Adjacent to a private residence buidling.

An information sign.

In front of the residential building on General-Keyes-Straße in the Liefering section of town,   stands a commemorative plaque installed in 2005 and renewed in 2023 marking the housing complex constructed by U.S. authorities, which was long known colloquially as "Little America." The impetus for its construction was the severe housing shortage prevailing in the city following its liberation in 1945; residential buildings had been destroyed by air raids during the final weeks of the war, and numerous houses, apartments, and hotels had been requisitioned by the U.S. military. As this situation repeatedly gave rise to tensions between the liberators and the city administration, the U.S. occupation authorities commissioned the constructionbetween 1950 and 1951 of what is today the Schwarzenberg Barracks, along with two housing complexes for military personnel and their families. The housing complex in Liefering was named after U.S. General Geoffrey Keyes, who served as High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief of U.S. forces in the Second Republic of Austria between 1947 and 1954. Since 2017, the buildings have been designated as protected historical monuments.

Source: https://gams.uni-graz.at

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Klein-Amerika in Liefering die General-Keys-Siedlung

Salzburg 1945: Die Stadt befand sich in einer katastrophalen Lage schwere Bombenschäden, zehntausende Flüchtlinge und eine Vielzahl von Häusern, Wohnungen und Hotels waren von den Amerikanern beschlagnahmt.

Daher drängte die Stadtverwaltung das US-Oberkommando immer heftiger, die in Anspruch genommenen Objekte baldmöglichst freizugeben. In der Folge entschlossen sich die USFA (United States Forces in Austria) zum Bau der

Kasernenanlage Camp Roeder [heute Schwarzenberg-Kaserne] und von zwei Wohnsiedlungen in Liefering und am Walserfeld, für Familien der Offiziere und des Kader- personals. Die Siedlung in Liefering benannt nach Lt. General Geoffrey Keyes, Oberbefehlshaber der US-Truppen in Österreich und US-Hochkommissar von 1947 bis 1954 entstand auf dem Areal eines Arbeitsdienstlagers aus der Vorkriegszeit, errichtet im Zusammenhang mit der Glan- regulierung. Anfang 1950 wurde mit dem Bau der Siedlung begonnen und im Oktober das erste Gebäude seiner Bestimmung übergeben.

Die Wohnanlage bestand aus 20 Doppelwohnhäusern mit insgesamt 272 Wohneinheiten, zwei großen Kaufhäusern [PX, Post Exchange], einer Tankstelle und einer Kfz-Werkstätte. Heute beherbergen die Gebäude General-Keyes-Straße 2 und 4 ein Sonderpädagogisches Zentrum für behinderte Kinder sowie Dienststellen der Telekom. Die USFA-Wohnungen hatten eine Größe von 100-135 m², im obersten Stockwerk befanden sich Personalzimmer und große Kinderspielräume. Dazu umfasste die Wohnanlage weitläufige Grünflächen und großzügige Parkplätze. Daher blickten viele Salzburger bewundernd, aber auch neidvoll, auf das hier entstandene Klein-Amerika.

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5. Mai 1947, am Mozartplatz: Verabschiedung des Hochkommissars und Oberkommandierenden der US-Streitkräfte in Österreich, General Mark W. Clark (links). Bild-mitte sein Nachfolger Generalleutnant Geoffrey Keyes, rechts Generalmajor Harry J. Collins, Oberbefehlshaber der US-Zone Salzburg/OO.

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Mitte 1955 erhielten die amerikanischen Mieter die Anweisung, die Gebäude bis Anfang Oktober zu räumen, um sie danach der Bundesregierung zu übergeben. Ursprünglich wollte man die Siedlung zur Gänze dem im Aufbau befindlichen Bundesheer überlassen. Doch nach zähen Verhandlungen wurden 212 Wohnungen für den zivilen Bedarf freigegeben und 60 für das Bundesheer. 2003 wurde die Siedlung an eine private Investorengruppe verkauft. In den 2010er-Jahren erfolgte eine umfassende Modernisierung und Restaurierung der Altgebäude, die seit 2017 unter Denkmalschutz stehen, sowie eine maßvolle Nachverdichtung durch qualitätsvolle Neubauten.

Als Zeugnis der jüngeren Stadtgeschichte bewahrten die Liegenschaftseigentümer eine Museumswohnung, teilweise eingerichtet im Stil der American Fifties. Darüber hinaus war die Siedlung Drehort zu Adrian Goigingers preisgekröntem Film Die Beste aller Welten.

Ernst Hoffeld-Weilof () und Werner Hölzl

English translation:

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Little America in Liefering, The General Keys Housing Estate

Salzburg 1945: The city was in a catastrophic condition, with severe bomb damage, tens of thousands of refugees, and a large number of houses, apartments, and hotels had been requisitioned by the Americans. Therefore, the city administration increasingly pressured the U.S. High Command to release the occupied properties as soon as possible. As a result, the USFA (United States Forces in Austria) decided to construct the Camp Roeder military complex [today the Schwarzenberg Barracks] and two housing estates in Liefering and Walserfeld for the families of officers and cadre personnel. The settlement in Liefering, named after Lt. General Geoffrey Keyes, Commander-in-Chief of U.S. troops in Austria and U.S. High Commissioner from 1947 to 1954, was built on the site of a prewar labor service camp that had been established in connection with the regulation of the Glan River. Construction of the settlement began in early 1950, and in October, the first building was officially opened for its intended use.

The housing complex consisted of 20 duplex residential buildings with a total of 272 housing units, two large department stores [PX, Post Exchange], a gas station, and an automotive repair workshop. Today, the buildings at General-Keyes-Straße 2 and 4 house a special education center for children with disabilities as well as offices of the telecommunications service. The USFA apartments ranged in size from 100 to 135 square meters, and the uppermost floors contained staff rooms and large children's playrooms. The residential complex also featured extensive green spaces and spacious parking areas. As a result, many residents of Salzburg looked upon the Little America established here with admiration, but also with envy.

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May 5, 1947, at Mozartplatz: Farewell ceremony for the High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces in Austria, General Mark W. Clark (left). In the center of the photo is his successor, Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes, and on the right is Major General Harry J. Collins, Commander of the U.S. Zone Salzburg/Upper Austria.

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By mid-1955, the American tenants were instructed to vacate the buildings by early October so that they could then be handed over to the federal government. Originally, the entire settlement was intended to be transferred to the newly developing Austrian Federal Army. However, after lengthy negotiations, 212 apartments were released for civilian use and 60 for the Federal Army. In 2003, the settlement was sold to a private group of investors. During the 2010s, the old buildings underwent extensive modernization and restoration, and since 2017, they have been protected as historical monuments. At the same time, careful redevelopment with high-quality new buildings was carried out. As a testament to the city's more recent history, the property owners preserved a museum apartment, partially furnished in the style of the American Fifties. In addition, the settlement served as a filming location for Adrian Goiginger's award-winning film The Best of All Worlds (Die Beste aller Welten).

Ernst Hoffeld-Weilof () and Werner Hölzl