Austria's Role In German Reunification: Support Or Opposition?

Austria's support for the reunification of East and West Germany was mixed. Initially, the Austrian government was sceptical of reunification, with many Austrian politicians, economists, intellectuals, and journalists expressing opposition to the idea. However, this stance changed over time, and Austria eventually played a role in facilitating the reunification process.

In the crucial months from November 1989 to January 1990, Austria's attitude towards German reunification was largely negative. This was due in part to dark chapters in the shared history of Austria and Germany, such as the Anschluss in 1938, when Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany. There were also concerns about the potential economic impact of reunification, particularly regarding Austria's economic relations with East Germany.

However, as the reunification process gained momentum, Austria's position evolved. Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky met with the new Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the GDR, Hans Modrow, in November 1989, signalling a shift in Austria's stance. Austria also played a key role in facilitating the escape of East Germans to the West via the Austrian-Hungarian border.

By mid-1990, Austria's attitude had become more positive, with the Austrian Foreign Ministry assessing that German reunification was likely to be completed by the end of the year. Austria also recognised the right of self-determination for East Germans and communicated this stance to its diplomatic representations worldwide.

Overall, while Austria's initial response to the idea of German reunification was hesitant and sceptical, its position evolved, and it ultimately played a supportive role in the process.

Austria's role in the dissolution of the German Democratic Republic (GDR)

Austria played a significant role in the dissolution of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the reunification of Germany. In the years leading up to the fall of the GDR, Austria maintained close relations with both East and West Germany.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Austria's border with Hungary became increasingly permeable, which set a worrying precedent for East Germany. The East German Foreign Office was alarmed by the example of the Austrian-Hungarian border, believing it could be a model for the settlement of the German-German border.

In the 1980s, Austria's relations with Hungary continued to intensify, and in 1987, Hungary decided that the frequency of trips to the West should not be regulated by the Hungarian state. This led to millions of Hungarians crossing the border to shop in the West, rendering the "Iron Curtain" obsolete. In February 1989, the new Hungarian Prime Minister, Miklós Németh, travelled to Austria and announced that the border security system would be removed. In May, the dismantling of the "Iron Curtain" began.

The opening of the Austrian-Hungarian border in September 1989 encouraged increasing numbers of East Germans to use this route to flee to the West. Within a few weeks, about 50,000 East German citizens used Austria as a transit country on their way to West Germany. This contributed significantly to the loss of power of the East German regime.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, Austria officially recognized the right of self-determination for East Germans. Austrian politicians and media, however, were highly skeptical of a possible reunification, due in part to shared dark chapters of Austrian and German history, such as the "Anschluss" in 1938.

In the following months, Austria continued to develop its bilateral relationship with East Germany, with Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky stating that Austria aimed to independently develop its relations with the GDR and contribute to the democratization process. However, Austrian diplomacy perceived the reactions of the victorious powers of World War II and other European states as reluctant and, in many cases, opposing reunification.

As the process of German reunification gained momentum, Austria gradually modified its attitude and eventually welcomed it, recognizing that it would need the support of a united Germany to become a member of the European Community.

Austria's position towards German reunification

However, the idea of a "Greater Germany" that included Austria gained support after World War I when the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell and the Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany. This was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1919, and Austria was stripped of some of its territories, such as the Sudetenland. Despite this setback, the majority in both Austria and Germany desired reunification, and this sentiment persisted even after the rise of Nazi Germany and the annexation of Austria in 1938, known as the Anschluss.

During the Cold War, Austria and Germany were divided, with West Germany joining NATO and East Germany falling under Soviet influence. Despite the division, close relations were maintained between the two countries, and when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Austria played a crucial role in facilitating the escape of thousands of East Germans to the West via Hungary.

As the prospect of German reunification became more tangible, Austria's position was influenced by several factors. Firstly, there were concerns about the potential economic impact, especially given the fragile state of East Germany's economy. Secondly, there were security considerations, as a reunified Germany could potentially alter the balance of power in Europe. Thirdly, Austria had to navigate its relations with the Four Powers (the US, USSR, UK, and France) who had a role in overseeing German reunification.

Austria's initial response to German reunification was cautious and ambivalent. While officially recognizing the right of self-determination for East Germans, there was a sense of sorrow and skepticism among Austrian politicians, intellectuals, and journalists. Some feared that a reunified Germany could pose a threat to European stability, and there were concerns about the potential resurgence of nationalism and the legacy of shared Austrian and German history, including the "Anschluss" in 1938.

However, as the reunification process progressed, Austria's position evolved. Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky gradually modified his attitude and eventually welcomed German reunification, recognizing that Austria would need the support of a united Germany in its ambitions to join the European Community (EC). This shift in stance was also influenced by the changing international climate, including the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union's consent to German reunification.

In conclusion, Austria's position towards German reunification was complex and evolved over time. Initially, there was skepticism and concern about the potential economic and security implications. However, as the process unfolded, Austria came to recognize the benefits of a united Germany, particularly in terms of its own aspirations for European integration. Ultimately, Austria's support for German reunification contributed to the strengthening of ties between the two countries and their shared commitment to a unified Europe.

The impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 marked the beginning of the end of the physical division of East and West Germany, and the end of the Cold War. The fall of the wall was the first step towards German reunification, which was formally concluded 339 days later on 3 October 1990.

The fall of the Berlin Wall had a profound impact on both a local and global scale.

Political Impact

The fall of the Berlin Wall signalled the end of the Cold War and the ideological divisions it represented. The wall had been a physical barrier between East and West Berlin since 1961, and its fall was the culmination of a series of political changes in Eastern Europe and civil unrest in Germany. The fall of the wall led to the reunification of Germany, and the dissolution of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) into a single German state.

