Editing Austrian Armed Forces (section)

===Cold War===
On 1 March 1978, the "Wehrgesetz 1978" became law, which encompassed the "Heeresgliederung 1978" plan to grow the Austrian Armed Forces to 384,000 (84,000 active, 300,000 militia) by the early 1990s to be able to fully employ the Austrian {{Ill|Raumverteidigung|de}} concept. A total of 30 new Landwehrstammregimenter were to be raised. On 6 October 1987, the Austrian government enacted the "Heeresgliederung 1987", which instructed the armed forces to stop the growth of the militia at 200,000. Afterwards only the militia's infantry grew, making 1988-1989 the timeframe Austria's armed forces reached their maximum strength. On 29 May 1990 the "Wehrgesetz 1978" was cancelled<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 June 1990 |title=Austrian Official Gazette 1990 |url=https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblPdf/1990_305_0/1990_305_0.pdf |lang=de-AT}}</ref> and the army began to shrink, which accelerated with the "Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Wehrgesetz 1990" ({{Ill|Fassung|de|Fassung (Literatur)}} of 31.12.1992).<ref>{{Cite web |title=RIS - Wehrgesetz 1990 - Bundesrecht konsolidiert, Fassung vom 31.12.1992 |url=https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10005724&FassungVom=1992-12-31 |accessdate=Jan 24, 2023 |website=www.ris.bka.gv.at}}</ref>

==== Raumverteidigung ====
[[NATO]]'s [[Central Army Group]] in Southern Germany was arrayed against attacks from [[East Germany]] and [[Czechoslovakia]], with only the [[German Army]]'s [[10th Panzer Division (Bundeswehr)|10th Panzer Division]] available to cover the army group's Austrian flank. To strengthen the flank NATO would have deployed the [[French Army]]'s II Corps, which would have required seven days for mobilization and approach. The arrival of [[Warsaw Pact]] forces in southern Bavaria within the first six days after the start of hostilities would have prompted NATO to use [[tactical nuclear weapons]] to block the enemy approach routes through [[Upper Austria]].<ref name="Kurier">{{cite web |last1=Theuretsbacher |first1=Wilhelm |date=18 May 2016 |title=Im Kalten Krieg drohte Österreich atomare Vernichtung |url=https://kurier.at/chronik/oesterreich/im-kalten-krieg-drohte-oesterreich-atomare-vernichtung/199.559.259 |access-date=20 October 2020 |publisher=Kurier}}</ref> To prevent the use of tactical nuclear weapons on Austrian territory the Austrian military developed the Raumverteidigung (Area Defense) concept, which envisioned that Austrian forces would delay, harass and decimate Warsaw Pact forces with determined, sustained and costly resistance along their expected axis of advance.<ref name="Kurier" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Seledec |first1=Walter |title=Das Bundesheer im Kalten Krieg |url=https://tvthek.orf.at/history/Die-Geschichte-des-Bundesheers/7143461/Das-Bundesheer-im-Kalten-Krieg/14012956 |access-date=20 October 2020 |publisher=ORF - Austrian National TV}}</ref><ref name="Rauchensteiner">{{cite book |last1=Rauchensteiner |first1=Manfried |title=Zwischen den Blöcken: NATO, Warschauer Pakt und Österreich |date=2010 |publisher=Böhlau Verlag |isbn=978-3-205-78469-2 |location=Vienna |pages=135–192, 325–386, 557–614}}</ref><ref name="Lampersberger">{{cite web |last1=Lampersberger |first1=Thomas |title=Der Weg zur Raumverteidigung 3 |url=https://www.truppendienst.com/themen/beitraege/artikel/der-weg-zur-raumverteidigung-3/#page-1 |access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="Steiger">{{cite web |last1=Steiger |first1=Andreas |title=Feuertaufe für die Raumverteidigung - RVÜ79 |url=https://www.truppendienst.com/themen/beitraege/artikel/feuertaufe-fuer-die-raumverteidigung-rvue79/#page-1 |access-date=20 October 2020 |publisher=Truppendienst}}</ref>

