Austria's Annexation: Germany Unification Timeline Explained

Austria and Germany have a long shared history, with German being the official language of both countries and Germans being the majority ethnic group. Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire from 1156 to 1806, and during this time it was mostly led by Austria itself. However, Austria has not been part of Germany since 1945, when it was removed from the Third German Reich by the Allied Powers.

Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire from 1156 to 1806

In 1186, the Georgenberg Pact bequeathed Austria's southern neighbour, the Duchy of Styria, to Austria upon the death of the childless Duke of Styria, Ottokar IV, which occurred in 1192.

Before 1156, Bavaria and Austria were ruled by Francia of West Germanic Franks from 555 to 843. From 843 to 962, Austrian Bavaria came under East Francia (Kingdom of Germany). In 1156, Austria separated from the Duchy of Bavaria to become a sovereign state.

Austria was part of the Third German Reich until 1945

Austria has a long shared history with Germany. In early history, the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians) established the Duchy of Bavaria, which included the March of Pannonia that would become Austria in c. 970. From 843 to 962, Bavarian Austria was under East Francia (the Kingdom of Germany). In 1156, Austria separated from the Duchy of Bavaria to become a sovereign state within the Holy Roman Empire. From 1156 to 1806, Austria (not including its non-German lands) and other German states were parts of the Holy Roman Empire, which was officially a German polity from 1512 and mostly led by Austria itself.

Austria and Germany have a shared history, with German being the official language of both countries

In the 18th century, the Kingdom of Prussia rose as another influential power within the Holy Roman Empire, becoming 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. Austria and Prussia co-operated in the Partitions of Poland and the Second Schleswig War, which resulted in annexations of Polish and Danish territory.

In late April 1945, the Allied Powers entered Austria and removed the country from the Third German Reich. A provisional Austrian government, led by Karl Renner, declared the country's regained independence in the context of after the fall of the Third Reich. Leopold Figl became the first Chancellor of Austria. German, however, was occupied by the Allied Powers and divided into four governing zones: British, French, American and the Soviet. Military occupation of Germany ended in 1949 when such zones were organised into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Austrian German language has been recognised in Austria since 1951. In 1995, Austria joined the European Union and its Schengen Area.

Austria has been the Habsburg's seat of power and the dominant state within the realm

Austria has been the Habsburgs' seat of power and the dominant state within the realm. In the early history of the two countries, the Germanic Baiuvarii established the Duchy of Bavaria, which included the March of Pannonia that would become Austria in c. 970. Later, Bavarian Austria came under East Francia (the Kingdom of Germany) from 843 to 962. In 1156, Austria became a sovereign state and, from 1156 to 1806, Austria and other German states under the Kingdom of Germany were parts of the Holy Roman Empire. This was officially a German polity from 1512 and was mostly led by Austria itself.

Austria was the dominant state within the Holy Roman Empire, with numerous German states constantly jostling for power and influence, often warring against each other. In the 18th century, the Kingdom of Prussia rose as another influential power within the Holy Roman Empire, becoming 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. Despite this rivalry, Austria and Prussia cooperated in the Partitions of Poland and the Second Schleswig War, which resulted in annexations of Polish and Danish territory.

In 1945, the Allied Powers entered Austria and removed the country from the Third German Reich. A provisional Austrian government, led by Karl Renner, declared the country's regained independence in the context of the fall of the Third Reich. Germany, however, was occupied by the Allied Powers and divided into four governing zones: British, French, American and the Soviet.

Austrian German has been recognised in Austria since 1951

Austria has not been part of Germany since 1156, when it separated from the Duchy of Bavaria to become a sovereign state. 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. In 1945, the Allied Powers entered Austria and removed the country from the Third German Reich.

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