The Early Occupation Period
Last Update: September 23, 2001

The completion of a full year of occupation duty in Austria by the 42d Infantry (Rainbow) Division Commanded by Maj. Gen. Harry J. Collin, calls for a review of the Division's many accomplishments since VE Day. During the twelve months that have passed since the shooting stopped, the 42d and other U. S. troops in Austria have faced and solved problems which, in complexity and difficulty, have rivalled combat days. Rainbow occupation began in the scenic Tyrol. In July, 1945, the 42d moved to Land Salzburg and on 26 February 1946 the Division's area was expanded to include all the American zone of Austria, as part of General Mark W. Clark's forces in Austria.

Most of us see only the job we perform day after day as a roadblock guard, train guard, interpreter, driver, clerk, cook or switchboard operator. It is hard to see the "big picture" and how our particular job fits into the whole. Few of us are aware of the difficulties of restoring order to a conquered country which is not self-sustaining. Few of us know how the confusion was made worse by the fact that Austria is the cross-roads of Europe, the remnant of a nation that once embraced twelve different nationalities, in which the cross-currents of war mixed slave laborers, refugees, and soldiers of every European nation.

Suppose we look at the following problems we faced in May 1945 and see how in accordance with directives received from General Clark's Headquarters each one was, or is being, solved by the coordinated efforts of the 42d Division's staff, tactical troops, and the Military Government:
(1) Austrian Self-Government.
(2) Displaced Persons.
(3) Prisoners of War.
(4) Internal and Border Security.
(5) Civil and Military Government Courts.
(6) Food for Austrians and Displaced Persons.
(7) Public Health and Welfare.
(8) Fuel for Civilians and the Military.
(9) Commerce, Industry, Transportation, Agriculture, Religion, Fine Arts, and Other Aspects of the Problem.
(10) Education.

Austria Free, Independent, Is Allied Aim

A fact which underlies the whole question of occupation forces is the Austrian Government and its ability to shoulder the problems which necessitate the presence of troops. Paramount in basic Allied policy right from the start has been the establishment of a "free and independent Austria". The biggest stop in this direction was taken last November 25th when Austria became the first of the ex-enemy nations to hold democratic elections. Local governments were set up in Lander (states) and Bezirke (counties). Austria is not governed directly by Allied military personnel. Austrian officials do it under our supervision. By permission of the Allied Council a Nationalrat, or assembly, was chosen. It elected Dr. Karl Renner president, and Mr. Leopold Figl, chancellor. The Nationalrat has since passed acts which have become laws after review by the Allied Council of American, British, Russian and French representatives.

Great progress has been made, and one indication of this is the formal diplomatic recognition which was extended by Allied nations to the present Republic of Austria in January. An American Minister, the Hon. John Erhardt, is now in Vienna as political adviser to General Mark W. Clark. Another indication that the Republic of Austria is growing in stability is the fact that Austrian citizens now enjoy postal service to nearly all parts of the world.

These achievements are startling when one remembers that in April, 1945, Austria was an enemy nation. True, she was the only one or the Axis powers which was forced to join the Axis. Even so there were many special reasons for paying close attention to this country.

Reduced in area by the first World War from 240,000 to 32,000 square miles and to only one-seventh its pre-war population, Austria was for many years unable to support herself. Austrian industry and commerce, no longer able to trade freely in the huge area once belonging to Austria, advocated union with Germany as a solution to the problem. The agitation for "Anschluss", or union, was the biggest reason why Hitler tagged Austria as his first easy conquest.

Half A Million DP's Were Second Occupation Problem

Aside from the physical rebuilding of Austria perhaps the greatest problem existing at the war's end was the problem of Displaced Persons, or DPs. It is estimated that ten million people were uprooted from their homes by the European conflict. Millions were slaves shanghaied by the Nazi army. Others took jobs in the German war machine voluntarily, enjoyed the best wages they had ever known, and were among Hitler's most ardent supporters. Many who willingly collaborated with the Nazis in puppet regimes fled in the direction of Germany as Allied liberation approached. Then there were the descendents of Germans who settled in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Russia and Austria a generation or so ago. And finally there were the Germans who fled to Austria to escape bombings, and a few who came to attempt a last stand in the ballyhooed "Hitler Redoubt" which never materialized. So Austria was a very crowded place when the war ended. The surplus had to be housed, clothed and fed during the last year while efforts were made to repatriate them, if starvation, disease and exposure were to be avoided in the winter months. The task of unraveling all the twisted strands of humanity was almost staggering.

