Austria: Germany's Butthole? A Geographical Oddity Explored

The notion that Austria is the butthole of Germany is a contentious one, and there are historical, cultural, and geographical factors that may contribute to this perception.

Firstly, Austria and Germany share a complex history, with periods of unity and separation. After World War I, Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria in an attempt to unite with Germany, but this was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. Later, in 1938, Nazi Germany, led by Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, annexed Austria into Germany in what became known as the Anschluss. This union was reversed after World War II, and Austria has since developed a distinct national identity separate from Germany.

Secondly, the two countries have close cultural ties due to their shared language and historical connections. The ancestors of Austrians were the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians), and both countries have a history of speaking German as their official language. However, it is worth noting that Austria also recognizes several minority languages, such as Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian, which sets it apart from Germany.

Finally, geographically, Austria is landlocked and predominantly mountainous, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. In contrast, Germany has a more diverse landscape, including lowlands, coastlines, and islands. Austria's terrain is characterized by its Alpine valleys, lakes, and rivers, such as the Danube, which flows through both countries.

The Anschluss: Austria and Germany's unification in 1938

The unification of Austria and Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. The idea of a union between the two countries was not new, however, and had been a topic of debate since the 19th century.

The Road to Unification

In the 1920s, the proposal for unification gained support in both Austria and Germany, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and centre. The support was largely due to the belief that Austria, having lost its imperial land, was not economically viable. However, this popularity faded over time, although the idea remained in contemporary Austrian political discourse.

In 1933, when Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis and was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept. Hitler himself, being Austrian-born, had expressed his desire for unification in his earliest writings and speeches. In 1925, he wrote in his book, Mein Kampf:

> German-Austria must return to the great German motherland, and not because of economic considerations of any sort. No, no: even if from the economic point of view this union were unimportant, indeed, if it were harmful, it ought nevertheless to be brought about. Common blood belongs in a common Reich.

Hitler's plan to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe and unite all Germans in a Nazi German empire was furthered by the Austrian Nazi Party, which gained supporters as Hitler's popularity in Germany increased. In 1934, Austrian and German Nazis together attempted a coup, but it was unsuccessful. An authoritarian right-wing government then took power in Austria, keeping perhaps half the population from voicing legitimate dissent.

In February 1938, Hitler invited the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand in his cabinet. Schuschnigg later called for a plebiscite on the unification question, but he was bullied into cancelling it and resigned, ordering the Austrian Army not to resist the Germans. On March 12, German soldiers crossed the border into Austria, encountering no resistance.

The Aftermath

The next day, Austria's parliament formally approved the annexation, and Austria ceased to exist as a nation, becoming a province of Germany. On April 10, 1938, Austrians were asked whether they supported the unification, and 99.7% of voters approved of Germany's annexation of Austria.

The unification of Austria and Germany in 1938 was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. It demonstrated Nazi Germany's aggressive foreign policy and territorial ambitions, which would eventually lead to World War II.

Austria's Alpine geography

Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with the Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The country can be divided into five areas, the biggest being the Eastern Alps, which constitute 62% of the nation's total area. The Austrian foothills at the base of the Alps and the Carpathians account for around 12% and the foothills in the east and areas surrounding the periphery of the Pannoni low country amount to about 12% of the total landmass. The second greater mountain area (much lower than the Alps) is situated in the north and is known as the Austrian granite plateau. It is located in the central area of the Bohemian Mass and accounts for 10% of Austria. The Austrian portion of the Vienna basin makes up the remaining 4%.

The Central Eastern Alps, Northern Limestone Alps, and Southern Limestone Alps are all partly in Austria. Of the total area of Austria, only about a quarter can be considered low-lying, and only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft) above sea level. The Alps of western Austria give way somewhat into low lands and plains in the eastern part of the country.

The Alpine landscape offers a complex geologic and topographical pattern, with the highest elevation being the Grossglockner, at 3,797 metres (12,460 feet) above sea level. The western Austrian states of Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Salzburg are characterised by the majestic mountains and magnificent scenery of the high Alps. This high Alpine landscape also extends to the western part of the state of Kärnten (Carinthia), to the Salzkammergut region of central Austria, and to the Alpine blocks of the state of Steiermark (Styria).

