Comparison of the international administration in Berlin and Vienna after World War II

Abstract

The legal status of both Berlin and Vienna was unique following World War II. The Allies divided both cities into sectors, however their control mechanisms and allied administrations were different. Despite the Cold War, allied cooperation in Vienna was successful and territorial integrity of the city remained, though this was not the case in Berlin. Both cities had been detached from occupation zones and separate commands subordinated to allied military administration were set up for their operating. This working paper aims to present the post-war international administration and legal status of Vienna and Berlin, the circumstances causing the permanent division of Berlin, and the reasons why Vienna did not come to the same fate. This study is confined to the period from after World War II until the establishment of the Berlin blockade.