History Austria

1 history

1.1 middle ages
1.2 17th , 18th centuries
1.3 19th century
1.4 20th century
1.5 interwar period , world war ii
1.6 contemporary era

history


venus of willendorf, 28,000 25,000 bc. museum of natural history vienna

settled in ancient times, central european land austria occupied in pre-roman times various celtic tribes. celtic kingdom of noricum later claimed roman empire , made province. present-day petronell-carnuntum in eastern austria important army camp turned capital city in became known upper pannonia province. carnuntum home 50,000 people 400 years.

after fall of roman empire, area invaded bavarians, slavs, , avars. charlemagne, king of franks, conquered area in ad 788, encouraged colonization, , introduced christianity. part of eastern francia, core areas encompass austria bequeathed house of babenberg. area known marchia orientalis , given leopold of babenberg in 976.

the first record showing name austria 996, written ostarrîchi, referring territory of babenberg march. in 1156, privilegium minus elevated austria status of duchy. in 1192, babenbergs acquired duchy of styria. death of frederick ii in 1246, line of babenbergs extinguished.

as result, ottokar ii of bohemia assumed control of duchies of austria, styria, , carinthia. reign came end defeat @ dürnkrut @ hands of rudolph of germany in 1278. thereafter, until world war i, austria s history largely of ruling dynasty, habsburgs.

middle ages

in 14th , 15th centuries, habsburgs began accumulate other provinces in vicinity of duchy of austria. in 1438, duke albert v of austria chosen successor father-in-law, emperor sigismund. although albert himself reigned year, henceforth every emperor of holy roman empire habsburg, 1 exception.

the battle of vienna in 1683 broke advance of ottoman empire europe.

the habsburgs began accumulate territory far hereditary lands. in 1477, archduke maximilian, son of emperor frederick iii, married heiress maria of burgundy, acquiring of netherlands family. son philip fair married joanna mad, heiress of castile , aragon, acquired spain , italian, african, , new world appendages habsburgs.

in 1526, following battle of mohács, bohemia , part of hungary not occupied ottomans came under austrian rule. ottoman expansion hungary led frequent conflicts between 2 empires, particularly evident in long war of 1593 1606. turks made incursions styria 20 times, of cited burning, pillaging, , taking thousands of slaves .

17th , 18th centuries

the congress of vienna met in 1814–15. objective of congress settle many issues arising french revolutionary wars, napoleonic wars, , dissolution of holy roman empire.

during long reign of leopold (1657–1705) , following successful defence of vienna in 1683 (under command of king of poland, john iii sobieski), series of campaigns resulted in bringing of hungary austrian control treaty of karlowitz in 1699.

emperor charles vi relinquished many of gains empire made in previous years, largely due apprehensions @ imminent extinction of house of habsburg. charles willing offer concrete advantages in territory , authority in exchange recognition of pragmatic sanction made daughter maria theresa heir. rise of prussia, austrian–prussian dualism began in germany. austria participated, prussia , russia, in first , third of 3 partitions of poland (in 1772 , 1795).

19th century

austria later became engaged in war revolutionary france, @ beginning highly unsuccessfully, successive defeats @ hands of napoleon, meaning end of old holy roman empire in 1806. 2 years earlier, empire of austria founded. in 1814, austria part of allied forces invaded france , brought end napoleonic wars.

an ethno-linguistic map of austria–hungary, 1910

it emerged congress of vienna in 1815 1 of continent s 4 dominant powers , recognised great power. same year, german confederation (deutscher bund) founded under presidency of austria. because of unsolved social, political, , national conflicts, german lands shaken 1848 revolution aiming create unified germany.

the various different possibilities united germany were: greater germany, or greater austria or german confederation without austria @ all. austria not willing relinquish german-speaking territories become german empire of 1848, crown of newly formed empire offered prussian king friedrich wilhelm iv. in 1864, austria , prussia fought against denmark , secured independence denmark of duchies of schleswig , holstein. not agree on how 2 duchies should administered, though, fought austro-prussian war in 1866. defeated prussia in battle of königgrätz, austria had leave german confederation , subsequently no longer took part in german politics.

the austro-hungarian compromise of 1867, ausgleich, provided dual sovereignty, austrian empire , kingdom of hungary, under franz joseph i. austrian-hungarian rule of diverse empire included various slavic groups, including croats, czechs, poles, rusyns, serbs, slovaks, slovenes, , ukrainians, large italian , romanian communities.

