pictures | Talk to me about Austria

The Third Man is an international film classic, filmed in 1948 in Vienna, Austria. We totally recommend this film especially to those of you who are interested in the pre- and post-war history of Austria and also those of you who are into noir/black & white films.

In 1949 “The Third Man” won the First Prize at the Film Festival in Cannes and was awarded the Oscar for Best Camera for a Black and White Movie in 1950. In 1999 the British Film Institute elected The Third Man as “Best Film of the Century”.

In October 2012 passed the 63rd anniversary of Austria regaining freedom after the Soviet occupation, that in years 1945-53 followed the allied forces agreement from June, 1945. Due to it, territory of Austria and Wien were divided — similarly to Germany and Berlin — into four occupational zones: American, British, French and Soviet. However, when a few years later the Cold War begun, the three Western zones united into one free-Austrian territory, while the Soviets still kept Eastern parts of Austria (including Vienna) in their hands. In spite of numerous appeals from the Western leaders to leave Austria, the Russian forces showed no intention of doing so. In 1940/50 — similarly to other Central and East European capitals (like Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia, East Berlin) — Vienna shared the miserable fate of what it meant to be a bolshevik occupied city. Namely, to be overwhelmed by poverty, corruption, political terror and the ambiguous secret police monitoring the citizens.

The memorable Carol Reed’s masterpiece, The Third Man, represents this time of Austrian history and portrays Vienna as the gloomy city it was at that time, a city haunted by the spirits of evil. You will also be able to witness the unforgettable role of Harry Lime, the main character, masterly performed by Orson Welles, as well as listening to the title tune, which was composed and played on the zither by Viennese musician, Anton Karas.

In 1947, a Franciscan monk, Otto Augustin Pavlicek, started organizing among Austrian catholics the secular movement for the national rescue from the Bolshevik oppression, through committing a nationwide prayer of the Rosary. It was the time when, unanswered by Soviets, over 300 international governmental notes calling to end the Soviet occupation of Austria remained. In spite of international acclaim unfortunate facts have occurred so far, such as that in Dec. 1954 Soviet foreign affairs minister Molotov arrogantly admonished Austrian chancellor Leopold Figl to give up any speculations about Russian troops ever leaving Austria.

Though after Figl, a devoted catholic Julius Raab became the chancellor of Austria. He was aware that there were no chances of releasing Austria from its existing Soviet embrace by solely using diplomatic or back room maneuvers alone. And so he used religion in one of his letters stating that “the entire hope of Austrian people lay in the Virgin’s intervention (meaning in Virgin Mary)”. The Russians answered: “the Russian NIET (no) will not change into DA (yes) only through a YES to St. Mary”.

During Easter 1955, Raab went to Moscow in a last attempt to negotiate about the future of a freed Austria. He told his people: “Pray! May all the Austrians pray now!”. And the Austrian people replied through the ‘March of The Lights’, countless supporters gathering together in Vienna, when hundreds of thousands of Austrians marched with lit up candles and the Rosary prayer spoken aloud through the streets and squares of their tormented capital city. Bells of all Austrian churches were tolling with no break during three days and three nights while the negotiations in Moscow lasted.

And — when everything seemed to be lost — on the morning of April, the 13th, 1955; the Soviets suddenly in front of a completely shocked Austrian chancellor, declared their agreement to leave Austrian territory until October 1955. The withdrawal started immediately after the triumphant return of Julius Raab to Vienna where hundreds of thousands of Austrians were enthusiastically welcoming him.

“St. Mary made us free!” They yelled and sang through the streets of Vienna and the Austrian chancellor declared it from the balcony of the Belvedere. In the beginning of October 1955, the last Soviet soldier left the territory of Austria.

For historians, the reason of such radical change in Soviet strategy towards Austria remains unexplained. Especially because, when one year later in Budapest the Hungarians attempted a similar attempt to get rid of the Soviet occupation. However, that one was followed by the Russia’s bloody suppression and enforcement of the Russian domination over the entire Eastern bloc.

For more information, feel free to check out The Three Man museum: http://www.3mpc.net/englsamml.htm