Lexi Webster
Austria's annexation of northern Italy, or South Tyrol, took place in 1919 at the end of World War I. The region was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Italy wanted control of the Alps, south of the Brenner Pass. The Italians encouraged Italians from the south to settle in the region, banned the German language in schools, courts, and public offices, and Italianised place names. This led to a longstanding hostility between German and Italian speakers, which continues to this day, with some calling for reunification with North Tyrol in Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| Annexed Country | Austria |
| Annexing Country | Nazi Germany |
| Annexed Area | South Tyrol |
| Annexed From | Austro-Hungarian Empire |
| Reason for Annexation | Control of the Alps, south of the Brenner Pass |
| Impact | Ban on German language and "Italianisation" of place names; Encouragement of Italians from the south to settle in the region |
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What You'll Learn
Austria-Hungary Empire
The Austria-Hungary Empire, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, fell in 1918. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or the "Anschluss", gained support after the fall of the empire. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles prohibited the union and the use of the name "German-Austria". The treaties also stripped Austria of some of its territories, including the Sudetenland.
Following the fall of the Austria-Hungary Empire, South Tyrol, located in northern Italy, was annexed to Italy in 1919 at the end of World War I. The Italians sought control of the Alps, south of the Brenner Pass. This region was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and even today, many people in South Tyrol are native German speakers. In the 1920s and 1930s, the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini encouraged Italians from the south to settle in South Tyrol. He also banned the German language in schools, courts, and public offices, and "Italianised" place names. These actions contributed to the “longstanding hostility” between the German and Italian language groups in the region.
The idea of the "Anschluss" or the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, gained support among Austrian Social Democrats during the 1919-1933 period. In July 1934, Austrian and German Nazis attempted a coup but were unsuccessful. In February 1938, Hitler forced the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to agree to give the Austrian Nazis control. On March 12, 1938, the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany was achieved.
Today, South Tyrol enjoys autonomy, with 90% of taxes paid in the region remaining there. However, Italy's financial crisis has reignited old resentments, as Rome seeks financial support from South Tyrol, going against the autonomy agreement. This has given new momentum to the separatist movement, with some advocating for reunification with North Tyrol in Austria.
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Annexation of Austria
The annexation of Austria, or the Anschluss, was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or Anschluss, first arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The concept gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, as the new Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and forbade the continued use of the name "German-Austria". The treaties also stripped Austria of some of its territories, including the Sudetenland.
In the years leading up to the annexation, Austria faced economic difficulties due to a German boycott, which forced the country to seek support from Italy. In 1936, Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg signed an agreement with the German ambassador, Franz von Papen, in which Austria declared itself a "German state" that would follow Germany's lead in foreign policy. Despite this, Hitler was not satisfied, and in February 1938, he invited Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to give the Austrian Nazis more power.
The annexation of Austria was achieved by Adolf Hitler, who paraded with Nazi officials through Vienna during the German occupation. The Allies, who were committed to upholding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain, only offered verbal protests against the annexation. Even the strongest opponents of the union, including Fascist Italy, France, and Britain (the "Stresa Front"), did not take any military action.
The annexation of Austria had significant consequences, including the immediate campaign against the Jews in Austria. It also resulted in the transfer of bank accounts from Austria to Germany as "enemy property accounts". Additionally, the annexation contributed to tensions in South Tyrol, a region once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that was annexed to Italy in 1919. The fascist dictator Benito Mussolini encouraged Italians to settle in the region and imposed restrictions on the use of German, contributing to longstanding hostility between the German and Italian speakers.
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Italian control of the Alps
The Italian invasion of France, also known as the Battle of the Alps, took place from 10-25 June 1940. It was the first major Italian engagement of World War II and the last major engagement of the Battle of France. The invasion was led by Prince Umberto of Savoy, the son of King Vittorio Emanuele III, who held a cautious view of German power. The Italian offensive was primarily focused on the northern sector, with a secondary advance along the coast.
The Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, aimed to eliminate Anglo-French domination in the Mediterranean, reclaim historically Italian territory, and expand Italian influence in the Balkans and Africa. Mussolini's ambitions included territories such as Nice, Corsica, Savoy, Tunisia, Djibouti, Malta, and Cyprus. To address overpopulation, he also sought 'living space' in Albania.
The Italian offensive faced strong resistance and only managed to penetrate a few kilometres into French territory. The French government evacuated residents of border towns, such as Menton, and took measures to monitor Italian citizens in the country. The Italian army, led by Prince Umberto, was deemed insufficient and poorly equipped by some commanders, who opposed Italy's entry into the war.
The Western Alps, from Mont Dolent to the Ligurian Sea, presented a challenging theatre of operations due to its mountainous terrain with snow-covered massifs and limited passable routes. The Italian plan for the Alps had been purely defensive until that point, and their fortifications were outdated due to budget constraints.
