Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria has a long and complex history of conquest, dating back to the prehistoric settlement of the Alpine lands and the Danube Valley. The region's rich natural resources attracted various civilisations, including the Celts, Romans, and Germanic peoples. The Romans, in particular, held sway over the region for almost 500 years, establishing settlements and leaving a lasting impact on the area. The fall of the Roman Empire ushered in a period of tribal migrations and power struggles, with various groups vying for control. The Bavarians, Slavs, and Avar rulers all left their mark on the region, and by the 9th century, the area was referred to as Ostarrîchi, a precursor to the modern name Österreich. The subsequent centuries witnessed the rise of powerful dynasties like the Babenbergs and the Habsburgs, who expanded their influence and shaped the destiny of the region. The creation of the Austrian Empire in 1804 marked a significant chapter in Austria's history, but it was short-lived, dissolving in 1867. The aftermath of World War I saw Austria reduced to its current frontiers, and the nation has since navigated a course marked by independence and integration within Europe.
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What You'll Learn
Austria's annexation to Germany in 1938
In the lead-up to the annexation, Austrian Nazis had been conspiring to seize the Austrian government and unite with Germany. In 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in a failed coup. Following this, leading Austrian Nazis fled to Germany and continued to push for unification, while those remaining in Austria continued terrorist attacks, resulting in over 800 deaths between 1934 and 1938.
Hitler, however, publicly denied any intention to annex Austria. In a speech at the Reichstag, he stated:
> Germany neither intends nor wishes to interfere in the internal affairs of Austria, to annex Austria or to conclude an Anschluss.
Despite this, the damage to Austria from the German boycott was too great to ignore. By 1936, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg was forced to come to an agreement with Germany. In July 1936, he signed an agreement with German ambassador Franz von Papen, releasing Nazis imprisoned in Austria in exchange for a promise of Austrian sovereignty.
Hitler's assurance proved false. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and were met with cheers and flowers from the Austrian populace. Hitler himself joined the troops, and was enthusiastically welcomed. On March 13, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany.
The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with many Austrians identifying as Germans. However, it also sparked an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.
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The Austrian Empire's formation in 1804
The Austrian Empire, also known as the Empire of Austria, was formed in 1804 by Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, who proclaimed himself Emperor of Austria, becoming Francis I of Austria. This was done in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire, as Francis foresaw either the end of the Holy Roman Empire or the eventual accession of Napoleon as Holy Roman Emperor. The Austrian Empire unified all Habsburg possessions under one central government, including all the lands of the Habsburg monarchy, which had until then been legally separate realms.
The Austrian Empire was a multinational European great power, the third most populous monarchy in Europe after the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom, and the third-largest empire in Europe geographically, after the Russian Empire and the First French Empire. It remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until the latter's dissolution in 1806, after which it continued fighting against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a period of alliance with Napoleon during the invasion of Russia. The Napoleonic Wars dominated Austrian foreign policy from 1804 to 1815, with the Austrian army being one of the most formidable forces the French had to face.
The Austrian Empire included the Kingdom of Hungary, which had always been considered a separate realm and continued to be administered by its own institutions. The status of Hungary as a separate realm was affirmed by Article X, added to Hungary's constitution in 1790. The Austrian Empire was officially a single state, although the overarching structure and the status of its component lands initially remained much the same as they had been under the previous composite monarchy.
After the fall of Napoleon in 1814-1815, Austria became the leader of the German states once more. However, this was followed by the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, which resulted in the expulsion of Austria from the German Confederation and caused Emperor Franz Joseph to reorient his policy toward the east. This eventually led to the Ausgleich or Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which joined the Kingdom of Hungary and the Empire of Austria to form Austria-Hungary, officially known as the Dual Monarchy.
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The Austrian-Hungarian Empire's formation in 1867
The Austrian Empire, also known as the Empire of Austria, was a multinational European great power from 1804 until 1867. It was created by Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, who proclaimed himself Emperor of Austria in 1804, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government.
