Austria's Ambitions: Cores On Sicily In Hearts Of Iron Iv

In the game Hearts of Iron IV, Austria has a core on the Italian state of South Tyrol. However, this does not extend to Sicily, which is also an Italian state in the game. Cores allow countries to gain extra resources and manpower from the cored territory, and are usually only obtained when the territory in question is the country's capital, or very close to it. Cores can also be obtained through the game's focus tree, but Austria's generic focus tree does not grant any cores on Sicily. Therefore, Austria does not get cores on Sicily in Hearts of Iron IV.

Austria's generic national focus tree

Army Effort

This branch gives army experience and research bonuses to army research.

Aviation Effort

This branch gives air experience, builds air bases, and provides research bonuses to air research.

Naval Effort

The naval effort branch gives navy experience, builds naval dockyards, and provides research bonuses to navy research.

Industrial Effort

This branch builds civilian and military factories (even if building slots are already full), infrastructure, and grants extra research slots.

Political Effort

The political effort branch gives the country choices on which political path they will take.

Austria's military strength

Austria's land army is comprised of infantry, mountaineers, and cavalry units, with a strength roughly equal to Hungary's but weaker compared to its other neighbours. Its infantry has nine units with engineer companies, its mountaineers have six units with engineer companies, and its cavalry has four units.

As a landlocked nation, Austria does not possess a navy. However, its air force includes 42 fighters.

Austria's generic national focus tree provides five main branches for players to choose from, which can impact their military strength:

• Army Effort: Provides army experience and research bonuses for army research.
• Aviation Effort: Offers air experience, builds air bases, and provides research bonuses for air research.
• Naval Effort: Grants navy experience, constructs naval dockyards, and provides research bonuses for naval research.
• Industrial Effort: Builds civilian and military factories, infrastructure, and grants extra research slots.
• Political Effort: Allows players to choose their political path, such as democratic, communist, or fascist.

Additionally, Austria has a core on the Italian state of South Tyrol and can form Austria-Hungary by controlling specific regions, which can further influence its military capabilities.

Overall, Austria's military strength in Hearts of Iron IV is influenced by its land, air, and potential naval forces, as well as its focus tree choices and expansion efforts.

Austria's annexation by the German Reich

Austria was annexed by the German Reich on 13 March 1938, in an event known as the Anschluss. This annexation was the culmination of a long-held desire for a "Greater Germany", which would unite all ethnic Germans into a single nation-state. The idea of the Anschluss first arose after the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the new German Empire.

The Republic of German-Austria, formed in 1918 after the abdication of Emperor Carl I, attempted to unite with Germany, but this was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain and the Treaty of Versailles. The new republic was also stripped of many of its territories, such as the Sudetenland, and faced an economic crisis. As a result, the idea of the Anschluss gained support in both Austria and Germany, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and centre.

After Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept. Nazi Germany's agents cultivated pro-unification tendencies in Austria and sought to undermine the Austrian government, which was controlled by the Austrofascist Fatherland Front and opposed unification. During an attempted coup in 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis.

In early 1938, under increasing pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced that there would be a referendum on a possible union with Germany, to be held on 13 March. Portraying this as defying the popular will, Hitler threatened to invade and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On 12 March, the day before the planned referendum, the German Army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. A plebiscite was held on 10 April, with coercion and non-secret ballots resulting in 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

Austria remained part of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allies declared the Anschluss "null and void" and re-established an independent Austria.

Austria's ability to form Austria-Hungary

Austria in *Hearts of Iron IV* is a medium-sized country in Central Europe with a mountainous landscape. It is bordered by Germany, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Hungary. It is a non-aligned nation with no elections and has five civilian factories and three military factories in Lower Austria, three civilian factories in Upper Austria, and one civilian factory in Tyrol.

Austria has the ability to form Austria-Hungary by controlling all of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, northern Yugoslavia, and western Romania. This formation can be achieved through two methods. The first method is through the Hungarian national focus tree, which is part of the Death or Dishonor expansion. In this tree, there is a branch that allows Hungary to end the regency and elect a non-aligned Habsburg king, Otto von Habsburg of Austria, as their ruler. This path involves starting an endeavour to rebuild the fallen Austro-Hungarian Empire by reuniting with Austria and Czechoslovakia and generating claims on lost lands in Yugoslavia, Romania, Poland, and northern Italy.

The second method is through the German national focus tree. Under this tree, Germany may restore the Austro-Hungarian Empire in their monarchist branch via war or referendum or guarantee Austria via their fascist branch.

Additionally, it is worth noting that Austria does not get cores on Sicily. However, they do have a core on the Italian state of South Tyrol.

Austria's cores on Italian states

In Hearts of Iron IV, Austria has a core on the Italian state of South Tyrol. Cores are defined as "a state that is considered to be part of a country by its people." This means that South Tyrol is considered by its people to be part of Austria. Cores are important in the game as they can provide bonuses to manpower and industrial capacity.

Austria can also form Austria-Hungary by controlling all of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, northern Yugoslavia, and western Romania. This would give Austria cores on additional Italian states.

Frequently asked questions