Europe
Population: 8,199,783 (2007) GDP growth: 3.2% (2007)
Area: 32,382 sq miles
GDP: € 31,400 (2007)
Land boundaries: 1,682 miles Inflation: 2.3 % (2007)
98% of Austria‘s population is German speaking
Sharing Borders with Neighboring Countries
Germany
509 miles
Czech Republic
291 miles
Italy
267 miles
Hungary
220 miles
Slovenia
205 miles
Switzerland
64 miles
Slovakia 104 miles
Liechtenstein
22 miles
Total (8) countries 1,682 miles
The history of Austria
….goes back many centuries. The name “Austria” was
mentioned for the first time in a record in 996 A.D.
Stamp commemorating
Austria’s 1000th birthday
First mention of “Ostarrichi”
Habsburg Monarchy
Under the rule of the
Habsburgs, Austria
witnessed its greatest
expansion, and formed
close dynastical
alliances with many of
Europe's royal houses,
enabling Vienna to
shape and determine
Europe's history for
centuries.
The Congress of Vienna, 1815 – peace
conference upon conclusion of the
Napoleonic Wars
Austro-Hungarian Empire under
Franz Joseph I in 1914
World War I (1914-1918)
After the end of World War I,
Europe's geographical landscape changed significantly.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire
ceased to exist, leaving behind
the formation of new countries.
The German-speaking parts of
Austria formed the successor
state, the Republic of Austria.
Austria 1919/20
World War II (1939-1945)
Following the experiences of two
devastating world wars involving
millions of victims of armed
conflict, persecution, genocide
and the Holocaust, the
foundation for a new world order
and world peace was created in
the form of the United Nations
Organization in 1945.
World War II
United Nations,
New York
The Marshall Plan: U.S. Financial Assistance
for European Reconstruction
Under the Marshall Plan, the U.S. provided significant
financial assistance for European reconstruction (5% of
the U.S. federal budget flowed into the European
Recovery Program, whereby Austria received a total
amount of one billion dollars in aid over several years).
UK
US
F
USSR
1945-1955: Austria
was divided into
four zones of postwar administration
Austrian State Treaty 1955
Declaration of the State Treaty,
May 15, 1955, Upper Belvedere Palace
With the signing of the
Austrian State Treaty,
Austria was guaranteed
independence by the
Allied Powers – the U.S.,
Great Britain, France
and the Soviet Union.
Austria declared at the
same time its continued
neutrality.
The Cold War: Austria as a Hub Between East & West
In the years following Austria, being a neutral
country centrally located between the East and
the West blocs, hosted a number of historic
summit meetings and high-level international
conferences.
John F. Kennedy with Nikita Khrushchev,
June 1961: Vienna
Austria: An Active Member of the UN
Since joining the United Nations in 1955, the newly
independent Austria took part in numerous UN
peace keeping missions in the world.
In 1980 the UN headquarters building in Vienna
was inaugurated, housing several UN
Organizations such as the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) or the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
United Nations
Headquarters in Vienna
Austria’s participation in UN missions
Humanitarian Aid and Asylum
In the past fifty-some years
Austria has offered generous
aid and asylum to refugees,
some of whom have found a
new home in Austria, or new
homes in other parts of the
world via Austria.
- Hungarian Revolution in 1956
- Prague Spring 1968
- Emigration of Soviet Jews to
Israel via Austria
- Conflict in former Yugoslavia in
the 1990s
Hungarian refugees in 1956
Austrian humanitarian
initiative
for the Balkans
A Member of the European Union
• In 1995 Austria joined the European
European flag
The EURO
The European
Parliament in Brussels
Union.
• In 2002 the EURO was introduced as
the common European currency.
• While assuming the Presidency of the
European Union in 1998 and 2006,
Austria chaired numerous summit,
ministerial and expert meetings on
a broad range of issues and was
significantly involved with the
development of the European Union
and its policies.
A Gateway to Central and Eastern Europe
The fall of the Iron Curtain provided new opportunities
for Europe and Austria. With traditionally close ties to its
neighboring countries Austria is an evermore important
trading partner and investor in the emerging economies
of Central and Eastern Europe.
