When did Austria split?
Allied-occupied Austria
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones and jointly occupied by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France. Vienna was similarly subdivided but the central district was collectively administered by the Allied Control Council.
Compendium of postage stamp issuers (Ar–Az)
Before 1913, the individual states had their own issues.
The Austrian Empire was formed in 1804 to anticipate the dissolution in 1806 of the ancient and
maligned Holy Roman Empire by Napoleon. Austria, home of the Habsburg dynasty, had been the
central part of the Holy Roman Empire. In the aftermath of Waterloo, Austria was one of the
strongest nations in Europe and its foreign minister Metternich became the architect of the
Concert of Europe which was able to maintain peace in a divided continent for several decades.
Hungary, the land of the Magyars that lies to the east of Austria, was part of the Austrian
Empire at that time but it constantly sought control of its own affairs.
Austria faced a crisis after its defeat by Prussia in the Seven Weeks War of 1866. To
consolidate his power, the Emperor Franz Josef negotiated in March 1867 the Ausgleich
(Compromise) with the Magyar ruling classes. As a result, Hungary gained control of its
internal affairs and the two states of Austria and Hungary were federated into what became
commonly known as the Dual Monarchy. The words Kaiserliche und Königliche on Austrian stamps
refer to the Empire of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary, both titles being held by Franz
Josef. The Dual Monarchy endured until the end of WWI.
Austria and Hungary had separate postal administration from the time of the Ausgleich although
it was not until May 1871 that Hungary could issue its first stamps. In the meantime, a set of
"neutral" stamps were issued that showed a profile of Franz Josef and a value.
The fact of the Dual Monarchy was emphasised in stamps issued abroad by Austro-Hungarian post
offices or military forces. Hence, reference should be made to Austria and Hungary separately
re home issues and to the various Austro-Hungarian entries for overseas issues.