Editing Austrian Armed Forces (section)

===== 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" />