Austria And Germany: Cultural Cousins Or Twins?

Austria and Germany share a border, a language, and a history. But how similar are they really?

Both countries are members of the European Union and use the Euro as their legal currency. They also have a shared history, with German being the official language of both countries. The ancestors of Austrians were the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians). 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. In the 1800s, Austria and Germany were allies, and both countries were eventually absorbed into Nazi Germany under Hitler.

However, there are also many differences between the two countries. Austria is landlocked and mountainous, while Germany stretches from the North Sea and Baltic Sea in the north to the Alps in the south. Austria is also much smaller than Germany and has a more relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. Germany has more large cities spread throughout the country, and while prices are comparable, Germany may be slightly more expensive due to its larger size.

So, is Austria too similar to Germany for a distinct visit? The answer depends on where you've been in Germany and what your interests are.

Geography and nature

Austria and Germany are neighbouring countries in central Europe. While they share a language, Austria is a smaller country, landlocked and largely mountainous. Germany, on the other hand, is significantly larger and flatter, with the exception of the Black Forest, the Bavarian Forest, the Harz and the Ore Mountains.

Austria is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, packed into its smaller area. The country is characterised by majestic mountains, lakes and forests. The Austrian Alps form the physical backbone of the country, with the highest elevation being the Grossglockner, at 12,460 feet. The western Austrian states of Vorarlberg, Tirol and Salzburg are particularly known for their Alpine scenery. The Alpine landscape offers a complex geological and topographical pattern.

Austria's landscape also features many lakes, including Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the west and the marshy Neusiedler Lake (Neusiedlersee) in the east. Nearly all Austrian territory drains into the Danube River system. The main watershed between the Black Sea and the North Sea runs across northern Austria.

Food and drink

Austrian cuisine is known for its rich flavours and hearty, indulgent dishes, with generous use of meats and root vegetables. It shares similarities with the cuisines of neighbouring countries in Central Europe, especially Hungary, Bavaria, Bohemia and Northern Italy.

Austria's most famous foods include:

• Viennese Apfelstrudel: A flaky pastry with apple, cinnamon, sugar and raisin filling.
• Wiener Schnitzel: A fried, breaded veal cutlet, served with fried potatoes, sour cream and onions.
• Vienna Sausage: A parboiled sausage made of pork and beef, then smoked at low temperatures.
• Knödel: A dumpling that can be both sweet and savoury. The savoury version is served as a side dish or in soup, while the sweet version is made with plums.
• Tafelspitz: A cut of beef boiled in a broth of vegetables and spices, served with minced apples and horseradish or sour cream with chives.
• Tiroler Gröstl: A pan-fried dish of potato, chopped beef or pork with butter and onion, often topped with a fried egg.
• Käsespätzle: Soft egg noodles with a generous helping of cheese.
• Potato Gulasch: A soupy stew made with vegetables like potatoes, onions, bell pepper and sausages, seasoned with hot paprika.
• Kaiserschmarrn: Fluffy shredded pancakes topped with jams, sweet sauces, fruit compotes and caramelised dry fruits.
• Sachertorte: A chocolate cake with apricot jam filling, traditionally eaten with whipped cream.
• Brettljause: A snack of bread, meat, pickled vegetables and spreads.

Austria is also known for its coffee, which is served in a variety of styles, especially in Viennese coffee houses.

Language and dialects

German is the official language of both Austria and Germany, but there is a surprising diversity of dialects in Austria. According to the "Weißwurst equator" in Austria, the German spoken in Austria is more beautiful. Characterised by the mountains and valleys as well as the diverse Austrian culture, the German spoken in Austria sounds softer, is more melodious and pleasing to the ear. This melodious sound goes back to the country's famous theatre tradition, from which also the term "Burgtheaterdeutsch" originated. It is known within the entire German-speaking area and stands for a particular beautiful usage of the German language.

In fact, German in Austria differs only in some rare cases regarding the pronunciation and spelling from German in Germany. For example, in Vienna, the German spoken is standard German, so that students are prepared for everyday life in Austria as well as in Germany.

History

Austria and Germany share a long and deeply intertwined history. The ancestors of Austrians were the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians). In the early history, the Bavarians established the Duchy of Bavaria ruled by Francia of West Germanic Franks from 555 to 843 and including 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.