More than 300 international companies
have their CEE headquarters in Austria
Political System
Austria is a
Federal Republic
The Parliament in Vienna
Austria’s head of state:
Federal President
Dr. Heinz Fischer
Austria’s head of government:
Federal Chancellor
Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer
Tourism – Optimal Amenities
- Accessibility through air and ground transportation
- High environmental and safety
standards
- Excellent infrastructure
- Diverse scenery and cultural
attractions
…make Austria a wonderful and exciting
destination for tourists.
The World Economic Forum in Davos ranked Austria as the
2nd most attractive tourist country in the world.
Culture Today
Austria‘s cultural heritage and
treasures are well known and
admired all over the world:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
-Celebrating Vienna New Year‘s Concert
-Considered one of the finest in the world
Vienna Boys’ Choir
A choir of boy sopranos
and altos based in Vienna
Vienna Opera Ball
Annual Austrian society event
which takes place
in the Vienna State Opera
Salzburg Festival
Prominent festival of music
and drama
Spanish Riding School
Oldest and last Riding
School in the world
Sports
The most popular sport is
alpine skiing
Similar sports as ski-jumping
or snowboarding are also
very popular
The Grossglockner, Austria’s highest
mountain (3,798 m) 12,461 ft
Hermann Maier:
2 Olympic gold
medals (both in
1998)
Franz Klammer:
2 Olympic gold
medals (1974
and 1976)
Skiing in Austria
Sports
Most popular team sport is soccer
2008 UEFA European Football
Championship takes place in
Austria and Switzerland
1964 and 1976 Olympic
Winter Games in Innsbruck
Austrian Cuisine
Vienna Coffeehouses
Wiener Schnitzel
…famous for its pastries
Sachertorte
Apfelstrudel
Coffee in Vienna
Café Central
Austrian Wine
Austrian Scientists
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Founder
of the psychoanalytic school of
psychology.
Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951)
Automotive engineer, designed the
original Volkswagen Beetle.
Many Austrian
scientists and
Nobel Prize
winners have won
recognition far
beyond the
borders of their
native country
Joseph Alois Schumpeter
(1883-1950) Economist, developed the
theory of business cycles and
development.
Business Cycle
VW Beetle
Austrian Art and Music: From the Classical to the Modern Era
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Wolfgang A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Johann Strauss (1804-1849)
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Arnold Schönberg (1874-1951)
Works of art by
Otto Wagner (1841-1918)
Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)
Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1980)
Egon Schiele (1890-1918)
Austria and the United States
U.S.: Austria‘s Third Biggest Trading Partner
- Exports 2006: 6.2 billion EUR (+15.5%)
- Imports 2006: 3.2 billion EUR (+11.3%)
- Increased export of all major types of goods
Automotive / Energy Drinks / Pharmaceuticals / Machinery
/ Seamless Pipes / Sheet Metal / etc.
- U.S. is 3rd most important trade partner after
Germany and Italy
Red Bull
Automotive parts,
industrial goods
Austrian wine
and food
EU-U.S. Transatlantic Partnership
The Transatlantic Dialogue between the E U
and the U.S. established in 1995 provides
regular summit and ministerial meetings as
well as meetings of experts on a broad
range of economic and political issues. The
U.S. is the EU’s most important trading
partner:
• EU-U.S. trade exchange amounts to
over $1billion per day
• Approx. 14 million jobs are closely
linked to transatlantic economic
EU-US Summit Meeting in
Vienna, Austrian
cooperation and trade.
Chancellor Schüssel and
• The EU is the biggest investor in the U.S.U.S. President Bush (2006)
Austrian Centers in the U.S.
Close cooperation between
universities in the U.S. and sister
institutions in Vienna and
Innsbruck have resulted in
successful student exchange
programs and summer schools.
The Centers for Austrian Studies at
the University of Minnesota and
the University of New Orleans
have strongly promoted this
vibrant exchange.
Wolfgang Puck: Photo courtesy Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
Austrians in the U.S.
Throughout the United States you will find Americans of
Austrian descent. Among those Austrians living in the
United States today, several play a prominent role in the
areas of culture, science, as well as in politics and sports.
Governor and former actor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Celebrity chef
Wolfgang Puck
Ice hockey player
Thomas Vanek
Sound of Music
Most Americans are familiar with the beautiful
melodies of the musical featuring the story of
the Trapp family. The musical and movie have
won several awards and the musical has been
performed over 1,500 times on Broadway.
Schloß Leopoldskron, Salzburg –
site of the famous movie
Trapp Family Lodge, Vermont
… see you in Austria!