Lyla Lindsey
Austria has a long and complex history, with the territory undergoing numerous changes over time. The region has been invaded and conquered by several different civilisations, from the Roman Empire to Nazi Germany. The Austrian Empire, which existed from 1804 to 1867, was a multinational European great power created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. The country has also been occupied by the Bavarians, the Franks, the Alemanni, and the Slavs, among others. In more recent times, Austria was annexed to Germany by Austrian-born Adolf Hitler in 1938, and following World War II, it was occupied by the Soviet Union.
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What You'll Learn
Austria was annexed to Germany in 1938
Austria has a long and complex history, with its borders and even its existence as a sovereign state changing multiple times over the centuries. Most recently, Austria was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I in 1918. After the collapse of the empire, Austria was reduced to its current frontiers and adopted the name the Republic of German-Austria. However, union with Germany was forbidden by the Allies at the Treaty of Versailles, and so the First Austrian Republic was created, lasting from 1919 to 1933.
Following the First Republic, Austrofascism sought to keep Austria independent from the German Reich. Engelbert Dollfuss accepted that most Austrians were German and Austrian but wanted Austria to remain a separate state. However, this was not to last. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was known as the Anschluss, which translates as "joinder", "connection", "unification", or "political union". Austrian-born Adolf Hitler had been pushing for unification, and in 1936 Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was forced to agree to the release of Nazis imprisoned in Austria, with Germany promising to respect Austrian sovereignty. However, this was not to be. In 1938, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss once and for all, but before the vote could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned. On March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.
Hitler's journey through Austria became a triumphal tour, with around 200,000 cheering German Austrians gathering in Vienna's Heldenplatz (Square of Heroes) to hear him speak. Hitler declared that "The oldest eastern province of the German people shall be, from this point on, the newest bastion of the German Reich". The annexation of Austria was supported by a large majority of Austrians, and Austria remained part of Germany until the end of World War II. In 1945, the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria. Ten years after World War II, Austria again became an independent republic as the Second Austrian Republic.
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Austria was part of the Roman Empire from 1st century BC
Austria has a long and complex history, with many different groups occupying the region over time. In the late Iron Age, around 800 BC, the region was occupied by the Hallstatt Celtic culture. The Celts established a kingdom known as Noricum, which lasted from around 800 to 400 BC. This kingdom was centred around the region's ironworks and became an important trading partner of the neighbouring Roman Empire.
By the 1st century BC, the lands of present-day Austria south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire. The Romans founded many cities that still exist today, including Vindobona (Vienna), Juvavum (Salzburg), Valdidena (Innsbruck), and Brigantium (Bregenz). They ruled over the region for almost 500 years and established numerous settlements and trading outposts. During this time, Christianity was introduced to Austria, with Church organisation dating back to the 4th century.
In the 5th and 6th centuries, the Bavarii, a Germanic people, migrated into the region and occupied the lands once held by the Romans. This period also saw the settlement of other groups, such as the Avars in eastern Austria and the Slavic peoples in northern Lower Austria, Carinthia, and southern Styria. The Alpine region was gradually Christianised by Irish and Scottish monks during this time.
By the 9th century, the Frankish Empire, established by the Germanic Franks, controlled the region. It was during this period that the name "Ostarrîchi" (Austria) first appeared in use in 996 AD when it was a margravate of the Duchy of Bavaria. In 1156, Austria was elevated to the status of a duchy within the Holy Roman Empire, marking the beginning of the long and influential rule of the Habsburg dynasty.
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Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire from 962 to 1806
Austria has a long and complex history, with the territory understood by the term 'Austria' undergoing drastic changes over time. The name "Ostarrîchi" (Austria) has been in use since 996 AD, and from 1156 onwards, it was an independent duchy (later an archduchy) of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a powerful monarchy in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It lasted for a millennium, from its founding in 800 by Charlemagne to its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.
In 1522, the Habsburg dynasty was divided into Spanish and Austrian lines, with the Austrian line acquiring Bohemia and Hungary. The 16th and 17th centuries were marked by conflict with the Ottoman Empire, and in the second half of the 18th century, Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II introduced sweeping reforms that provided the basis for a modern administrative government.