Housing Problem Settled

First the DPs were moved to camps, a colossal job in itself considering the housing problem. Army engineers rehabilitated thousands of buildings. Most of them had to be winterized. Sanitary facilities had to be provided. In the U.S. Zone alone 121 large camps were set up. The total number, including small camps, was well over 200. All of them were operated by tactical troops.

How many DPs were there? It was hard to make a count because they kept swarming in from the hills and farms faster than they were repatriated. On 19 July, 1945, there were 381,599 DPs on record in the U.S. zone. This grew to 401,346 in August. Thousands had already been repatriated and thousands more repatriated then. But, by September 6 the figure had grown to 406,234.

Army Does Well

The difficulty of counting noses was shown by what happened to the German DP's. On 26 September a directive was issued that all Germans would by repatriated to Germany.

It was thought that there were 110,000 Germans in the U. S. zone. In August 151,000 were shipped, yet we still had 38,000. 22,000 more left in November and December. By 1 March 1946, 164,404 German DPs, had been repatriated. The job is approximately 92% finished.

How much of the DP problem has been solved? As of 1March, 1946, a total of 577,463 DPs had been repatriated. Approximately 214,000 still remained in the U.S. zone of Austria. The task of repatriation is about 70% finished.

And what a task! Think of the work of screening and shipping 164,404 Germans, 78,731 Hungarians, 69,496 Soviet Russians, 43,390 Italians, 41,374 Western Europeans, 42,019 Poles, 15,667 Yugoslavs, 95,004 Austrian refugees, plus other groups. Wagon caravans had to be organized, and trains had to be assembled, guarded, routed. There were also the problems of food, clothing, medical care, delousing, fodder for horses, etc. Each one was a job for the U. S. Army.

Some Camps Close

In the period from May, 1945, to March, 1946, the number of large camps dropped from 121 to 80. Although the Army of necessity retains the full responsibility for all camps, the general plan at present is to place the immediate administration of the United Nations DP camps under UNRRA and the ex-enemy DP camps under Austrian civilian authorities. In the 42d Division, 388 U.S. soldiers were employed daily in DP camps in October, and this dropped to 72 as of 18 April 1946 in spite of the fact that the division has since taken over more then twice the territory occupied in October.

However, the number actually working at DP camps does not begin to represent the total number of troops needed to furnish the necessary authority and security for maintaining order and to handle the tremendous task of supplying these camps.

Many problems remain to be solved. One of these is the disposition of approximately 37,000 DPs who are classified as "non-repatriable" because they either have no home or for some reason do not wish to go home.

42d Division troops can be proud of their part of a tremendous piece of work in an undertaking for which they were untrained.

PW's, DEF's Are Screened And Guarded

As southern German armies disintegrated they pulled back toward Austria. On May 5 Army Group "G" surrendered and with it were thousands of soldiers who had been forced by General Mark W. Clark's troops to retreat from Italy. Broken fragments of several Nazi armies congregated in Austria when the shooting stopped. Many were in hospitals, seriously wounded.

These defeated troops had to be herded into PW enclosures. They had to be fed, given medical care, guarded. They had to be screened. War criminals, security threats (highranking Nazis, SS and SA leaders) had to be weeded out and placed in special camps.

Then came the tedious, specialized task of more thorough screening for the purpose of discharging the ones who were eligible. They were questioned at length to determine occupational specialities, place of residence, dependency status, etc. Finally the U. S. forces began to return them to civilian life. Some who were discharged found the going tough outside and would return to the camps in a few days. They had to be handled again.

In spite of these obstacles, 360,506 PWs were either evacuated or discharged by 15 March 1946. Still remaining in camps and hospitals are 19,684.

The job is being finished. In August 1945 there were 25 camps and 30 hospitals in the U. S. zone of Austria. As of 15 March 1946 there were only 10 camps and 21 hospitals.

In Land Salzburg the 42d Division employed about 2,000 men for the job of guarding PWs in October, 1945. This figure has now dropped to 502 as of 18 April in Land Salzburg. The 42d Division more than doubled its occupation territory in February and as of 18 April in this expanded area, 1,110 troops were engaged daily in PW camp and guarding PW work details.

Offsetting these gains, however, is the fact many PWs are still to come into Austria. From the U. S. zone of Germany (2,000), from the British zone of Germany (12,000), from France (6,000), from the United Kingdom (2,500), from Italy (2,600), from the Middle East (1,200), and from the U.S.A. (2,800).

These, plus those still unable to move from hospitals and those who are not dischargeable, will remain for an indefinite period. The 42d can be proud of its part of the work done in handling PWs.

