In the news1955
Austria State Treaty signed in 1955
In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed, ending the Allied occupation and restoring Austrian sovereignty.
Vienna, 20 Jun 1950 – Vienna, 20 Sep 2009
8 facts1 source
20 Jun 1950
Born in Vienna
20 Sep 2009
Dies in Vienna, aged 59
He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Vienna.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1955
In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed, ending the Allied occupation and restoring Austrian sovereignty.
What people wore
Four wardrobe sets for rural life
People typically owned four sets of clothing: work clothes, everyday attire, Sunday best, and special ceremonial garments for high holy days. The wedding suit often served as the high holy day outfit and was frequently worn for burial.
Daily life
Housing shortages and lack of modern plumbing
In 1951, only 14% of Vienna flats had a bathroom, 44% had running water inside, and 40% had an internal toilet. Many families relied on public bathhouses, which saw 5 million visitors annually in 1950.
In the news1959
The introduction of the first Steyr tractors in 1959 revolutionized agricultural work, making many manual farm roles obsolete.
Music
Traditional folk music and regional instruments
Traditional Austrian folk music featured instruments like the violin, harp, zither, dulcimer, accordion, and guitar, often tied to regional customs and feast days. Alpine genres like the Laendler, yodelling, and Schnadahuepfl songs remained central to these traditional celebrations.
In Europe1957
Six countries signed the Treaty of Rome, the start of what became the European Union.
Getting around
Transition from bicycles to motorized public transport
In the 1950s, men shifted from cycling to work in cities like Linz toward using new factory buses, public buses, and more frequent trains.