The Holy Roman Empire underwent significant changes during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1804, in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire, Holy Roman Emperor Francis II created the title of Emperor of Austria for himself, becoming Francis I of Austria. This new empire comprised all the lands of the Habsburg monarchy, which had previously been legally separate realms.
In 1805, an Austrian army was defeated by French forces near Ulm, resulting in the capture of 20,000 Austrian soldiers. This victory encouraged rulers of certain imperial territories to assert their independence from the Empire, and on 12 July 1806, the Confederation of the Rhine was established, marking the de facto end of the Holy Roman Empire. On 6 August 1806, Francis II officially proclaimed the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, and Austria became the Austrian Empire.
Thus, Austria was a part of the Holy Roman Empire from 962 to 1806, with the Empire's dissolution in 1806 marking a significant shift in the region's political landscape.
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Austria was an empire from 1804 to 1867
The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a multinational European great power from 1804 to 1867. It was created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, it was the third most populous monarchy in Europe after the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom. Geographically, it was the third-largest empire in Europe after the Russian Empire and the First French Empire.
The empire was proclaimed by Francis II in 1804 in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire. This unified all Habsburg possessions under one central government. It remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until the latter's dissolution in 1806. It continued fighting against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a period between 1809 and 1813, when Austria was first allied with Napoleon during the invasion of Russia and later neutral during the first few weeks of the Sixth Coalition War.
In 1805, an Austrian army led by General Karl Mack von Leiberich was defeated by the French near the city of Ulm, resulting in the capture of 20,000 Austrian soldiers and many cannons. Napoleon's army won another victory at Austerlitz in 1805, forcing Francis II into negotiations with the French. This concluded with an armistice in December 1805. The French victories encouraged rulers of certain imperial territories to ally themselves with the French and assert their independence from the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1806, Emperor Francis II of Austria dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, and Austria became the Austrian Empire. It was also part of the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. After Austria was defeated in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 was adopted, joining the Kingdom of Hungary and the Empire of Austria to form Austria-Hungary.
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Austria was occupied by the Soviets in 1945
Austria has a long and complex history, with its territory undergoing drastic changes over time. In 1938, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany, which was supported by a large majority of Austrians. However, after the German defeat in World War II, Austria was once again separated from Germany.
During World War II, Austria was occupied by the Allies, including the Soviet Union, and declared independent from Nazi Germany on April 27, 1945, as a result of the Vienna offensive. This occupation by the Soviets in 1945 is a significant event in Austria's history. The Soviet troops entered Austria in April 1945, and their presence had a significant impact on the country. The Soviets aimed to liberate Austria from Nazi rule and establish a democratic government. However, their occupation also brought challenges and difficulties for the Austrian people.
The Soviet occupation of Austria lasted from 1945 to 1955. During this period, the Soviets implemented policies shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, which was agreed upon by the British, Americans, and Soviets. The declaration acknowledged Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression while also holding Austria accountable for its role in Nazi crimes. The Soviets aimed to demilitarize, denazify, and democratically reconstruct the country. While they did not impose a communist dictatorship, they did exploit Austria economically to rebuild the Soviet Union, which had been ravaged by the war.
The Soviet occupation had a significant impact on the daily lives of Austrians. Food rations were drastically reduced, and the average Viennese experienced a significant decrease in their consumption of fats, meat, and bread. Looting and sexual violence by Soviet troops were also prevalent during this time, damaging the reputation of the Red Army. Additionally, the Soviets resisted the expansion and arming of the Austrian police force, making it challenging to maintain law and order.
The occupation ended in 1955 with the Austrian State Treaty, and Austria once again became an independent republic, known as the Second Austrian Republic. This period of Soviet occupation left a lasting impact on Austria, shaping its political, economic, and social landscape in the post-World War II era.
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Frequently asked questions
The lands south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. By 15 BC, the Romans dominated the entire area.
In 1938, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany with the support of a large majority of Austrians.
Austria became an independent republic in 1955, ten years after the end of World War II.