During the final stages of the Italian campaign, as Allied troops advanced into northern Italy, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, commander of Army Group C, aimed to make a stand along the Alps. This natural barrier would allow German soldiers to surrender to the Western Allies rather than the Red Army.
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Italianisation of South Tyrol
The Italianisation of South Tyrol was a process that began after the region was occupied by Italy at the end of the First World War in November 1918 and formally annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1919. The province of South Tyrol as it exists today was created in 1926 after an administrative reorganisation of the Kingdom of Italy.
The Italianisation of South Tyrol was a forceful process, particularly in schools, aiming at the destruction of the German school system. By 1928, Italian had become the only language of instruction in 760 South Tyrolean classes, affecting over 360 schools and 30,000 pupils. German Kindergartens were required to use Italian, while substitutes were forced to shut down. German teachers were systematically dismissed or transferred to the south, and Italian teachers were recruited in their place. Degrees from Austrian or German universities became valid only through an additional year at an Italian university. A royal decree of November 1923 required religious instruction in Italian for all Italianised schools.
The German name "Tyrol" was banned, along with its derivatives and compound words such as "Tyrolean" and "South Tyrolean". German newspapers, publishing houses, clubs and associations were required to rename, with the decree strictly enforced by Italian carabinieri. These actions were based on a manifesto published by Ettore Tolomei on 15 July 1923, called the 'Provvedimenti per l'Alto Adige' ('Measures for the Alto Adige'), which became the blueprint for the Italianisation campaign.
In 1939, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini agreed that the German-speaking population of South Tyrol could either emigrate to neighbouring Germany or stay in Italy and accept complete Italianisation. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, this agreement was never fully implemented.
Today, South Tyrol is still home to a significant German-speaking population, with 64% of the population speaking German as their first language, according to the 2024 census. The Italian-speaking population, mainly living around the provincial capital Bolzano, accounts for 22.6% of the population.
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Austria-Prussia War
The Austro-Prussian War, also known as the Seven Weeks' War, was fought in 1866 between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, with both sides aided by various allies within the German Confederation. Prussia also had an alliance with the Kingdom of Italy, linking the conflict to the Third Independence War of Italian unification. The war resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states and the abolition of the German Confederation.
The war was caused by a dispute between Prussia and Austria over the administration of Schleswig-Holstein, which they had jointly conquered from Denmark and agreed to occupy together at the end of the Second Schleswig War in 1864. The crisis began on 26 January 1866, when Prussia protested against the decision of the Austrian Governor of Holstein to allow the estates of the duchies to summon a united assembly, claiming that this breached the principle of joint sovereignty. Austria responded on 7 February, asserting that its decision did not infringe on Prussia's rights. In March 1866, Austria reinforced its troops along its frontier with Prussia, leading to a partial mobilisation of five divisions by Prussia on 28 March.
On 8 April, the Prussian Minister President Otto von Bismarck formed an alliance with Italy, committing it to the war if Prussia entered one against Austria. On 1 June, when Austria brought the Schleswig-Holstein dispute before the German Diet, Prussia declared that the Gastein Convention of 14 August 1865 had been nullified and invaded Holstein on 9 June. The German Diet responded by voting for a partial mobilisation against Prussia on 14 June, and Bismarck claimed that the German Confederation had ended. The Prussian Army then invaded Hanover, Saxony, and the Electorate of Hesse on 15 June, and Italy declared war on Austria on 20 June.
The war ended in a Prussian victory, which resulted in the exclusion of Austria from Germany and the unification of the northern German states in the North German Confederation, which excluded Austria and the other southern German states. Prussia also annexed several territories, including Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, Nassau, and Frankfurt. By the Peace of Vienna on 3 October 1866, Austria ceded Venetia, which was transferred to Italy. Prussia's victory enabled it to organise the North German Confederation and brought it to the brink of German unification.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria never annexed Northern Italy. In fact, South Tyrol, a region in Northern Italy, was annexed by Italy from Austria in 1919, at the end of World War I.
Italy wanted control of the Alps, south of the Brenner Pass.
In the 1920s and 30s, the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini encouraged Italians from the south to settle in the region. German was widely banned in schools, courts, and public offices, and place names were "Italianised".
The "Italianisation" of South Tyrol contributed to what one local author described as the "longstanding hostility" between the German and Italian speakers in the region. Even today, some native German speakers are not reconciled with the fact that the province has been part of Italy for almost a century.
There is a small separatist movement in South Tyrol today, headed by the Federation of Historic South Tyrolean Riflemen, known as the Suedtiroler Schuetzenbund. The Schuetzen have long campaigned for reunification with North Tyrol in Austria.
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