Security Problem Runs Through Every Activity

The importance of the security job accomplished by the occupation army can hardly be stressed enough. Everything we do is directly or indirectly related to security. Occupying troops depend on Austrian power projects for electricity. These projects must be watched. Reports of secret meetings of the Nazi diehards must be investigated. Despite legislation prohibiting their formation attempts already have been made to organize "glider clubs" and mountain-climbing associations which, under the Nazis, were used as a camouflage for political activity. These must be checked. Breaks in communication facilities must be checked for the possibility of sabotage. Food-trains and other supply trains must be protected. The scarcity of things to buy and the abundance of money tends to produce a black market. The fact that some 260,000 DPs were fed without being required to work made them a potential source of trouble. DPs formerly abused by the Nazis sometimes tried to get even by plundering Austrian property, robbing and beating.

The problem of security is complicated in Austria by the fact that there are four occupying powers speaking three different languages. Liaison must be established at all major crossing points from one zone to another. MP's of four different armies must patrol in Vienna.

Thousands, facing a hard cold hungry winter in Germany looked to Austria as a "promised land" and attempted to swarm across the borders. Others, anxious to leave Austria and go home, attempted to get out before their homeland was ready to receive them. Hunted criminals tried to "beat the rap" and "take it on the lam" when things got too hot for them here. Stolen property, art treasures looted by the Nazis, and important archives had to be located, guarded and properly disposed of. Fuel dumps, food ware-houses, motor parks and other U. S. Government property had to be guarded.

Road Blocks

Put these all together and you see the huge problem that comes under the heading of "Security". These are reasons why there were 344 roadblock guards and 559 "target" guards employed daily by the 42d Division alone, in Land Salzburg, in October, 1945. And this amounts to only a small part of the vast job being done by intelligence agencies of General Mark W Clark's Headquarters in investigating, interrogating, screening, and controlling all elements of an intelligence nature.

Austrians Taking Over

Here, again, the problem is being solved. By turning over more and more of the work at frontier blocks to Austrian customs agents, and by reducing the number of such blocks, the 42d Division cut the number of road-block guards in Land Salzburg from 344 in October 1945 to only 114 in April 1946. Target guards were reduced in Land Salzburg from 559 in October to 165 in April. These are reductions of more than 60%. Since the 42d Division more than doubled its territory, the number of road-block guards employed by the Division in all of Austria in April totaled 326, and target guards total 254 in all of Austria. The Division can be proud of its work in establishing security, but the job will not end until the last American soldier has left Austria.

MG Revived Austrian Laws, Holds Courts

Closely allied with the security problem was the necessity for breaking up the perverted Nazi courts, righting the wrongs commited by them, and establishing a temporary military-controlled judicial System as a foundation for independent Austrian courts.

The first step taken by military government was the dissolution of the Nazi Party in Austria and the abrogation of Nazi laws and decrees. To take the place of the corrupt enemy courts, military government courts were immediately set up and proceeded to review the cases of all those persons unjustly imprisoned by the peculiar Nazi "justice". Military courts still reserve sole jurisdiction over the cases of United Nations nationals, and of persons violating military government ordinances. They continue to handle between six and eight hundred per month.

The second step was the reorganization of the civilian courts. In conjunction with the CIC and other intelligence agencies, military government legal experts carefully screened out lawyers and judges who were Nazi or were tainted with the Nazi ideology. Civilian courts were permitted to reopen. Their record has been outstanding. From June to January the Austrian courts in Land Salzburg, progressively reopened, disposed of 3,500 cases.

MG Courts Still Needed

Despite the growing operation of Austrian courts, if is vitally necessary to maintain the military government courts. The military government courts are also needed to bolster the weakened civilian courts which are operating, because of weeded-out Nazi personnel, at only 54% of strength. Furthermore, a constant check must be kept on all actions of the civilian courts to make sure that they conform to American principles of justice. In addition, the legal specialists of USFA Headquarters must review all laws passed by the new Austrian government to guarantee that no law violates the democratic ideal.

The work done is gratifying to all. But there is still much to accomplish. For example, only criminal cases are now being tried in Austria. There simply isn't enough personnel to tackle the thousands of civil cases now pending. Think of the divorce cases brought on by the stress of war, the damage claims, the property claims of people dispossessed by the Nazis, and all the other civil actions that are piling up.

In addition, for the protection of Austrian civilians as well as occupying forces adequate civilian police departments, prison and travel control agencies had to be set up. Civilians employed in these functions had to be chosen carefully to eliminate political undesirables.