===== Strategic considerations =====
The Austrian military assumed that Warsaw Pact forces would include [[Czechoslovak People's Army]], [[Hungarian People's Army]], and [[Soviet Army]] units. A mixed Czechoslovak-Soviet corps of three divisions was expected to mass in the [[Břeclav]]-[[Brno]]-[[Znojmo]] region and attack through the [[Weinviertel]] north of Vienna. The expected crossing of the [[Danube]] was expected to occur between [[Tulln]] and [[Krems an der Donau|Krems]], from where the enemy forces would have turned West to reach the [[Sankt Pölten]] area. In parallel the 5th Hungarian Army, consisting of Hungarian units, Soviet [[Central Group of Forces]] and [[Southern Group of Forces]] units, and Czechoslovak units based in [[Slovakia]] was expected to strike from [[Sopron]] through the Wiener Wald towards Sankt Pölten.<ref name="Rauchensteiner" /><ref name="Lampersberger" />

After taking Sankt Pölten the Austrian armed forces expected the combined Warsaw Pact forces to strike West to take possession of the [[Linz]]-[[Steyr]]-[[Wels]], supported by an advance of two Czechoslovak People's Army divisions through the [[Mühlviertel]] to the North of [[Linz]]. After taking possession of the Linz basin the Warsaw Pact attack would have continued into Bavaria. The Austrian military also expected an advance by up to three Hungarian People's Army divisions, supported by [[Romanian People's Army]] units, into [[Styria]] and across the [[Soboth Pass]] and [[Pack Saddle]] towards [[Klagenfurt]] and [[Villach]], from where the Eastern forces could turn South towards the [[Italian Army]]'s [[5th Army Corps (Italy)|5th Army Corps]] or West towards the Italian [[4th Army Corps (Italy)|4th Alpine Army Corps]].<ref name="Lampersberger" />

While it was imagined that NATO troops could likewise use Austria as a stepping stone for invasions of the Warsaw Pact countries, such a scenario was considered highly unlikely, unrealistic and eventually remained theoretical in strategic realization.

===== Initial dispositions =====
In 1978 the Austrian Armed Forces enacted its new concept of Raumverteidigung. The Raumverteidigung divided the entire nation into Key Zones (Schlüsselzonen), Area Security Zones (Raumsicherungszonen), and Subzones (Teilzonen). Key zones were set up in those areas of the national territory, which an aggressor had to take possession of in order to achieve his military goals. Area security zones were set up to deny an aggressor the possibility to bypass key zones and prevent the massing, movement, supply, and maintenance of enemy units. Operationally the aim was to block the direct march lines through layered defenses in the key zones and to prevent an aggressor from freely using the space in the area security zones through mobile warfare. Both types of zones were to be defended by militia formations.<ref name="Rauchensteiner" /><ref name="Lampersberger" /><ref name="Keusch/Halbartschlager">{{cite web |last1=Gerold Keusch, Rudolf Halbartschlager |title=Das entscheidende Gelände der Raumverteidigung 1 |url=https://www.truppendienst.com/themen/rezensionen/artikel/das-entscheidende-gelaende-der-raumverteidigung/#page-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028213748/https://www.truppendienst.com/themen/rezensionen/artikel/das-entscheidende-gelaende-der-raumverteidigung/#page-1 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |access-date=20 October 2020 |publisher=Truppendienst}}</ref><ref name="Steiger" />

The four subzones formed the Central Area in Austria's mountainous interior, which was outside of the anticipated main axis of a Warsaw Pact advance. In the event of an attack and an occupation of most of Austria, one or more the sub zones would form the national territory, which would justify the continuation of Austria as a subject of international law. The central area was therefore of essential importance and had to be defended at its entrances. The Army Command and Austrian government would have retreat to a bunker complex in [[St Johann im Pongau]] in the central area.<ref name="Kurier" /> Furthermore, the central area acted as main depot of Austria's war stocks. The capital [[Vienna]] would not have been defended and was therefore excluded from defense preparations.<ref name="Rauchensteiner" /><ref name="Lampersberger" /><ref name="Steiger" />

