Austrians agog at wooden airplane

26th October and Austria commemorates the Declaration of Neutrality, signed in 1955. On the Heldenplatz in Central Vienna, 700,000 citizens had a knees up. The declaration which is part of the Constitution followed the Austrian State Treaty of May 15th marking the withdrawal of the troops of occupation of the Western Allies after WWII and officially establishing Austrian independence and sovereignty....Allied troops left on October 25th.

Not missing the chance Österreichs Bundesheer chose the national holiday to display their 1: 1 wooden Typhoon / Eurofighter whilst tanks rumbled past and helicopters buzzed overhead. More pics

What this neutral country will do with these weapons is a political problem few wish to discuss or answer. Some explanation how they were supplied by Germany here.

Rolf Steiniger in his book Der Staatsvertrag. Österreich im Schatten von deutscher Frage und Kaltem Krieg.Studienverlag, Innsbruck-Wien-Bozen 2005, 198 Pages provides a unique and fascinating insight into the position of Austria, the Allies interets in the Anschluss, the post war question and the the curent position of the Austrians uin Europe. Brief review at Rolf's website here. See also