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Austria and Germany have a long history of complex political relations. In 1938, Austria was annexed into Germany under the Nazi regime in an event known as the Anschluss, which means connection or joining in German. This union was prohibited by the Versailles and St. Germain treaties and was considered an act of Nazi territorial aggression. After World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones and jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955, when it regained its independence. Since then, there have been no serious efforts to reunify the two countries, and Austria has developed a separate national identity from Germany. While some Austrians may have felt a sense of shared identity with Germany, others rejected reunification due to religious and historical differences. Today, both countries are members of the European Union and have close economic and cultural ties, but Austria maintains its neutrality and is not a member of NATO.
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What You'll Learn
Nazi Germany's expansionist policies
Hitler's expansionist agenda began with the annexation of Austria in March 1938, known as the "Anschluss". This violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany. The Nazis exploited anti-Semitic sentiment and promoted the idea that Austria was ethnically German, which gained support from many Austrians. Despite international condemnation, the annexation was unopposed, emboldening Hitler to continue his expansionist agenda.
Hitler then set his sights on Czechoslovakia, demanding the annexation of the Sudetenland, a border area with a significant ethnic German population. The Munich Agreement of September 1938 ceded the Sudetenland to Germany, but Hitler was not satisfied. In March 1939, he violated the agreement, occupying the Czech provinces of Bohemia and Moravia and establishing a German protectorate. Slovakia became an independent state closely allied with Germany, effectively ending Czechoslovakia's existence.
Hitler also had territorial ambitions towards Poland, demanding the annexation of the Free City of Danzig and extraterritorial access through the Polish Corridor to East Prussia. Britain and France guaranteed to uphold Polish territorial integrity, but this did not deter Hitler. On September 1, 1939, German forces invaded Poland, triggering the European phase of World War II.
In summary, Nazi Germany's expansionist policies were driven by Hitler's racist ideology and desire to establish German hegemony in Europe. The annexation of Austria set a precedent for further aggression, leading to the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia and the invasion of Poland, which brought about the widespread conflict of World War II.
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Austria's democratic constitution
The Austrian Federal Constitution, passed on 1 October 1920, was amended in 1929 to grant wider powers to the Federal President. These amendments were retained when the constitution was reinstated in 1945. The constitution has since been heavily modified and amended, but the 1929 changes remain in effect to this day.
The Austrian Constitution is split into several different acts, with the most important federal constitutional provisions included in the Federal Constitutional Law (Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz, B-VG). The B-VG does not include a bill of rights, but civil liberties are covered in various other constitutional pieces of legislation. The Basic Law on the General Rights of Citizens of 1867 was designated as constitutional law as a compromise in the absence of a bill of rights.
Austria's constitutional framework defines the republic as a federation of nine autonomous federal states, each with its own constitution. These states are defined as unicameral parliamentary democracies, with legislatures elected by popular vote and cabinets appointed by the legislature. The federal constitution defines Austria as a bicameral parliamentary democracy, with the Federal Assembly composed of two houses: the National Council and the Federal Council.
The Austrian government structure closely resembles that of larger federal republics such as Germany and the United States. The system of political parties in Austria also mirrors that of Germany, with two dominant parties of the center-right and center-left, two smaller populist parties, and the environmentalist Greens.
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Austria's neutrality
The Declaration of Neutrality states that Austria will not join any military alliances or permit foreign military bases on its territory. This stance has been a deeply ingrained element of Austrian identity, with polls showing consistent support for neutrality over joining NATO. Austria's commitment to neutrality has influenced its relationship with the European Union and its predecessor organizations, and it only joined the bloc in 1995 along with other neutral countries, Finland and Sweden.
Overall, Austria's neutrality has transformed from a necessity to an essential part of its national identity. While it has posed challenges for European security and policy, particularly regarding Russia, it is unlikely that Austria will abandon its neutrality in the near future.
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Austria's Catholic religious identity
Austria has historically been a strongly Catholic country, having been the centre of the Catholic Habsburg monarchy from 1273 to 1918. The Habsburgs viewed themselves as the vanguard of Catholicism and enacted measures of Counter-Reformation to repress Austrian Protestantism. Despite the Protestant Reformation's spread to Austria from northern Germany, the Habsburgs' campaign to restore the influence of the Catholic Church among Austrians proved successful.
In 1781, in the era of Austrian enlightenment, Emperor Joseph II issued a Patent of Tolerance for Austria that allowed other confessions a limited freedom of worship. Religious freedom was declared a constitutional right in Cisleithania after the Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich in 1867, thus recognising the presence of numerous religions besides Catholicism in the monarchy.
As of December 2021, the number of Catholics in Austria was 4.93 million (55%), down from 64.1% in 2011 and 73.8% in 2001. Many Austrians continue to practise Catholic traditions that mark seminal life events, such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funerals. However, most Austrians who identify as Catholic do not necessarily hold Catholic beliefs on central social and moral issues.
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Austria's independence
However, after World War II, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and treated as an independent country. This decision was made despite acknowledging Austria's role in Nazi crimes. In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed, officially ending the occupation and establishing Austria's neutrality, which remains a key aspect of its foreign policy to this day.
Additionally, Austria's independence has been influenced by its economic situation. In the 1920s, some Austrians questioned their country's economic viability without the lands previously held by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This led to a desire among some to restore a form of the empire or to unite with Germany. However, Austria ultimately regained its independence and joined the European Union in 1995, fostering economic cooperation with its neighbours while maintaining its sovereignty.
In conclusion, Austria's independence has been a complex and dynamic issue, shaped by historical events, cultural ties, and economic factors. The country has endured annexation and occupation but has ultimately emerged as a sovereign and neutral state, navigating its relationships with neighbouring countries while preserving its unique identity.
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Frequently asked questions
The "Anschluss" refers to the unification of Austria and Germany in 1938. The word "Anschluss" is a German word that means "connection" or "joining".
The "Anschluss" had several effects, both immediate and long-term. In the short term, it led to the resignation of Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg and the installation of a Nazi-backed government. It also resulted in the persecution of Jews and political opponents of the Nazis in Austria. In the long term, the "Anschluss" was a significant step in Hitler's plan to create a "Greater Germany" that included all ethnic Germans.
After World War II, there was no serious effort among citizens or political parties to unite West Austria and West Germany. Additionally, the Austrian State Treaty and the Austrian constitution forbid such a union, and Austria's strict constitutional requirement of neutrality made it incompatible with NATO membership.
West Austria's decision to remain separate from West Germany led to the development of a distinct national identity from Germany. While the two countries continued to cooperate closely in economic and cultural fields during the Cold War, they pursued different paths in terms of international alliances. West Germany became a member of NATO, while West Austria maintained its neutrality.
West Austria and West Germany have a close relationship and share a common history and culture. They are both members of the European Union and have the same currency and free borders. They also participate in annual meetings of German-speaking countries and are full members of the Council of Europe.
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