In 1866, Austria was defeated in the Austro-Prussian War, which resulted in its expulsion from the German Confederation. This led to the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which joined the Kingdom of Hungary and the Empire of Austria to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire, also known as Austria-Hungary. This was a dual monarchy, with the Austrian and Hungarian kingdoms remaining separate sovereign countries internationally. The agreement was a compromise between the emperor and Hungary, not between Hungary and the rest of the empire. Hungary received full internal autonomy and a responsible ministry, while the empire remained a single great state for purposes of war and foreign affairs.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was one of Europe's major powers and was the second-largest country in Europe geographically, after Russia. It was also the third most populous country in Europe, after Russia and the German Empire. The economy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire slowly modernised after 1867, with railroads opening up once-remote areas and cities growing. The empire also became a major manufacturer and exporter of electric appliances and power generation apparatus.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire lasted until 1918, when it collapsed after World War I. Austria was then reduced to its main, mostly German-speaking areas and adopted the name the Republic of German-Austria.
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Austria's occupation by the Soviet Union in 1945
The Soviet Union's interest in Austria stemmed from its desire to restore Austria as an independent state within its pre-1938 boundaries, separate from Germany, and free of any confederated bonds. Stalin envisioned a peaceful, Moscow-friendly state that would eventually transition to a Socialist system. The Soviet occupation of Austria also served to rebuild the Soviet Union, which had been industrially ravaged.
The liberation of Austria by the Red Army in 1945 led to looting and attacks on civilians by liberated slave laborers and prisoners of war, who were seeking revenge on the Germans. The Red Army recruited heavily from this group, adding tens of thousands of individuals with a personal vendetta against the Germans to their ranks. The anti-German propaganda that had sustained the Soviet Army's morale throughout the war also fueled atrocities against civilians as Soviet soldiers committed hundreds of thousands of sexual assaults, robberies, and murders.
The Soviet Union played a significant role in shaping the post-war Austrian government. In April 1945, the Soviets instructed Austrian socialist politician Karl Renner to form a provisional government, which declared Austria's independence from Nazi Germany and called for the creation of a democratic state. One-third of Renner's cabinet was made up of Austrian Communists, guarded and watched by NKVD bodyguards. The Western Allies suspected the establishment of a puppet state and refused to recognize Renner's government.
The Soviet Union's presence in Austria continued well beyond 1945, with the country remaining occupied until the Austrian State Treaty came into force in 1955. During this period, the Soviets exerted significant influence over Austrian politics and economics, including the appropriation of oil fields and the confiscation of "German external assets" in Austria. The first free national elections in 1945, however, demonstrated the political weakness of the Austrian Communist Party, which received only 5.42% of the vote.
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Austria's history of migration and settlement
Around the time of the birth of Christ, the Romans absorbed Noricum as an imperial province, along with other parts of present-day Austria, including Rhaetia (western Austria) and Pannonia (eastern Lower Austria and Burgenland). The Romans ruled the region for almost 500 years and established numerous settlements. However, facing pressure from tribal migrations, they eventually withdrew from the Danube region, abandoning cities like Carnuntum in Pannonia.
In the Migration Period of the 6th century, Germanic peoples known as the Bavarii occupied the lands south of the Danube until they were supplanted by the Frankish Empire in the 9th century. During this period, various other groups also migrated across the region of present-day Austria, including the Avars, Baiuvarii, Slavs, and Hunnic horsemen from the east. The settlement boundary between the Slavs and Bavarians roughly corresponded to a line from Freistadt through Linz, Salzburg, and East Tyrol.
In the 12th century, Austria was elevated to the status of a duchy, and the Babenbergs, a Bavarian noble family, expanded their power and influence through skilful marital policies. The Duchy of Austria was then entrusted to the Habsburgs in 1282, who continued to expand their territory, adding Burgundy, the Netherlands, and Spain to their domains. The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was proclaimed in 1804 by Francis II, unifying all Habsburg possessions under a central government. However, the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of Napoleon's French Empire led to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Austria continued to experience significant migration and settlement dynamics. Bilateral agreements with countries like Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s led to the recruitment of temporary workers, resulting in the settlement of many workers and their families in Austria. Additionally, Austria has a history of emigration as well, with Austrian immigrants settling in countries like the United States, particularly during the world wars, and in South American countries like Argentina.
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Frequently asked questions
The Romans were attracted to the region by its rich iron resources and strategic importance. By 15 BC, they had dominated the entire area.
Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany, with the support of a large majority of Austrians.
The Soviet Union occupied Austria as they approached the Third Reich in 1945, towards the end of World War II.
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