From 1938 to 1945 under the Nazi regime, Austria was annexed into Germany in the Anschluss which was seen as a reunification. After the Second World War in 1945, Austria was restored to its 1937 frontiers and occupied by the victorious allies – the USA, the Soviet Union, the UK, and France – for a decade. On 15 May 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was ratified, with Austria declaring its permanent neutrality.

The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and then annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. Christianization in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries, during the late Roman period, followed by the arrival of numerous Germanic tribes during the Migration Period. Austria, as a unified state, emerged from the remnants of the Eastern and Hungarian March at the end of the first millennium, first as a frontier march of the Holy Roman Empire, it then developed into a Duchy in 1156, and was made an Archduchy in 1453. Being the heartland of the Habsburg monarchy since the late 13th century, Austria was a major imperial power in Central Europe for centuries and from the 16th century, Vienna was also serving as the Holy Roman Empire's administrative capital.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Habsburgs began to accumulate other provinces in the vicinity of the Duchy of Austria. In 1438, Duke Albert V of Austria was chosen as the successor to his father-in-law, Emperor Sigismund. Although Albert himself only reigned for a year, henceforth every emperor of the Holy Roman Empire was a Habsburg, with only one exception. The Habsburgs began also to accumulate territory far from the hereditary lands. In 1477, Archduke Maximilian, only son of Emperor Frederick III, married the heiress Maria of Burgundy, thus acquiring most of the Netherlands for the family. In 1496, his son Philip the Fair married Joanna the Mad, the heiress of Castile and Aragon, thus acquiring Spain and its Italian, African, Asian, and New World appendages for the Habsburgs.

In 1526, following the Battle of Mohács, Bohemia and the part of Hungary not occupied by the Ottomans came under Austrian rule. Ottoman expansion into Hungary led to frequent conflicts between the two empires, particularly evident in the Long War of 1593 to 1606. The Turks made incursions into Styria nearly 20 times, of which some are cited as "burning, pillaging, and taking thousands of slaves". In late September 1529, Suleiman the Magnificent launched the first siege of Vienna, which unsuccessfully ended, according to Ottoman historians, with the snowfalls of an early beginning winter.

During the long reign of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor following the successful defence of Vienna against the Turks in 1683, under the command of the King of Poland John III Sobieski, the Great Turkish War resulted in most of Hungary being controlled by Austria. This arrangement was formalized in the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699.

After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph declared war on Serbia, which ultimately escalated into World War I. The empire's defeat and subsequent collapse led to the proclamation of the Republic of German-Austria in 1918 and the First Austrian Republic in 1919. During the interwar period, anti-parliamentarian sentiments culminated in the formation of an Austrofascist dictatorship under Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934. A year before the outbreak of World War II, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany by Adolf Hitler, and it became a sub-national division.

Culture and customs

Austria and Germany have a lot in common culturally, but there are also some distinct differences. Both countries share a border and a language, but there are variations in dialect and accent, and some unique words and phrases. For example, Austrians might greet someone with "Servus" or "Griaß di", whereas Germans would say "Guten Morgen". While Austrians tend to address people with the informal "du", Germans are more likely to use the formal "Sie".

Austrians are generally considered more outgoing and cheerful than Germans, who are often more formal and distant. Austrians also tend to be more indirect and subtle in their communication, whereas Germans are more direct and concise. In business, Germans prefer a clear hierarchy and strict decision-making processes, while Austrians are more fluid and flexible.

Both countries have a strong tradition of wearing folk costumes such as Lederhosen and the Dirndl, particularly at festivals. Both countries also share similar cuisines, with dishes like Wiener Schnitzel, potato dumplings, and apple strudel. However, Austrians are more likely to incorporate Eastern European and Italian influences into their cooking.

Austria is known for its classical music, folk music, baroque architecture, coffee culture, winter sports, and Alpine traditions. Vienna, in particular, has long been an important centre of musical innovation, with composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Johann Strauss Jr. all associated with the city. Austrians also have a love of learning and acquiring knowledge, and this is reflected in their appreciation for the arts and their strong sense of history.

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