Omari Gates
Austria's independence has been a complex and evolving issue, with the territory undergoing various changes over time. Initially, Carantania, a Slavic state in modern-eastern and central Austria, became a vassal to Bavaria in 745 CE. After numerous political shifts, Austria-Hungary concluded an armistice with the Allies in 1918 during World War I, and Emperor Charles I abdicated. An Austrian Republic was proclaimed on November 13, 1918, and the United States recognized it in 1921. However, Austria's independence was challenged in 1938 when it was annexed by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss. After World War II, Austria regained its independence in 1945, and in 1955, it was officially declared a free, independent, and neutral state by the Four Powers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of independence | 12 November 1918; 15 May 1955 |
| Annexed by | Germany (1938); Third Reich (1938) |
| Secession from | Third Reich |
| Date of secession | 27 April 1945 |
| Date of annexation | 13 March 1938 |
| Date of referendum concerning Austria's independence | 13 March 1938 |
| Date of joining the European Union | 1995 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's independence from the Third Reich
Austria's history of independence is a long and complex one, with the territory undergoing many changes over time. In the context of the Third Reich, Austria's path to independence is marked by several key events.
In the early 20th century, Austria was facing serious economic problems and increasing tension between different political groups. Despite efforts by Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss to maintain Austria's independence from Germany, the country was in a vulnerable state.
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and Austrian Nazis took over the government. This event, known as the "Anschluss," marked the annexation of Austria to the German Reich. The majority of Austrians supported the union, and Austrian-born Adolf Hitler proclaimed the reunification of his home country with the rest of Germany.
During World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and many others participated in the Nazi administration and the Final Solution. Despite this, after the war, many Austrians sought to distance themselves from Nazi Germany and embraced the myth of Austria as the first victim of the Nazis.
On April 27, 1945, Allied-occupied Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany. A provisional government was established, and the country once again became an independent republic, known as the Second Austrian Republic. The Allied Powers recognized the Austrian Republic within its pre-Anschluss boundaries.
It is worth noting that the process of Austria's independence was gradual. Even after the declaration of independence in 1945, Austria remained under the occupation of the Allied Powers until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty was signed, officially ending the occupation and declaring Austria a free, independent, and neutral state.
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The First Austrian Republic
After World War II, Austria was occupied by the Four Powers (the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union). In 1955, the four powers signed the Austrian State Treaty, which ended the occupation and declared Austria a free, independent, and neutral state, known as the Second Austrian Republic.
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The Anschluss
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, there was significant support for unification among Germans and Austrians, particularly those on the political left and center. This support was driven by the belief that Austria, having lost its imperial land, was not economically viable on its own. The idea of unification was also promoted by the Nazis, who saw it as an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which aimed to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany". The Austrian Nazi Party's popularity grew after Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, and they carried out a propaganda campaign with slogans like "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") to convince Austrians to support the Anschluss.
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. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue of unification, but he was pressured to cancel it and resign. On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, and the next day, Hitler officially declared the annexation of Austria to Germany. This was supported by a large majority of Austrians, and a controlled plebiscite held in April gave a 99.7% approval rating. The annexation was also not opposed by other European powers, which allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.
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Austria's independence from Hungary
The Early Struggles
During the 19th century, the Kingdom of Hungary, which was part of the Austrian Empire, sought greater self-governance and independence. The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was a pivotal event in this struggle. However, the revolution was crushed by Austrian and Russian forces, leading to the imposition of absolutist rule from Vienna and further fuelling Hungarian resentment.
The Austro-Hungarian Compromise
Following the defeats in the Second Italian War of Independence and the Austro-Prussian War, the Austrian Empire faced a weakened position. This provided an opportunity for Hungary to renegotiate its status within the empire. As a result, the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, also known as the "Ausgleich", established a dual sovereignty between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary under Emperor Franz Joseph I. This compromise recognised the kingdom's autonomy and marked a significant step towards Hungary's independence within the broader empire.