Social Impact

The fall of the Berlin Wall had a significant social impact, particularly in terms of freedom of movement and the reunification of families. For nearly thirty years, the wall had divided the city of Berlin, and the fall of the wall allowed East and West Berliners to mix and celebrate together. The fall of the wall also enabled East Germans to travel freely to West Germany, and vice versa. This led to an increase in social interaction and the exchange of ideas between the two populations, who had been separated by the wall.

Economic Impact

The fall of the Berlin Wall had a significant economic impact, particularly in terms of trade and investment. The reunification of Germany created a larger, unified market and removed barriers to trade and investment between East and West. This had a positive impact on the German economy, as well as the economies of neighbouring countries.

Cultural Impact

The fall of the Berlin Wall had a significant cultural impact, particularly in terms of the exchange of ideas and the development of a shared cultural identity. The fall of the wall allowed for the free movement of people, goods, and ideas between East and West, which led to a greater exchange of cultural practices, traditions, and values. This helped to create a sense of shared cultural identity between East and West Germans, who had been divided for nearly thirty years.

Global Impact

The fall of the Berlin Wall had a significant impact on a global scale, particularly in terms of international relations and the balance of power. The fall of the wall signalled the end of the Cold War and the ideological divisions between East and West. This had a profound impact on international relations and the global balance of power, as the world moved away from a bipolar system dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union. The fall of the Berlin Wall also had a catalytic effect on the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe, as the opening of the Iron Curtain between Austria and Hungary set in motion a peaceful chain reaction that ultimately led to the disintegration of the Eastern Bloc.

The reunification treaty

The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, more commonly referred to as the Two Plus Four Agreement, was an international agreement that allowed the reunification of Germany in October 1990. It was negotiated in 1990 between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, in addition to the four powers which had occupied Germany at the end of World War II in Europe: France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The treaty supplanted the 1945 Potsdam Agreement, in which the four powers renounced all rights they had held with regard to Germany, allowing for its reunification as a fully sovereign state the following year. The two German states agreed to reconfirm the existing border with Poland in the German-Polish Border Treaty, accepting that German territory post-reunification would consist only of what was presently administered by West and East Germany.

The Unification Treaty, commonly known as the "Einigungsvertrag" (Unification Treaty) or "Wiedervereinigungsvertrag" (Reunification Treaty), was signed by representatives of the two governments on 31 August 1990. It was approved by large majorities in the legislative chambers of both countries on 20 September 1990 (442-47 in the West German Bundestag and 299-80 in the East German Volkskammer). The treaty passed the West German Bundesrat on the following day, 21 September 1990.

Under the terms of the treaty, the four powers renounced all rights they formerly held in Germany, including those regarding the city of Berlin. Upon deposit of the last instrument of ratification, a reunified Germany became fully sovereign on 15 March 1991. The treaty allowed Germany to make and belong to alliances, without any foreign influence in its politics.

The treaty also addressed military forces and nuclear weapons. All Soviet forces in Germany were to leave the country by the end of 1994, and Germany undertook efforts to reduce its armed forces to no more than 370,000 personnel. Germany reaffirmed its renunciation of the manufacture, possession, and control over nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, and agreed that no foreign armed forces, nuclear weapons, or the carriers for nuclear weapons would be stationed or deployed in six states (the area of Berlin and the former East Germany), making them a permanent Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.

The treaty defined the territory of a 'united Germany' as being the territory of East Germany, West Germany, and Berlin, prohibiting Germany from making any future territorial claims. The treaty was signed by West and East Germany as separate sovereign states but was subsequently ratified by the united Federal Republic of Germany.

The economic and social implications of reunification

The reunification of Germany had far-reaching economic and social implications for both East and West Germany. The process, which began on 9 November 1989 and culminated on 3 October 1990, involved the dissolution of the German Democratic Republic and the integration of its constituent states into the Federal Republic of Germany. This marked a significant shift in the country's economic and social landscape.

Economic Implications

One of the initial economic obstacles was the need to restructure businesses in East Germany, particularly regarding the clarification of ownership rights. The West German government favoured compensation over restitution of properties, and by 1992, the Property Law was passed to increase investments. Additionally, there was a need for infrastructure renovation in East Germany, including energy, transport, and communications. The environmental restoration was also a significant cost, as East Germany had many environmental violations, such as pollution.

The productivity of East Germany was significantly lower than that of West Germany, and upon reunification, it only contributed 8% to the total GDP of the nation. High unemployment and new regulations further weakened East German businesses. To address this, West German authorities implemented large-scale job training programmes to reduce unemployment and enhance productivity.

The reunification also had financial implications for West Germany. The immensely advantageous 1:1 exchange rate between the West German Deutschmark and the East German mark meant that East Germans could trade in their nearly worthless currency for the stable West German one. This deal a significant blow to the West German budget in the following years. Additionally, the cost of German reunification for the federal government is estimated to be between 1.5 and 2 trillion euros.

Social Implications

The reunification of Germany also had social implications, with vast differences between East and West Germany persisting long after the unification. These differences encompass lifestyle, wealth, and political beliefs, leading to a phenomenon known as the "wall in the head" (Mauer im Kopf). Stereotypes and prejudices emerged, with East Germans often viewed as racist and poor, while West Germans were seen as snobbish, dishonest, and wealthy. This divide was further exacerbated by the economic disparities, with Western labour unions demanding high-wage pacts, outpricing many East Germans in the market and contributing to rising unemployment in the East.

The reunification also impacted social attitudes and values. For example, abortion laws were more restrictive in West Germany, and the progress made in East Germany regarding women's welfare, such as legal equality and childcare support, was not fully carried over into the unified nation. Additionally, the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification led to mass migration from East Berlin and East Germany, resulting in a large labour supply shock in the West.

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