Geographically the country was divided into 34 areas:

* 10 Key zones
* 19 Area security zones
* 1 reinforced key area designated Block Zone 33 (Sperrzone 33)
* 4 Sub zones / Central Area

Each key zone and area security zone, and Block Zone 33 were overseen during peacetime by a Landwehrstammregiment, which were tasked with training the militia forces needed for the defense of their assigned zone.<ref name="Steiger" /> The Landwehrstammregiments consisted of a staff company, training companies, a supply train, and mobilization depots. Some of the Landwehrstammregiment also trained and fielded an active Jäger battalion. In case of war the Landwehrstammregiments would have reformed as Landwehr Regiments with various types of militia battalions and companies, allowing the regiments to fight delaying actions from fortified positions as well has hit and run attacks on enemy formations trying to pass through their zone. The Landwehr regiments formed the area-bound Landwehr and fielded the following types of Landwehr units:<ref name="Rauchensteiner" /><ref name="Lampersberger" />

* Landwehr battalions (Landwehrbataillone) tasked with defending their zone
* Blocking battalions and companies (Sperrbataillone and Sperrkompanien) tasked to man more than 500 bunkers and fortified positions<ref name="Kurier" />
* Jagdkampf battalions and companies (Jagdkampfbataillone and Jagdkampfkompanien) tasked to fight behind enemy lines and disrupt enemy supply lines
* River-blocking companies (Flusssperrkompanien) tasked with blocking river fords
* Guard companies (Wachkompanien) tasked to guard key infrastructure
* Guard-blocking companies (Wachsperrkompanien) tasked to guard and defend key transport infrastructure, and to prevent the enemy from capturing it
* Stationary artillery batteries (Artilleriebatterie ortsfest) with [[155 mm Long Tom|M2 155mm howitzers]] in bunkers to lay suppressing fire on enemy approach routes

Operationally the country was divided initially into three operational areas (Operationsraum), which were commanded by the Army Command.<ref name="Lampersberger" />

* Operational Area East under Corps Command I, in [[Graz]], encompassing the states of [[Vienna]], [[Burgenland]], [[Steiermark]] and [[Lower Austria]], the latter without Key Zone 35
* Operational Area Center under Corps Command II, in [[Salzburg]], encompassing the states of [[Kärnten]], [[Salzburg]] and [[Upper Austria]], Key Zone 35, and [[East Tyrol]]
* Operational Area West under Military Command Tyrol, in [[Innsbruck]], encompassing the states of [[Tyrol (federal state)|Tyrol]] (without East Tyrol) and [[Vorarlberg]] (later merged into Operational Area Center)

The Air Division and army's support troops were under direct Army Command. In wartime the operational commands would command nine brigades, which formed the mobile Landwehr. The mobile Landwehr was the Austrian armed forces reserve, which once the intentions of the opponent were determined, could be used to counterattack enemy formations. The mobile Landwehr consisted of six light Jäger brigades, which would only be fully manned during wartime, and three Panzergrenadier brigades, equipped with [[main battle tank]]s and [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s, which were fully manned at all times. The staffs of the six Jäger brigades would have been formed upon war by the armed forces military commands, which in peacetime had territorial functions in the states. The three Panzergrenadier brigades were assigned to the 1st Panzergrenadier Division and based along the Danube valley from Vienna to Linz.<ref name="Rauchensteiner" /><ref name="Lampersberger" />

===== Raumverteidigung Organization =====
Each Austrian military command was numbered from 1 to 9, with all zones and units assigned to the command or part of the command starting with the same number. The only exception was the 9th Panzergrenadier Brigade, which carried the number of the Vorarlberg Military Command in the extreme West of the country, but was based near Vienna in the East of the country and manned by conscripts from Vienna. The Austrian military commands of the [[Raumverteidigung concept]], their assigned number, zones and main units during peacetime were:<ref name="Rauchensteiner" />

