„Österreich ist frei“

After World War II and a subsequent ten-year occupation, Austria became a sovereign state and regained its independence in 1955. The State Treaty was signed on May 15, 1955 in the Marble Hall of Belvedere Palace. Leopold Figl concluded his acceptance speech with the spontaneous words “Austria is free”. Based on a television report, many thought the famous phrase was shouted to the people from the balcony. Due to the noise level of the cheering crowd, the famous words could not have been heard there.

• Politics