Austria And Germany: A United Future?

Austria and Germany share a language and have a close historical relationship. The two nations have been closely linked throughout their histories, with Austria even leading the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866. However, they have also been rivals, with Prussia and Austria vying for dominance over their neighbouring German states. In 1866, Prussia's victory in the Austro-Prussian War led to Austria's exclusion from the German Confederation and the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, marking the start of their separation. Despite a brief period of reunification under Nazi rule, Austria has since developed a unique national identity and has no desire to rejoin Germany.

Austria and Germany share a close history and language

Austria and Germany share a close history, language, and culture. 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. 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 encompassed both Austrians and Germans, and for several centuries the Holy Roman Emperors came from the House of Habsburg. The numerous German states (within the HRE) constantly jostled for power and influence, and they often went to war against each other.

In the 18th century, the Kingdom of Prussia rose as another influential power within the HRE, and Prussia became Austria's main rival for dominance over their neighbouring German states. Prussia and Austria fought a series of wars over the province of Silesia (in modern-day southwestern Poland) between 1740 and 1763. After the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, Germany was left as a large grouping of independent states, with Prussia and Austria being the major two. In 1848, revolutions destroyed the German Confederation, leaving a smaller group led by Prussia in the north and a group led by Austria in the south. However, Prussia and the northern states were much more Protestant, while the southern states were more Catholic. In 1866, the two alliances went to war, with the northern Prussian alliance defeating the Austrian alliance, establishing Prussia as the dominant German power. In 1867, Austria united with Hungary and Croatia to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire, made up of Germans in the Austrian territories and non-Germans in the Hungarian and Croatian lands.

In addition to their shared history, Austria and Germany also share a language. German is the official language of both countries, and Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. While there are regional dialects and specific terms unique to each country, the core structure and vocabulary are largely the same, and Austrians and Germans can easily understand each other.

Austria was part of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866

The German Confederation was an association of 39 predominantly German-speaking sovereign states in Central Europe. It was created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 as a replacement for the former Holy Roman Empire, which had been dissolved in 1806 as a result of the Napoleonic Wars.

The German revolutions of 1848-1849 attempted to transform the Confederation into a unified German federal state with a liberal constitution. The Federal Convention was dissolved on 12 July 1848, but was re-established in 1850 after the revolution was crushed by Austria, Prussia, and other states.

The Confederation was finally dissolved after the victory of the Kingdom of Prussia in the Seven Weeks' War over the Austrian Empire in 1866. The dispute over which had the inherent right to rule German lands ended in favour of Prussia, leading to the creation of the North German Confederation under Prussian leadership in 1867. A number of South German states remained independent until they joined the North German Confederation, which was renamed and proclaimed as the "German Empire" in 1871, as the unified Germany (aside from Austria) with the Prussian king as emperor (Kaiser) after the victory over French Emperor Napoleon III in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

Austria was annexed into Germany by Nazi Germany in 1938

The idea of the Anschluss arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The proposal gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The Republic of German-Austria, the new name of the country, attempted to form a union with Germany, but the Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles, both from 1919, forbade the union and the use of the name "German-Austria". The treaties also stripped Austria of some of its territories, such as the Sudetenland, leaving the country in an economic crisis.

In the 1920s, the proposal for unification had strong support in both Austria and Germany, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, popular support for the unification faded with time. After Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the desire for unification was associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept.

In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced that there would be a referendum on a possible union with Germany versus maintaining Austria's sovereignty, to be held on March 13. Portraying this as defying the popular will in Austria and Germany, Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. A day before the planned referendum, on March 12, the German army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. A plebiscite was held on April 10, in which the ballot was not secret, and threats and coercion were employed to manipulate the vote, resulting in 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.

Austria was isolated in 1936 due to strategic collaboration between Italy and Germany

Austria's bid to unite with Germany in 1918 was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which was created by the winners of World War I. Despite this, many Austrians continued to support the idea of unification. In the 1920s, many Austrians did not think their country could survive economically without the lands previously held by Austria-Hungary. Some wanted to restore a form of the empire, while others wanted to unite with Germany.