World War I and the Collapse of Austria-Hungary
The outbreak of World War I and the subsequent collapse of the Austria-Hungary empire had a profound impact on the region's political landscape. On November 3, 1918, Austria-Hungary signed an armistice with the Allied Powers, effectively ending its role in the war. Emperor Charles I abdicated on November 12, 1918, and an Austrian Republic was proclaimed the following day. This marked the beginning of Austria's emergence as an independent state, free from Hungarian influence.
Interwar Years and Annexation by Nazi Germany
During the interwar period, Austria experienced a tumultuous political situation, with chancellors Engelbert Dollfuss and Kurt Schuschnigg attempting to maintain Austrian independence. However, on March 12, 1938, Austrian Nazis took control of the government, and two days later, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler announced the "Anschluss" (joining) of Austria with Nazi Germany. This annexation was supported by a majority of Austrians and marked a loss of Austrian independence until the end of World War II.
Post-World War II and the Second Austrian Republic
After World War II, Austria once again had the opportunity to establish its independence. On April 27, 1945, Karl Renner, Adolf Schärf, Leopold Kunschak, and Johann Koplenig declared Austria's secession from Nazi Germany and established a provisional government. On May 15, 1955, the Four Powers (the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union) signed the Austrian State Treaty, officially recognising Austria as a free, independent, and neutral state, thus concluding Austria's journey towards independence from Hungarian rule.
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Austria's independence from Bavaria
Austria's independence has been a complex and protracted process, with the territory undergoing numerous changes over time. The concept of Austrian independence from Bavaria specifically is particularly relevant during the period when the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Austrian Empire co-existed.
The Kingdom of Bavaria, which existed from 1806 to 1918, was a German state that succeeded the Electorate of Bavaria. In 1806, Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became King Maximilian I of Bavaria, marking the beginning of the kingdom. The kingdom's foundation was tied to the Napoleonic era, as it was established through alliances and treaties influenced by Napoleon's ambitions. Bavaria's relationship with Austria during this period was complex and often adversarial, with the two kingdoms vying for territory and influence within the German states.
During the 19th century, Bavaria and Austria were often in conflict, with Austria attempting to incorporate parts of Bavaria into its territory. In the War of the Bavarian Succession (1778-1779), Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia successfully prevented Austria from claiming a large part of Bavaria. In the early 1800s, Bavaria and Austria had competing claims over territories, and Austria was viewed with suspicion by Bavarian leaders due to its ambitions and intrigues. This led Bavaria to forge an alliance with Napoleonic France, which allowed it to expand its territories at the expense of Austria through the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805.
However, with the defeat of Napoleon's France in 1814, Bavaria lost the territories it had gained from Austria during the Napoleonic Wars. Despite this setback, Bavaria continued to assert its independence and influence within the German states. In the 1866 Austro-Prussian War, Bavaria sided with Austria against Prussia, but they were defeated, leading to the dissolution of the German Confederation and ending Austria's influence over the lesser German states. Despite this, Bavaria retained its independence and became a federated state within the German Empire in 1871, while Austria was notably excluded from the empire's territories.
During the early 20th century, the question of Austrian independence from Germany became more prominent. After World War I, the Austrian Republic was proclaimed in 1918, marking a significant step towards independence. However, Austria experienced economic challenges and passed from an independent state to the control of the League of Nations, which provided a loan to stabilise its economy. In 1938, Austria was annexed by the Third Reich and lost its independence, but after World War II, the idea of Austrian independence re-emerged.
In 1945, a provisional government was established in Austria, and Austrian leaders declared their secession from the Third Reich, setting up a democratic republic. Finally, in 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed by the Four Powers (the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union), officially ending the occupation and declaring Austria a free, independent, and neutral state, thus concluding the lengthy journey towards Austrian independence from Bavaria and other external influences.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria became an independent republic, known as the Second Austrian Republic, in 1955.
The Austrian State Treaty.
The Four Powers: the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.
In 1938, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany.
Yes, on April 27, 1945, Karl Renner, Adolf Schärf, Leopold Kunschak, and Johann Koplenig declared Austria's secession from the Third Reich.