as result, ruling austria–hungary became increasingly difficult in age of emerging nationalist movements, requiring considerable reliance on expanded secret police. yet, government of austria tried best accommodating in respects: reichsgesetzblatt, publishing laws , ordinances of cisleithania, issued in 8 languages; national groups entitled schools in own language , use of mother tongue @ state offices, example.

many austrians of different social circles such georg ritter von schönerer , karl lueger promoted strong pan-germanism in hope of reinforcing ethnic german identity , annexation of austria germany. although bismarck s policies excluded austria , german austrians germany, many austrian pan-germans idolized him , wore blue cornflowers, known favourite flower of german emperor william i, in buttonholes, along cockades in german national colours (black, red, , yellow), although both temporarily banned in austrian schools, way show discontent towards multi-ethnic empire.

a lot of austrian pan-german nationalists protested passionately against minister-president kasimir count badeni s language decree of 1897, made german , czech co-official languages in bohemia , required new government officials fluent in both languages. meant in practice civil service exclusively hire czechs, because middle-class czechs spoke german language, not other way around. support of ultramontane catholic politicians , clergy reform triggered launch of away rome (german: los-von-rom) movement, initiated supporters of schönerer , called on german christians leave roman catholic church.

20th century


archduke franz ferdinand (right) family

as second constitutional era began in ottoman empire, austria-hungary took opportunity annex bosnia , herzegovina in 1908. assassination of archduke franz ferdinand in sarajevo in 1914 bosnian serb gavrilo princip used leading austrian politicians , generals persuade emperor declare war on serbia, thereby risking , prompting outbreak of world war i, not cause of war. led dissolution of austro-hungarian empire. on 1 million austro-hungarian soldiers died in world war i.

on 21 october 1918, elected german members of reichsrat (parliament of imperial austria) met in vienna provisional national assembly german austria (provisorische nationalversammlung für deutschösterreich). on 30 october assembly founded state of german austria appointing government, called staatsrat. new government invited emperor take part in decision on planned armistice italy, refrained business.

this left responsibility end of war, on 3 november 1918, solely emperor , government. on 11 november, emperor, advised ministers of old , new governments, declared not take part in state business more; on 12 november, german austria, law, declared democratic republic , part of new german republic. constitution, renaming staatsrat bundesregierung (federal government) , nationalversammlung nationalrat (national council) passed on 10 november 1920.

german-speaking provinces claimed german-austria in 1918: border of subsequent second republic of austria outlined in red

the treaty of saint-germain of 1919 (for hungary treaty of trianon of 1920) confirmed , consolidated new order of central europe great extent had been established in november 1918, creating new states , altering others. german-speaking parts of austria had been part of austria-hungary reduced rump state named republic of german-austria (german: republik deutschösterreich). desire anschluss (annexation of austria germany) popular opinion shared social circles in both austria , germany. on november 12, german-austria declared republic, , named social democrat karl renner provisional chancellor. on same day drafted provisional constitution stated german-austria democratic republic (article 1) , german-austria integral part of german reich (article 2). treaty of saint germain , treaty of versailles explicitly forbid union between austria , germany. treaties forced german-austria rename republic of austria consequently led first austrian republic.

over 3 million german-speaking austrians found living outside new austrian republic minorities in newly formed or enlarged states of czechoslovakia, yugoslavia, hungary, , italy. these included provinces of south tyrol (which became part of italy) , german bohemia (czechoslovakia). status of german bohemia (sudetenland) later played role in sparking second world war.

the status of south tyrol lingering problem between austria , italy until officially settled 1980s great degree of autonomy being granted italian national government. between 1918 , 1919, austria known state of german austria (staat deutschösterreich). not did entente powers forbid german austria unite germany, rejected name german austria in peace treaty signed; was, therefore, changed republic of austria in late 1919.

the border between austria , kingdom of serbs, croats, , slovenes (later yugoslavia) settled carinthian plebiscite in october 1920 , allocated major part of territory of former austro-hungarian crownland of carinthia austria. set border on karawanken mountain range, many slovenes remaining in austria.