* [[Burgenland]] Military Command - No. 1, in [[Eisenstadt]]
** 1st Jäger Brigade, in Eisenstadt
** 11th Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Neusiedl am See|Neusiedl]] (Area Security Zone 11)
** 12th Landwehrstammregiment, in Eisenstadt (Area Security Zone 12)
** 14th Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Pinkafeld]] (Key Zone 14)
* [[Vienna]] Military Command - No. 2, in Vienna
** 2nd Jäger Brigade, in Vienna (in wartime assigned to Lower Austria Military Command)
** 21st Landwehrstammregiment, in Vienna (Area Security Zone 21 in Lower Austria)
* [[Lower Austria]] Military Command - No. 3, in [[Sankt Pölten]]
** 3rd Panzergrenadier Brigade, in [[Mautern an der Donau]] (based in the Area Security Zone 31)<ref>{{cite web |title=Die Geschichte der 3. Panzergernadierbrigade |url=https://www.airforce.at/sk/lask/brigaden/pzgrenbrig3/pdf/50_jahre_3pzgrenbrig.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028211248/https://www.airforce.at/sk/lask/brigaden/pzgrenbrig3/pdf/50_jahre_3pzgrenbrig.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2020 |access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref>
** 9th Panzergrenadier Brigade, in [[Götzendorf an der Leitha]] (based in the Area Security Zone 21)
** 311th Jagdkampfbataillon 311, in [[Allentsteig]] (Area Security Zone 31, in peacetime part of the 32nd Landwehrstammregiment)
** 32nd Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Korneuburg]] (Area Security Zone 32)
** 33rd Landwehrstammregiment, in Mautern an der Donau (Block Zone 33)
** 34th Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Wöllersdorf]] (Key Zone 34)
** 35th Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Amstetten, Lower Austria|Amstetten]] (Key Zone 35)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Häusler |title=Geländebefahrbarkeit der Schlüsselzone 35 |url=https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Arbeitstagungen-geologischen-Bundesanstalt_2013_0195-0202.pdf |access-date=20 October 2020 |publisher=Geologischen Bundesanstalt}}</ref><ref name="Keusch/Halbartschlager" />
** 36th Landwehrstammregiment (Area Security Zone 36, formation suspended with the 1987 reform)
* [[Upper Austria]] Military Command - No. 4, in [[Linz]]
** 4th Panzergrenadier Brigade, in Linz (covering Block Zone 45)
** 41st Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Steyr]] (Block Zone 41)
** 42nd Landwehrstammregiment, in Linz (Area Security Zone 42)
** 43rd Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Wels]] (Area Security Zone 43)
** 44th Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Kirchdorf an der Krems]] (Area Security Zone 44)
* [[Styria]] Military Command - No. 5, in [[Graz]]
** 5th Jäger Brigade, in Graz
** 51st Landwehrstammregiment (Area Security Zone 51, formation suspended with the 1987 reform)
** 52nd Landwehrstammregiment, in Feldbach (Area Security Zone 52)
** 53rd Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Straß in Steiermark|Straß]] (Key Zone 53)<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.bmlv.org/sk/lask/brigaden/jgbrig7/baon/pdf/festschrift_160jahre_garnison.pdf |title=160 Jahre Garnison Straß |publisher=Bundesministeriums für Landesverteidigung und Sport |pages=42–45 |access-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028205405/https://www.bmlv.org/sk/lask/brigaden/jgbrig7/baon/pdf/festschrift_160jahre_garnison.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
** 54th Landwehrstammregiment, in Graz (Key Zone 54)
** 55th Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Sankt Michael in Obersteiermark|Sankt Michael]] (Subzone 55)
** 56th Landwehrstammregiment (Subzone 56, formation suspended with the 1987 reform)
* [[Tyrol (federal state)|Tyrol]] Military Command - No. 6, in [[Innsbruck]]
** 6th Jäger Brigade, in Innsbruck
** 61st Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Kitzbühel]] (Area Security Zone 61)
** 62nd Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Absam]] (Key Zone 62)
** 63rd Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Landeck]] (Area Security Zone 63)
** 64th Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Lienz]] (Area Security Zone 64)
** 65th Landwehrstammregiment (Area Security Zone 65, formation suspended with the 1987 reform)
* [[Carinthia]] Military Command - No. 7, in [[Klagenfurt]]
** 7th Jäger Brigade, in Klagenfurt
** 71st Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Wolfsberg, Carinthia|Wolfsberg]] (Key Zone 71)
** 72nd Landwehrstammregiment, in Klagenfurt (Area Security Zone 72)
** 73rd Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Villach]] (Key Zone 73)
** 74th Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Spittal an der Drau]] (Area Security Zone 74)
* [[Salzburg (state)|Salzburg]] Military Command - No. 8, in [[Salzburg]]
** 8th Jäger Brigade, in Salzburg
** 81st Landwehrstammregiment, in Salzburg (Area Security Zone 81)
** 82nd Landwehrstammregiment, in St Johann im Pongau (Subzone 82)
** 83rd Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Tamsweg]] (Subzone 83)
* [[Vorarlberg]] Military Command - No. 9, in [[Bregenz]]
** 91st Landwehrstammregiment, in [[Lochau]] (Area Security Zone 91)