Army Helps In Food Crisis

Last May the people of Austria were war-starved. It was readily foreseen that civilian food supplies were not sufficient to meet civilian needs as well as those of the thousands of DPs. Something had to be done, and quickly. America, which had so long been the arsenal of Democracy, furnishing weapons on a scale never dreamed possible, now turned to the job of being the world's food-larder. Austria, two-thirds mountainous and 38% forested, does not produce all its own food.

From American farms came thousands of tons of food. Wheat and milk were given first priority. In June, 1945, 24 long-tons of milk and 1,799 long-tons of wheat were shipped to Austria. This trickle soon became a flood. Coffee, fats, meat, pulse (peas, beans and lentils), and sugar were soon added to the list. By the end of December a total of 162,429 long-tons of foods had been brought to Austria by the U. S. Army. This figure included 123,634 tons of wheat, 13,956 tons of meat, 12,167 tons of pulse, 1,207 tons of powdered milk, 6,147 tons of fats, 1,327 tons of coffee and 6,246 tons of sugar.

All this food had to be transported and guarded by U.S. Army troops, and distributed under the supervision of the Army. The shipment of this food into Austria alleviated the food shortage for all - Austrians and DPs alike. In addition the Army took over the job of seeing that all food was properly rationed and that food prices were controlled.

Public Health And Welfare Another Army Responsibility

Under the supervision of U. S. Army surgeons, extensive surveys of public health conditions have been made. Cases of severe malnutrition in DP and PW camps and among the civilian population have been given special remedial treatment. Dietary studies have been conducted and the population has been checked for weight-loss and other symptoms of under-nourishment.

In view of the constant threat of epidemics Army surgeons have tested water supplies and sewage disposal systems, dusted travelers coming into Austria with DDT, and inoculated DPs.

Extensive efforts have been head to revitalize the civilian medical service.

Prisoners Cut Wood Supply

Austria has always had to import 70% of its coal. At the war's end the transport system of Europe was so badly destroyed it would have been impossible to bring this coal in, even if the mines had been producing. Austria faced a cold winter with windowless houses. The situation would be made worse by the inadequate diet which reduced normal body-heat.

In July 1945, the Army took drastic measures to augment Austria's fuel-supply of poor grade lignite. By direction of USFA Headquarters, all U. S troops, including the 42d Division, put SS prisoners of war to work on a large scale wood-cutting program.

At first it was thought that the wood cut and stacked to dry in 1944 would he used, and the plan was to cut enough to replace this supply. However, this proved inadequate and with the coming of cold weather much of the freshly-cut green wood had to be burned. The goal of 85,000 round meters for Land Salzburg was increased to 285,000. Later when it was found that some coal would be available for Army use, this fugure was cut to 140,000 round meters.

By the middle of November the 42d Division had supervised cutting of 138,000 round meters in Land Salzburg. The enormous job of hauling the wood over mountain roads was begun. Some of it had to be shipped to Vienna. By January the 42d Division had hauled a total of 55,000 round meters of wood from the cutting area to the towns. It would have made a solid block of wood one meter high and fifty-five kilometers long. All together we have cut or hauled, in Land Salzburg, 193,000 round meters.

Since 26 February, when the Division extended its area to include Upper Austria, we have supervised the cutting and hauling of 25,000 round meters of fire wood in that area.

At the peak of the wood-cutting program the Division had 1,430 troops engaged in guarding the SS troops who were cutting the wood in Land Salzburg. By January, 1946, this total had dropped to 479. The job is now finished.

In conjunction with the cutting of fire-wood, the Division organized a program to fell sufficient wood for all construction requirements in Land Salzburg, beginning in September, 1945. Logging camps were set up, and prisoner of war labor was used.

Reconstruction Of Austrian Economy

The reconstruction of a war-torn society included many tasks which must he mentioned only in passing because of limited space.

United States Forces in Austria have assisted the reopening of essential industry, and secured the import of coal and other industrial raw materials. Glass was urgently needed for bombed buildings. A representative was sent by the Division to Czechoslovakia to arrange for procurement of glass in exchange for Austrian salt. The salt was obtained and transported and enough was procured to supply all needs in DP camps, all military requirements, and civilian requirements.

Austria depends on hydro-electric power for lighting her cities and running her industries. The 42d Division took over the responsibility for the Kaprun Hydro-Electric Works in July, 1945, and reorganized the construction program to insure the supply of power to the city of Vienna. Division officers were placed in charge of the project initially to expedite construction, and remained there in a supervisory capacity after the project was taken over by a civilian company.

