American cleanup policy in Austria

Kurt Tweraser

The US occupiers sought a bureaucratic solution to the question of de-nazification using formal categories. This policy conflicted with the Austrians' preferred case-by-case treatment. The US in no way wanted to bring about social revolution, just carry out a political personnel cleanup. The basic aim of excluding Nazi elites from public life for several years was accomplished. A more comprehensive cleanup process was foiled by vested interests in political parties, clubs, unions, bureaucracy and the church. The reforming zeal of the Americans was also kept in check by the pragmatic demands of their own political and economic interests in Austria.