Austria-Germany: Allies Or Not?

Austria and Germany have historically had close relations due to their shared history and culture. In 1879, the two countries formed the Dual Alliance, a pact in which they promised to support each other in the event of an attack by Russia and remain neutral if either was attacked by another European power. This alliance was formed by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to prevent Germany's isolation and preserve peace, as Russia was unlikely to wage war on both empires. The addition of Italy in 1882 turned the Dual Alliance into the Triple Alliance. However, the relationship between Austria and Germany has also been complicated at times, with Austria being the junior partner in the alliance and the two countries having differing aims and rivalries.

Austria and Germany's shared history and culture

Austria and Germany have a long shared history and culture, with German being the official language and Germans being the major ethnic group of both countries. The Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians) are the ancestors of Austrians.

In early history, the Baiuvarii established the Duchy of Bavaria, which was ruled by Francia of West Germanic Franks from 555 to 843 and included the March of Pannonia that would become Austria in 970. Later, from 843 to 962, Bavarian Austria came under East Francia (the Kingdom of Germany). It then separated from the Duchy of Bavaria to become a sovereign state in 1156. From 1156 to 1806, Austria (not including its non-German lands) and other German states under the Kingdom of Germany were parts of the Holy Roman Empire, which was officially a German polity from 1512 and mostly led by Austria itself. The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, as it was known, was ruled by the House of Habsburg for several centuries.

From 1815 to 1866, Austria was part of the German Confederation and led it. In 1866, Austria was separated from Germany and the German Confederation was dissolved. The following year, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established and led by Austria. It was rivalled by the North German Confederation and the German Empire, led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Despite this rivalry, Austria and Germany were military allies at the time.

In the aftermath of World War I, Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria in a bid for union with Germany. This was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919), which was created by the victors of the war. During the interwar period, Austria and Germany remained separate and distinct entities. However, in 1938, Nazi Germany, led by Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, annexed Austria into Germany in what became known as the Anschluss. This union was reversed in 1945, and Austria was occupied by the Allies separately from Germany until 1955.

Since 1995, Austria and Germany have been member states of the European Union, sharing the same currency and a free border. They are also both members of the Council of Europe. Despite their shared history, the majority of Austrians do not identify as German today, and Austria has developed a separate national identity from Germany.

There are also cultural differences between the two countries, particularly in communication styles and business practices. Austrians tend to convey things more elaborately, while Germans prefer short and concise language. In business, Germans favour clear hierarchical structures and strict decision-making processes, while decision-making in Austria is more fluid and takes longer.

The Triple Alliance

Austria and Germany have a close relationship due to their shared history and culture. The two countries were united under the Holy Roman Empire from 1156 to 1806, and again from 1815 to 1866 under the German Confederation, which was led by Austria. In 1866, Austria and Germany separated, and Austria established the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Despite this separation, Austria-Hungary and Germany maintained a military alliance.

In 1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary formed the Dual Alliance, a defensive pact against potential aggression from Russia. This treaty was part of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck's strategy to prevent war and preserve the status quo in Europe. Bismarck also aimed to portray Germany, which had recently unified, as a peacemaker.

In 1882, Italy joined the alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, forming the Triple Alliance. This alliance was a defensive military pact, with each member promising mutual support in the event of an attack by another great power. Italy, in particular, sought the support of Germany and Austria-Hungary against France, following the loss of its North African ambitions to the French.

Austria's dependence on Germany

Austria and Germany have a shared history and culture, with German being the official language of both countries. The ancestors of Austrians were the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians). In early history, the Baiuvarii established the Duchy of Bavaria, which included the March of Pannonia that would become Austria in c. 970. Later, the Bavarian Austria came under East Francia (Kingdom of Germany) from 843 to 962. It then separated from the Duchy of Bavaria to become a sovereign state in 1156, and from 1156 to 1806, Austria (not including its non-German lands) and other German states under the Kingdom of Germany were parts of the Holy Roman Empire, which was officially a German polity from 1512 and mostly led by Austria itself.

Despite the rivalry, Austria and Germany maintained a military alliance. In 1879, they formed the Dual Alliance, a defensive pact against potential attacks by Russia. This alliance was surprising to many, given the two nations' shared history of conflict, most notably during the Austro-Prussian War. However, their common distrust of Russia united the empires for a common cause.

In 1918, after World War I and the fall of the Austro-Hungarian and German Empires, Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria in an attempt to unite with Germany. This union was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, created by the winners of World War I to prevent a dominant German state. Despite this, Austria remained dependent on Germany in various aspects, especially economically.

In the lead-up to World War II, Austria's dependence on Germany became even more apparent. The Austrian Nazi Party, aligned with Nazi Germany, gained supporters and attempted a coup in 1934, which ultimately failed. However, in 1938, Nazi Germany, led by Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, annexed Austria in what became known as the Anschluss. This event marked the transformation of Austria, as it ceased to exist as an independent country overnight. Austrian Nazis, with support from Germany, carried out the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life, and Austrians enthusiastically participated in this process.