The present output at Kaprun is 30,000 kilowatts per day. When construction is completed, the output will be 200,000 kilowatts per day. Had the construction and repair work not been expedited during the summer months of 1945, Vienna would have been without enough electricity during the winter.

The Division Engineer reorganized the civilian Highway Department in Land Salzburg and an Engineer officer was placed in charge. Engineer equipment was made available for roadrepairs and maintenance. Civilian motor vehicles were registered and traffic was controlled. Fuels for minimum non-industrial civilian requirements were obtained. The Division gave every possible assistance to railway operating battalions for the repair and maintenance of railroads.

Art Returned

The locating and restitution of fine arts treasures has called for Rainbow troops to aid military government. Priceless paintings and other objects have been guarded and transported. Caches of art in the Tyrol were disposed of. The priceless Sacred Hand of St. Stephen, held in custody by the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, was returned to the people of Hungary by U. S. Forces in Austria. An extensive collection of Polish art and libraries in Schloss Fischhorn in Bruck, the important Sven Hedin scientific collection of Tibetan origin at Schloss Mittersill, Italian libraries at Schloss Lichtenberg, and large deposits of materials in the Hallein salt mines have all been handled with the utmost care. The first direct shipment from Austria of material looted or illegally purchased by the Germans during their occupation of Paris will soon be made. 42d Division guards are also assisting in the first restitution of art works to Poland. A final shipment of foreign-owned art from the Alt-Aussee mine is scheduled for the near future. Guards at the Property Control warehouse in Salzburg have in their charge vast quantities of materials which included at one time the world's most impressive series of Velasquez portraits.

Chaplains Aid Clergy

The Division Chaplain and his assistants have materially assisted in the restoration of the Austrian clergy to their former status. The efforts of Austrian clergy to provide for the religious needs of DPs and Prisoner of war have been coordinated. Thousands of Bibles and other religious supplies have been obtained from America. Chaplains are aiding in the restoration of church buildings. Food and clothing parcels from American charitable institutions are being distributed. At Christmas time, under the guidance of the Chaplains Corps and with the assistance of troops, Christmas parties were held for all children in the Division's area.

Freed Schools Chose Teachers, Books Carefully

All people agree that the greatest hope for a new Europe free of the Fascist ideas that have threatened civilization at least four times in the last two centuries lies in the children. The realization of this hope can only came through education in democracy.

The Education Branch of military government went to work energetically last summer and has made great progress. In Land Salzburg 1,975 teacher's fragebogens (questionnaires) have been processed and 1,000 teachers are now re-employed. Two thousand teachers are on the job in Upper Austria, and 3,500 in Vienna. Still only about 60% of the needed teachers are now working in the U.S. zone.

Enrollment has grown until the elementary schools now have 95% of their former students and secondary schools have 80% enrollment in Vienna, 50% in Upper Austria and Land Salzburg. The total enrollment is approximately 248,000 students.

Much has been done to repair Austria's crippled educational system. Still only a bare beginning has been made toward solving the problem. Austrian officials now shoulder most of the responsibility for screening teachers and reopening schools. However, the U. S. Army will continue to supervise their work.

Schools For Soldiers

The U. S. Army did not forget that its first responsibility in education is to the American soldier, himself. The goal is to make the American soldier the best educated in the world, and the 42d Division has an enviable record in this respect. In spite of occupational duties, we have sent over 400 men to such schools as the Sorbonne in Paris, Oxford University, the University of Florence, the University of Geneva, Army University Centers at Biarritz and Shrivenham, Warton American Technical School, and to such excellent on-the-,job training activities as conducted by the French motion picture industry, dress-designing, British farms, botanical gardens, department stores, etc. The Division has graduated 600 students from Rainbow University, one of the outstanding schools offering college subjects at division level. In addition, schools were organized in nearly every battalion and at the peak of the program there were 25 schools with a total enrollment in all courses of 2,792. The program included literacy training which reached approximately 100 men. Eight Rainbow men are studying with some of the world's finest music teachers at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and the 222d Infantry Glee Club conducted a music school in Vienna, sponsoring the appearance of talented artists, popularizing classical music, and providing instrumental and vocal Instruction.

Conclusion

The shooting has stopped. The war has not yet been won. It will only be won when ex-enemy nations are again able to join the rest of the world in the pursuit of normal living. The Army's job is to provide the necessary authority and security to guarantee that Austria makes that difficult transition from a conquered enemy to a dignified, peaceful neighbor. If we fail in this task, we can say we won battles but lost the war.

The story of the American soldier's adaptation to this new job of occupation is one of the great stories of all times.