Akten zur Südtirol-Politik 1959-1969

Between 1959 and 1969 the South Tyrol conflict was very high an the agenda of Austrian foreign and domestic policy. According to Foreign Secretaries Bruno Kreisky (1959-1966), Lujo Toncic-Sorinj (1966-1968) and Kurt Waldheim (1968/69) it was No. 1. On September 5, 1946, the Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi and Austrian Foreign Secretary Karl Gruber had signed an agreement in Paris which essentially provided autonomy for the German-speaking inhabitants of South Tyrol. As it tumed out, and contrary to the agreement, the measures of autonomy which were granted by Rome did not apply to South Tyrol (Alto Adige) but to the entire "Trentino-Alto Adige" administrative region with its overall Italian majority. At the same time the influx of Italians into south Tyrol continued - almost in the Same way as under the Fascists. Exasperation and a series of bomb explosions in South Tyrol finally made the Austrian government take the case to the United Nations - against very strong Western pressure. On October 31, 1960, the General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution which urged Italy and Austria "to resume negotiations with a view to finding a solution for all differences relating to implementation of the Paris Agreement". The negotiations failed which led to renewed terrorist activities in South Tyrol. Italy was finally prepared to sit down for serious negotiations which, in 1969, led to an agreement called "the Package". lt was the Basis for a new autonomy. During those years there were endless secret meetings, trials and bomb attacks, people were killed. Secret services, terrorists, Neo-nazis etc. turned South Tyrol into a kind of terrorist "playground". Up to now we knew very little of what really went on. Now, newly declassified documents in Vienna, Innsbruck, Rome, Bonn, Munich, London, Washington, New York and private papers are available for an unique collection of 2044 documents which Shows South Tyrol`s fight for survival. There will be seven volumes. Band 1: 1959: Aufbruch im Andreas-Hofer-Jahr ( out in 2005) (288 documents) Band 2:1960: Vor der UNO (out in 2006) (386 documents) Band 3: 1961: Krise und Wende (out in 2006) (285 documents) Band 4: 1962-1964: Verhandlungen, Attentate und Prozesse (281 documents) Band 5: 1965/66: Mehr "Paket", weniger Verankerung? (216 documents) Band 6: 1967: Terror und "Operationskalender" (276 documents) Band 7:1968/69: Die Einigung (312 documents)

An extensive project entailing several years of research was completed successfully and on schedule: the edition of heretofore 2329 unpublished classified documents, gleaned from 19 national and international archives, pertaining to one of most interesting and controversial topics in the history of contemporary Europe. This seven volume edition delivers to historical science essential research in uncharted territory, comparable to the Foreign Relations of the United States, the Documents on British Policy Overseas or the Akten zur Auswärtigen Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. All subsequent research on South Tirol will build upon this edition, any work on Austrian foreign policy or relations with Italy will have to use it. According to South Tyrolean Governor Dr. Louis Durnwalder, who made available the publishing funds: "The documents from that time have great significance for us - also for the interpretation of the autonomy status. Topics such as international recognition of autonomy and the protective function of Austria are as relevant today as ever."