Austria And Germany: Two Nations, One History

Austria and Germany are two separate countries with distinct identities, but they share a border, a common language, and a long history. From 1156 to 1806, Austria was a sovereign state within the Holy Roman Empire, which also included various German states and was mostly led by Austria. In 1866, Austria was separated from Germany when the German Confederation was dissolved, and in 1867, the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire was established, rivalled by the German Empire led by Prussia. In 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria into Germany in what became known as the Anschluss, but after World War II, Austria was occupied separately from Germany and regained its independence in 1945. Since then, there has been no serious effort to unite the two countries, and the Austrian State Treaty forbids reunification.

Austria and Germany share a border and have German as their official language

Austria and Germany share a border that is approximately 815.9 km (507.0 mi) long, making it Austria's longest international border. The border runs from east to west in its western part, and in a mainly northeastward direction from a point south of Salzburg to its endpoint at the tripoint of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. The border passes through several rivers, including the Danube, Inn, Salzach, and Leiblach, and follows the western part of the Northern Limestone Alps.

German is the official language of both Austria and Germany, with around 98% of Austria's population speaking German as their mother tongue. The language has a rich history, dating back to Roman times in the 1st century BCE, and has several dialects, including High German and Low German. The standard German spoken in Austria, known as Austrian German, has minor differences from the German spoken in Germany but is generally considered the same.

The close relationship between Austria and Germany extends beyond their shared border and language. The two countries have a long history of political and cultural connections, with Austria being a part of the Holy Roman Empire, which included parts of present-day Germany, from 1512 to 1806. They were also allies during World War I, and Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria in a bid for union with Germany after the war. However, this union was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1919.

Despite their shared language and history, Austria and Germany have distinct identities and have been separate countries for most of their modern history. Austria has developed its own national identity, and Austrians do not typically consider themselves Germans. The two countries also have different political systems, with Austria being a semi-presidential representative democracy and Germany having a parliamentary system.

Austria was annexed into Germany under the Nazi regime from 1938-1945

Austria was annexed into Germany under the Nazi regime from 1938 to 1945, an event known as the Anschluss, or "union". This was seen as a reunification of the two countries, as they shared a history and an official language.

In the early hours of March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This followed a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, who bullied him into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.

On March 9, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the annexation once and for all. However, before the vote could take place, Schuschnigg gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. The next day, German soldiers in tanks and armoured vehicles crossed the border into Austria, encountering no resistance. Hitler accompanied the troops and appointed a new Nazi government. On March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.

The annexation was met with enthusiasm by most Austrians, and many Austrians participated in the Nazi administration. After World War II, Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany on April 27, 1945. The Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria.

Austria was briefly renamed the Republic of German-Austria in 1918 in a bid for union with Germany

Austria and Germany have a shared history, with German being the official language of both countries. The ancestors of Austrians were the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians). In early history, the Baiuvarii established the Duchy of Bavaria, which was ruled by Francia of West Germanic Franks from 555 to 843 and 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.

In 1918, after the end of World War I and with the fall of the Austro-Hungarian and German Empires, Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria in a bid for union with Germany. This attempt at union was driven by the desire to maintain economic and political viability, as many believed that Austria would lose so much territory in any peace settlement that it would no longer be able to survive as a separate state. However, this action was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919), which was created by the winners of World War I against both Germany and Austria. As a result, throughout the Interwar period, Austria and Germany remained separate and distinct entities.

The Republic of German-Austria was an unrecognised state created following World War I as an initial rump state for areas with a predominantly German-speaking and ethnic German population within what had been the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It covered an area of 118,311 km2 (45,680 sq mi) and had a population of 10.4 million inhabitants. However, in practice, its authority was limited to the Danubian and Alpine provinces, as much of its claimed territory was administered by and internationally recognised as part of the newly formed Czechoslovakia.

The attempts to create German-Austria and unite with Germany were ultimately unsuccessful due to opposition from the Western Allies and the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which forbade any union between Austria and Germany. As a result, the new state of the First Austrian Republic was created in 1920, and Austria changed its official name from the "Republic of German-Austria" to the "Republic of Austria". This marked the beginning of the era of the First Republic of Austria, which struggled with economic hardships, hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and violent political clashes between left-wing and right-wing forces.

Austria and Germany are both members of the European Union and have the same currency

Austria and Germany have a shared history, with German being the official language of both countries. The ancestors of Austrians were the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians). In early history, the Baiuvarii established the Duchy of Bavaria, which was ruled by Francia of West Germanic Franks from 555 to 843 and 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.

Austria and Germany are both members of the European Union. Austria joined the EU in 1995, and the Schengen Area in the same year. This removed the physical land border between the two countries and allowed them to further consolidate their already strong links.

Austria and Germany have the same currency. Both countries are founding members of the Eurozone and adopted the Euro as their legal currency in 2001. Austria was one of the first countries to officially adopt the Euro in 1999, and the first banknotes and coins were introduced into circulation in 2002.

Austria and Germany have a shared history, with Austrian ancestors being the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians)

Austria and Germany share a long history, with the ancestors of Austrians being the Germanic Baiuvarii (or Bavarians). The Baiuvarii were a Germanic people who lived in or near present-day southern Bavaria, which is named after them. They began to appear in records in the 6th century AD, and their culture, language, and political institutions would form the basis of the medieval Duchy of Bavaria and Margraviate of Austria.

The name "Baiuvarii" likely means "men from Bohemia", and the placename Bohemia is believed to be connected to the Boii, a Celtic people who inhabited the region before the Roman era. The Baiuvarii gave their name to the region of Bavaria, and their language is classified as Germanic. By the 8th century AD, they were speakers of an early form of the Austro-Bavarian language within the West Germanic family.

In the early history of the Baiuvarii, they established the Duchy of Bavaria, which was ruled by Francia of West Germanic Franks from 555 to 843 and included the March of Pannonia that would later become Austria around 970. During this period, Bavarian Austria came under the rule of East Francia (the Kingdom of Germany) from 843 to 962. It then separated from the Duchy of Bavaria, becoming a sovereign state in 1156.

From 1156 to 1806, Austria 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 was mostly led by Austria itself. After the Holy Roman Empire, Austria continued to be closely tied to Germany, becoming part of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866 and even leading it. However, in 1866, Austria was separated from Germany, and the German Confederation was dissolved.

Despite this separation, the two countries continued to have a close relationship. They were militarily allied during World War I, and after the war, Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria in an attempt to unite with Germany. This was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye created by the winners of World War I.

In 1938, Nazi Germany, led by Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, annexed Austria into Germany in what became known as the Anschluss. However, after World War II, Austria claimed independence and separated from Germany for the second time on April 27, 1945. The Austrian State Treaty of 1955 formally banned any reunification of Germany and Austria, and Austria began to develop a separate national identity from Germany.

Frequently asked questions