Under the area defence strategy, which determined the army's structure until 1993, the army was divided into three principal elements: the standing alert force ({{lang|de|Bereitschaftstruppe}}) of active units, including the [[1st Panzergrenadier Division (Austria)|1st Panzergrenadier Division]] and the air division; the mobile militia ({{lang|de|Mobile Landwehr}}), organized as eight mechanized reserve brigades to be deployed to key danger spots in the event of mobilization; and the stationary militia ({{lang|de|Raumgebundene Landwehr}}) of twenty-six reserve infantry regiments organized for territorial defence.<ref name=":0" /> Both the mobile militia and the stationary militia were brought up to strength only in times of mobilization or during periods allotted for refresher training, usually three weeks in June.<ref name=":0" /> Training of conscripts was conducted by twenty-eight training and equipment-holding regiments ({{lang|de|Landwehrstammregimenter}}).<ref name=":0" /> On mobilization, these regiments would disband, with their cadre reassigned to lead reserve units or form replacement regiments and battalions.<ref name=":0" />

At the army level were a headquarters, guard, and special forces battalions and an artillery battalion at cadre strength.<ref name=":0" /> Two corps headquarters, one in the east at Graz and one in the west at Salzburg, would, on mobilization, command the provincially organized units in their respective zones.<ref name=":0" /> Each corps included artillery, antitank, antiaircraft, and engineering battalions, and a logistics regiment, all on a cadre basis.<ref name=":0" />

Each of the nine provincial military commands supervised the training and maintenance activities of their training and equipment-holding regiments.<ref name=":0" /> On mobilization, these nine commands would convert to a divisional headquarters commanding mobile militia, stationary militia, and other independent units.<ref name=":0" />

The only active units immediately available in an emergency were those of the standing alert force of some 15,000 career soldiers supplemented by eight-month conscripts.<ref name=":0" /> The force was organized as a mechanized division consisting of three armored infantry brigades.<ref name=":0" /> Each brigade was composed of one tank battalion, one mechanized infantry battalion, and one self-propelled artillery battalion.<ref name=":0" /> Two of the brigades had antitank battalions equipped with self-propelled weapons.<ref name=":0" /> The divisional headquarters was at [[Baden bei Wien]] near Vienna;<ref name=":0" /> the 3rd, 4th, and 9th Brigades were based in separate locations, also in the northeast of the country.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} 3rd Brigade was at [[Mautern an der Donau]], 4th at [[Linz]], and 9th Brigade at [[Götzendorf an der Leitha]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}