During World War II, Austria fought alongside Germany, and Austrians were complicit in the mass murder of Europe's Jews. After the war, in 1945, Austria declared its independence from Germany and adopted a strict policy of neutrality, which it maintains to this day.

In summary, Austria's dependence on Germany has deep historical roots and has manifested in various forms, including political, military, and economic realms. While Austria has asserted its independence at different points in history, the two countries continue to share close relations due to their intertwined histories and cultural similarities.

The annexation of Austria into Germany

The rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany in 1933 changed the situation. For the Nazis, unification was an integral part of their ideology and their concept of "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm"), which aimed to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany". Hitler, himself an Austrian, had written in Mein Kampf (1925) about his intention to unite his birth country with Germany by any means. Nazi agents cultivated pro-unification sentiments in Austria and sought to undermine the Austrian government, which was controlled by the Austrofascist Fatherland Front and opposed unification.

In early 1938, under pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on unification, to be held on March 13. Hitler threatened an invasion and secretly pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 11, the day before the planned referendum, the German army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Schuschnigg resigned, and Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a pro-Nazi politician, became chancellor. A plebiscite was held on April 10, with the ballot not being secret and threats and coercion used to manipulate the vote, resulting in a 99.7% approval for the Anschluss. While the true opinions of the population are unknown, it is estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence.

The annexation of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of Britain and France to take action against him for violating the Versailles Treaty. It also fulfilled the long-awaited idea of a Greater Germany and enjoyed genuine support from Germans in both Austria and Germany. However, the process of unification was neither free nor secret, and the plebiscite result needs to be viewed with caution due to the large-scale Nazi propaganda and the disenfranchisement of certain groups. The annexation was followed by a wave of street violence against Jewish people and property, culminating in the Kristallnacht riots and violence of November 9-10, 1938.

The Allies, committed to upholding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain, which specifically prohibited the union of Austria and Germany, only reacted verbally and moderately to the annexation. No military confrontation took place, and even Italy, France, and Britain (the "Stresa Front") remained at peace. The loudest verbal protest came from the government of Mexico. Austria remained a part of Germany until the end of World War II, when a provisional government declared the Anschluss "null and void" on April 27, 1945, and Austria was recognized as a separate country.

Austria and Germany's current relationship

Austria and Germany's relationship is historically complex, with a shared history and culture, and the German language and people forming the basis of both nations. However, their relationship has also been marked by rivalry and diverging interests. Today, both countries are close allies and enjoy strong political, economic, and cultural ties.

Historical Context

Austria and Germany were once part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was led by the House of Habsburg from 1440 until its dissolution in 1806. The Duchy of Bavaria, established by the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians) in 555, included what would become Austria in c.970. From 843 to 962, Bavarian Austria was part of East Francia (the Kingdom of Germany), before becoming a sovereign state in 1156. From 1156 to 1806, Austria and other German states were part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was officially German from 1512.

The Rise of Nationalism

The rise of nationalism in the 19th century complicated the relationship between Austria and Germany. The Kingdom of Prussia emerged as a rival to Austria within the Holy Roman Empire, and the two powers fought a series of wars over the province of Silesia (now in southwestern Poland) from 1740 to 1763. After the Holy Roman Empire's end during the Napoleonic Wars, Austria and Prussia allied against the French Empire but were defeated. In 1815, Austria created the German Confederation, but tensions between the two powers remained, leading to the 1866 Austro-Prussian War.

The Dual Alliance

Despite their rivalry, Austria-Hungary and the German Empire formed the Dual Alliance in 1879, a defensive pact against potential Russian aggression. This alliance was surprising, given their differences, but their shared distrust of Russia united them. The addition of Italy in 1882 turned the alliance into the Triple Alliance, which remained a cornerstone of their foreign policies until 1918.

World War I and its Aftermath

During World War I, the relationship between Austria-Hungary and Germany was characterised by mutual mistrust and divergent goals. Austria-Hungary became increasingly dependent on Germany, both militarily and economically, ultimately losing its independence in military and foreign policy. After the war, both countries became republics and were forbidden from unifying due to the victors' fears of a dominant German state. Despite a brief period of annexation under Nazi rule, Austria and Germany remained separate, with Austria adopting a strict constitutional requirement of neutrality.

Contemporary Relationship

Today, Austria and Germany are close allies and partners. They share a border, are members of the European Union, and have strong economic ties, including a shared currency. They also cooperate in the cultural sphere, with annual meetings of German-speaking countries, including their heads of state, taking place since 2004. While Austria is not a member of NATO due to its neutrality requirement, it cooperates closely with Germany within the framework of the EU and other international organisations.

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