North of the massive Alpine spur lies a hilly subalpine region, stretching between the northern Alps and the Danube and encompassing the northern portion of the state of Oberösterreich (Upper Austria). To the north of the river is a richly wooded foothill area that includes a portion of the Bohemian Massif, which extends across the Czech border into the state of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria).

Austria is a land of lakes, many of them a legacy of the Pleistocene Epoch. The largest lakes—lying partly in the territory of neighbouring countries—are Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the west and the marshy Neusiedler Lake (Neusiedlersee) in the east.

Austria's neutral status

Austria's neutrality was enforced by the Soviet Union, which would not have agreed to the State Treaty if Austria had not committed to declaring neutrality after the allied forces had left the country. The country's neutral status was formalised in the Declaration of Neutrality, enacted on 26 October 1955 as a constitutional act of parliament. The declaration stated that Austria would not join any military alliances and would not allow foreign military bases on its territory.

Austria's neutrality has become a deeply ingrained element of Austrian identity, with an opinion poll from March 2022 finding that 76% favoured remaining neutral, versus 18% who supported joining NATO. However, Austria's membership in international organisations such as the European Union and its participation in UN-led peacekeeping missions have led some to question whether the country has quietly given up its neutrality in favour of the benefits of being part of the international community.

Since declaring its neutrality, Austria has joined several international organisations and entered into security partnerships. In 1995, Austria joined the European Union and NATO's Partnership for Peace program (after Russia had done so). It has also participated in peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo and joined the European Sky Shield Initiative in 2023. Despite these developments, Austria maintains that it has not abandoned its neutral status, arguing that its participation in these organisations and missions does not violate its neutrality.

Austria's language and identity

Austria's complex history, marked by its role in the Holy Roman Empire, the German Confederation, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, has left a lasting impact on its languages. The country's borders have shifted over time, once encompassing parts of present-day Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Italy. As a result, languages like Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian are still spoken in Austria today, particularly by minority groups.

The primary native language outside of Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, with approximately 8.3 million speakers in Austria. The northeastern parts, including Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern regions speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects. These dialects differ significantly from Standard German, making communication challenging for German speakers from other regions.

Austria also recognizes several minority languages, some of which have official status. According to the European Commission, Hungary, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language are among the recognized minority languages. In Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language alongside German, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian hold equal status with German.

The country's diverse linguistic landscape is further enriched by immigration. Guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s brought their languages and cultures, and today, Turkish is the largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population. English is also widely spoken, with over 40% of Austrians fluent in it, making it the second most common language in the country.

In terms of national identity, Austrians today identify as either a nationality or a homogeneous Germanic ethnic group closely related to Germans, Liechtensteiners, and German-speaking Swiss. While historically, Austrians were considered ethnic Germans, particularly during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the development of Austrian nationalism and the country's independence from Germany after World War II have fostered a distinct Austrian identity. Currently, 91.1% of the population identifies as ethnic Austrians.

Austria's history as a powerful empire

The origins of the Habsburg monarchy can be traced back to the 13th century when Rudolph I, a member of the House of Habsburg, became the ruler of Austria in 1273. Over the next few centuries, the Habsburgs expanded their influence and power through strategic alliances and marriages with other European dynasties. In 1438, Duke Albert V of Austria was chosen as the successor to his father-in-law, Emperor Sigismund, marking the beginning of the Habsburg dynasty as the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1804, Emperor Francis II of Austria proclaimed the Austrian Empire, which became a great power in Europe. The empire included all the lands of the Habsburg monarchy and was the third most populous monarchy in Europe at the time. During the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), Austria played a decisive role in overthrowing Napoleon and was one of the major beneficiaries of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, which reaffirmed its status as one of the great powers of the 19th century.

However, the rise of nationalism and the growing demands for self-determination within the empire, as well as military defeats and loss of territories in the 1860s, led to the establishment of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867. This compromise gave the Kingdom of Hungary equal status with the Empire of Austria, and both were ruled by the Habsburg monarch, Franz Joseph I. The Austro-Hungarian Empire lasted until the end of World War I in 1918, when it collapsed and Austria was reduced to its current frontiers.

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