Austria celebrates major anniversaries: A journey through 100 years of history

Austria celebrates major anniversaries: A journey through 100 years of history

Amid the festive atmosphere that surrounds Vienna in 2025, there is reason to celebrate. Three important anniversaries are a reminder of the country's eventful history: the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the 70th anniversary of the Austrian State Treaty and the 30th anniversary of accession to the EU. These milestones are honored in the outstanding photo exhibition “A Century in Pictures” at the Vienna National Library.

How meinkreis.at reports, the exhibition includes around 200 exhibits, including photographs, posters, daily newspapers, magazines and ORF archive material. Organized chronologically by decade, the exhibition offers not only a visual look back, but also a textual outline of Austrian history. This makes it clear how the events are linked to one another and what they have meant for the development of Austria.

Insights into the history of Austria

The highlights of the exhibition are as diverse as the history itself. Among other things, there is an impressive photo by Lothar Rübel that captures the day of the Palace of Justice fire on July 15, 1927. The portrait of Liesl Goldarbeiter, the only “Miss Universe” in Austria from 1929, can also be seen. The persecution of Jews in Vienna, the signing of the State Treaty on May 15, 1955 in Belvedere Palace and Udo Jürgens' song contest victory in 1966 are also part of this visual journey through time. The Waldheim affair and the “Heldenplatz” outrages also find their place in this impressive show, which also includes sporting successes, political turning points and cultural-historical moments.

The State Treaty itself, a central element in Austria's history, was signed on May 15, 1955 by representatives of the USA, the Soviet Union, France, Great Britain and the Austrian federal government. The treaty came into force on July 27 and provided the basis for establishing Austria as a sovereign and independent state. What is particularly noteworthy is that Austria pledged not to enter into any political or economic unification with Germany.

A look into the future

The exhibition also shines light on the present. The most recent photo shows the traffic light coalition under chairmen Stocker, Babler and Meinl-Reisinger. The focus is already on future developments, which largely depend on the new government and its handling of current challenges such as recession, inflation, migration and education.

Overall, the photo exhibition not only reflects the past, but also offers a valuable discourse about Austria's present and future. A visit to the National Library is doubly worthwhile: experience history up close and reflect on your own opinion on the current political situation in the country!

For those who would like to find out more about the Austrian State Treaty Wikipedia numerous details about this historic agreement, which is considered a milestone of the Second Republic. A topic that will certainly continue to be a topic of conversation in the years to come.