In 1933, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany and demanded the right to Anschluss (union) between Austria and Germany. This was initially blocked by Benito Mussolini, who controlled Fascist Italy and cooperated with his Austrian counterparts Engelbert Dollfuss and Kurt Schuschnigg. Mussolini feared retrospective territorial demands from Hitler on South Tyrol, which had been lost to Italy in 1919. On 11 July 1936, Mussolini successfully forced Hitler to renounce all claims to Austria.

However, after 1936, Hitler and Mussolini forged a closer relationship in preparation for Germany's expansionist ambitions. Hitler used the Nazi Party of Austria to influence public opinion and staged a coup against the Austrian Fascist government in 1938. When Hitler decided to refrain from reclaiming South Tyrol, Mussolini abandoned his pledge to protect Austria's independence.

Austria was now isolated due to the strategic collaboration between Italy and Germany. Kurt Schuschnigg, the Chancellor of Austria, was pressured by Hitler into accepting Nazi ministers into his government. Despite calling for a plebiscite on Anschluss, Schuschnigg cancelled the vote. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, an Austrian Nazi politician and minister of police, did nothing to stop Nazi supporters from sparking anti-Jewish pogroms and political riots in favour of Anschluss. On 11 March 1938, Schuschnigg resigned, and Seyss-Inquart became chancellor. He invited the German Army to cross the border, and on 12 March, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier. Anschluss was declared the next day as Austria became part of Germany.

Austria has a separate national identity from Germany

Austria has developed a distinct national identity separate from Germany. While the two nations share close historical ties, Austrians have increasingly embraced their own unique culture, values, and aspirations, moving away from a singular German identity. This evolution of Austrian identity has been influenced by several factors, including historical events, cultural differences, and political considerations.

Historically, Austrians were regarded as Germans and saw themselves as such, particularly before and during the First World War. The Austrian lands, including Bohemia, were part of the Holy Roman Empire and later the German Confederation, fostering a sense of shared German heritage. However, the exclusion of Austria from the German nation-state formed in 1871 marked a pivotal moment in the divergence of Austrian and German identities. Prussia, which led the unification efforts, sought to eclipse Austrian dominance and establish itself as the unchallenged head of a united Germany. This rivalry between Prussia and Austria resulted in Austria being left out of the unified German state.

Following the First World War and the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria, seeking unification with Germany. However, this attempt was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1919, created by the victors of the First World War. Despite a majority in both countries favouring unification, the treaty prohibited any union to avoid a dominant German state in Europe. This rejection of unification contributed to the emergence of a separate Austrian identity.

The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss, further complicated the relationship between the two nations. While some Austrians supported the idea of unification, the negative legacy of the Nazi regime and its association with pan-Germanism led many Austrians to distance themselves from a solely German identity. After the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, the concept of unification lost favour among Austrians, who increasingly embraced their independence.

Cultural and historical differences also play a significant role in shaping Austria's distinct national identity. Austria's multicultural heritage, influenced by its Celtic, Slavic, Avar, Rhaetian, and Roman origins, sets it apart from a purely German identity. Additionally, the predominantly Catholic religious identity of Austrians contrasts with the predominantly Protestant identity of Prussians, creating another point of divergence.

The development of a unique Austrian identity is further reinforced by political considerations. Austria's strict constitutional requirement of neutrality sets it apart from Germany's NATO membership. Additionally, Austria's membership in the European Union and its adoption of the Euro as its currency have contributed to its distinct position in Europe.

In summary, Austria has forged a separate national identity from Germany through a combination of historical events, cultural differences, and political factors. While the two nations share close ties due to their shared history and language, Austrians have embraced their own unique identity, moving away from a singular German identity. This evolution of Austrian identity reflects the complex dynamics of nation-building and the interplay of historical, cultural, and political factors.

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