Austria's Vienna: German Territory Or Not?

Vienna is the capital of Austria, a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is a federal state and the most populous city in the country. From 1558 to 1918, Vienna was an imperial city and the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1918, it became the capital of the newly formed Republic of German-Austria. From 1938 to 1945, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany, and Vienna became Greater Vienna. After World War II, Vienna was divided into four zones occupied by the British, French, American, and Soviet forces. In 1955, Austria regained its independence, and Vienna once again became its capital.

Vienna is the capital of Austria, not Germany

Vienna has been the seat of power for various empires and kingdoms throughout history. It was the seat of the Babenbergs, who ruled Austria from 976 to 1246. In 1221, Vienna was granted city rights. During the 16th century, the Habsburgs, who succeeded the Babenbergs, established Vienna as the seat of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, a position it held until the empire's dissolution in 1806. With the formation of the Austrian Empire in 1804, Vienna became the capital of it and all its successor states.

Vienna has a rich cultural heritage, including theatre, opera, classical music, and fine arts. The city is known for its architectural landmarks, such as St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Burgtheater, and the Wiener Musikverein. It is also home to several museums, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum.

Vienna is known for its culinary delights, such as Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte (Sacher Cake), and Apfelstrudel. The city also has a vibrant coffeehouse culture, dating back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Vienna is well-connected through its extensive public transportation network, including metro, tram, and bus lines. The city is served by Vienna International Airport, located about 18 km southeast of the city centre.

Vienna is a federal state of Austria

Vienna is the cultural, economic, and political centre of Austria. It is one of the world's largest German-speaking cities and has been voted as having the highest quality of living in the world. It is also home to many major international organisations, including the United Nations, OPEC, and the OSCE.

Vienna has a rich history, dating back to the ancient settlement of Vedunia, which was converted by the Romans into the castrum Vindobona in the 1st century. It became the seat of the Babenbergs in 1155 and was granted city rights in 1221. Vienna was the seat of the Holy Roman Empire from the 16th century until its dissolution in 1806. It then became the capital of the Austrian Empire in 1804 and all its successor states.

Vienna is known for its musical legacy, with many famous classical musicians, such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn, having lived and worked in the city. It is also known as the ""City of Dreams", as Sigmund Freud lived and worked there for much of his career, making it the birthplace of psychotherapy.

Vienna is the only capital city to produce significant quantities of wine within its city limits, with over 1,700 acres of vineyards and 320 vintners. It is also home to the world's oldest zoo, located in the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace.

Vienna is divided into 23 districts, with each district having its own district assembly. The city has an extensive public transportation network, including a metro system, bus lines, and tram lines.

Vienna was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938

Vienna, the capital of Austria, was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of years of political tension and upheaval in Austria.

Political Tensions in Austria

In the aftermath of World War I, the Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany, but the Treaty of Saint-Germain and the Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and stripped Austria of some of its territories. This left Austria in an economic crisis and with a sense of instability.

During the 1920s, the idea of the Anschluss gained support in both Austria and Germany, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, popular support for unification gradually faded over time.

Rise of Nazism in Austria

In 1933, when Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany, the desire for unification became closely associated with the Nazis. Nazi Germany sought to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside of Germany as possible into a "Greater Germany." They cultivated pro-unification tendencies in Austria and worked to undermine the Austrian government, which was controlled by the Austrofascist Fatherland Front and opposed unification.

In 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in a failed coup attempt. This sparked a wave of terrorism by Austrian Nazis, causing hundreds of deaths between 1934 and 1938. Despite this, Dollfuss's successor, Kurt Schuschnigg, continued to resist unification and maintained close ties with Italy, which supported Austrian independence.

The Road to Annexation

In early 1938, under increasing pressure from pro-unification activists, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on the issue of unification with Germany. Hitler responded by threatening an invasion and forcing Schuschnigg to resign. On March 12, 1938, the German army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military.

A plebiscite was held on April 10, 1938, with widespread coercion and intimidation tactics employed to manipulate the vote. The official result showed 99.7% approval for the Anschluss, but it is estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence if the vote had been free and fair.

Aftermath of the Annexation

The annexation of Austria was a significant step in Hitler's plan to create a "`Greater German Reich." It also demonstrated the failure of Britain and France to take action against Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions, emboldening him toward further aggression.

Vienna, as part of Nazi Germany, became a center of Nazi administration and played a significant role in the implementation of the Final Solution. Many Austrians participated in the Nazi war machine, with 950,000 Austrians fighting for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II. The persecution of Jews in Vienna began immediately after the annexation, and the city lost most of its Jewish population through emigration and the Holocaust.

Vienna is the country's largest city

Vienna is the capital of Austria and its most populous city. It is also one of the nine federal states of Austria and the smallest in area. Vienna is the cultural, economic, and political centre of the country, the fifth-largest city by population in the European Union, and the most populous of the cities on the Danube River. The city lies on the eastern edge of the Vienna Woods, the northeasternmost foothills of the Alps, and is traversed by the highly regulated Wienfluss (Vienna River).

Vienna is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. Its larger metropolitan area has a population of nearly 2.9 million, representing nearly one-third of the country's population. Vienna has been among the largest German-speaking cities in the world and was the largest in the 18th and 19th centuries, peaking at two million inhabitants before it was overtaken by Berlin at the beginning of the 20th century.

Vienna is home to many major international organizations, including the United Nations, OPEC, and the OSCE. In 2001, the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2024, Vienna retained its position as the most liveable city per the Economist Intelligence Unit and has spent every year since 2015 in the top two places, except for 2021 due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Vienna has a long tradition of producing cakes and desserts. Sachertorte, also known as Sacher Cake and Eduard Sacher Torte, is a famous chocolate and apricot cake. It was invented in 1832 by a 16-year-old pastry chef named Franz Sacher. The Hotel Sacher in Vienna is the only place that produces the 100% authentic Sachertorte, producing over 270,000 pieces a year.

Vienna is the only capital city to produce significant quantities of wine within its city limits. It is home to over 1,700 acres of vineyards and 320 vintners. The city has an extensive public transportation network, consisting predominantly of the Wiener Linien network (subway, tram, and bus lines) and the S-Bahn lines belonging to the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).

Vienna is not part of Germany, but it is a member of the EU

Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria, a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is not part of Germany but is a member of the EU, having joined in 1995. Vienna is one of nine federal states in Austria and is the smallest in area but the largest in population.

Vienna has a rich history, having been an imperial city from 1558 to 1918, serving as the seat of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806, and then as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, Vienna became the capital of a truncated, landlocked central European country. From 1938 to 1945, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany, and Vienna became "Greater" Vienna. After World War II, Austria was occupied by Allied forces, and Vienna was divided into five zones. In 1955, Austria regained its independence, and Vienna once again became its capital.

Vienna is known for its high quality of living and has been voted as having the highest in the world. It is home to many famous composers, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johann Strauss II. The city is also known for its food, including the Wiener Schnitzel, and its wine, as it is the only capital city to produce significant quantities of wine within its city limits.

Vienna is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. It is part of the Schengen Area and adopted the euro currency in 1999. Austria ranks fifth in the European Union in terms of GDP per capita, with €46,200, well above the EU average.

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