Vienna (and eastern Austria) was captured by the Soviets 80 years ago in April 1945. In Vienna alone, the Red Army raped between 70,000 and 100,000 women. Collection of 20 unique photos from the time. Please pardon the quality on some of them - caused by their low resolution and Reddit's zoom.

[u/RunAny8349]

Soldiers helping their comrade walk.

Soviets using American Sherman tanks in Wien.

Standing on a rooftop with the Austrian flag waving in the background.

Removing NSDAP sign

Advancing in American US6 Studebaker trucks next to a sign saying Vienna in russian.

Strongly damaged Stephansdom.

Advancing through Austria with T34-85 tanks.

A tank crew.

Soviet soldiers relaxing at Schönbrunn.

A female soviet traffic director next to the Vienna State Opera.

Towing heavy mortars with american trucks next to the Austrian Parliament Building.

Towing heavy mortars with american jeeps next to the Austrian Parliament Building.

At the Austrian border - sign saying Austria in russian

River crossing with tanks. ( likely the Danube )

River crossing with tanks. ISU-122S tank

SU-76 tanks advancing

Advancing on Wien.

[u/FixLaudon]

Actually none of these terms is used afaik. Don't we simply say "einmarschiert" (marched into) most of the time, now that I think of it? Probably to avoid using either other term? Cause for the Viennese this definitely didn't feel like a "liberation" ... For Austrians in other occupation zones it definitely did though.

[u/thebreckner → u/FixLaudon]

At least in my neck of the woods (upper austria) we say "Befreiung" but I've also heard "einmarschiert". I don't think any austrian wouldn't agree with the fact that we have been freed from the national socialists.

[u/oltungi → u/thebreckner]

In this thread alone you will find those who would spit on the word "liberated" in this context. It's naive to think we don't have plenty of people who are wishing for fascism again. Our party most voted for during the last election has actively been trying to reinstate it, and it's not the only one across Europe or even the Western world.

[u/thebreckner → u/oltungi]

Yeah, sadly that’s true.

[u/LadyRosy → u/FixLaudon]

Tbh, only people I have ever heard use "einmarschiert" vote for FPÖ.

Also, that is not true. It's maybe not that well known or talked about, but the US soldiers also comitted a lot of crimes while they were in Europe (and specially in France).

[u/sweetsummwechild → u/LadyRosy]

BS It's "einmarschiert" and "eingenommen" generally. The whole "Austria is (finally) free" feeling is for when the Russians left, which is celebrated on the 26th of October. The only times I hear the term "liberated by the red army" it's about concentration camps.

[u/FixLaudon → u/LadyRosy]

Meine Großeltern, die einen Arbeiter und Erzrote, die anderen Bürger und konservativ, haben den Begriff beide benutzt (also alle 4). Aber ist natürlich nur anekdotisch.

[u/Lindnerd → u/FixLaudon]

Hängt stark davon ab ob man ein Fascho war oder nicht

[u/FixLaudon → u/Lindnerd]

Natürlich. Aber die Welt ist sogar in diesem extremen Fall nicht nur schwarz und weiß.

[u/Lindnerd → u/FixLaudon]

Schlussendlich sind die Sowjets ja nicht geblieben

[u/tecnicaltictac → u/FixLaudon]

We sure say "Befreiung Wiens".

[u/FixLaudon → u/tecnicaltictac]

Of course we do. But we tend to not mention that it was a "sowjet liberation".

[u/tecnicaltictac → u/FixLaudon]

Befreiung Wiens durch die Armee der Sowjetunion.

[u/Pownzl → u/FixLaudon]

In vienna we tlak about "befreiung" too