interwar period , world war ii

after war, inflation began devalue krone, still austria s currency. in autumn 1922, austria granted international loan supervised league of nations. purpose of loan avert bankruptcy, stabilise currency, , improve austria s general economic condition. loan meant austria passed independent state control exercised league of nations. in 1925, schilling introduced, replacing krone @ rate of 10,000:1. later, nicknamed alpine dollar due stability. 1925 1929, economy enjoyed short high before crashing after black tuesday.

the first austrian republic lasted until 1933, when chancellor engelbert dollfuss, using called self-switch-off of parliament , established autocratic regime tending towards italian fascism. 2 big parties @ time, social democrats , conservatives, had paramilitary armies; social democrats schutzbund declared illegal, still operative civil war broke out.

in february 1934, several members of schutzbund executed, social democratic party outlawed, , many of members imprisoned or emigrated. on 1 may 1934, austrofascists imposed new constitution ( maiverfassung ) cemented dollfuss s power, on 25 july assassinated in nazi coup attempt.

hitler speaking @ heldenplatz, vienna, 1938

his successor kurt schuschnigg acknowledged austria german state , austrians better germans wished austria remain independent. announced referendum on 9 march 1938, held on 13 march, concerning austria s independence germany. on 12 march 1938, austrian nazis took on government, while german troops occupied country, prevented schuschnigg s referendum taking place. on 13 march 1938, anschluss of austria officially declared. 2 days later, austrian-born hitler announced called reunification of home country rest of german reich on vienna s heldenplatz. established plebiscite confirming union germany in april 1938.

parliamentary elections held in germany (including annexed austria) on 10 april 1938. final elections reichstag during nazi rule, , took form of single-question referendum asking whether voters approved of single nazi-party list 813-member reichstag, recent annexation of austria (the anschluss). turnout in election officially 99.5%, 98.9% voting yes . in case of austria, adolf hitler s native soil, 99.71% of electorate of 4,484,475 officially went ballots, positive tally of 99.73%. although austrians favoured anschluss, in parts of austria german soldiers not welcomed flowers , joy, in vienna had austria s largest jewish population. nevertheless, despite propaganda , manipulation , rigging surrounded ballot box result, there massive genuine support hitler fulfilling anschluss, since many germans both austria , germany saw completing long overdue german unification of germans united one-state.

the liberation of mauthausen concentration camp, 1945

on 12 march, austria annexed third reich , ceased exist independent country. aryanisation of wealth of jewish austrians started in mid-march, so-called wild (i.e. extra-legal) phase, structured legally , bureaucratically strip jewish citizens of assets possessed. nazis called austria ostmark until 1942, when again renamed , called alpen-donau-reichsgaue .

though austrians made 8% of population of third reich, of prominent nazis native austrians, including adolf hitler, ernst kaltenbrunner, arthur seyss-inquart, franz stangl, , odilo globocnik, on 13% of ss , 40% of staff @ nazi extermination camps. vienna fell on 13 april 1945, during soviet vienna offensive, before total collapse of third reich. invading allied powers, in particular americans, planned supposed alpine fortress operation of national redoubt, largely have taken place on austrian soil in mountains of eastern alps. however, never materialised because of rapid collapse of reich.

karl renner , adolf schärf (socialist party of austria [social democrats , revolutionary socialists]), leopold kunschak (austria s people s party [former christian social people s party]), , johann koplenig (communist party of austria) declared austria s secession third reich declaration of independence on 27 april 1945 , set provisional government in vienna under state chancellor renner same day, approval of victorious red army , backed joseph stalin. (the date officially named birthday of second republic.) @ end of april, of western , southern austria still under nazi rule. on 1 may 1945, federal constitution of 1929, had been terminated dictator dollfuss on 1 may 1934, declared valid again.

total military deaths 1939 1945 estimated @ 260,000. jewish holocaust victims totalled 65,000. 140,000 jewish austrians had fled country in 1938–39. thousands of austrians had taken part in serious nazi crimes (hundreds of thousands died in mauthausen-gusen concentration camp alone), fact officially recognised chancellor franz vranitzky in 1992.

contemporary era

the united nations office in vienna 1 of 4 major un office sites worldwide.

much germany, austria divided american, british, french, , soviet zones , governed allied commission austria. forecast in moscow declaration in 1943, subtle difference seen in treatment of austria allies. austrian government, consisting of social democrats, conservatives, , communists (until 1947), , residing in vienna, surrounded soviet zone, recognised western allies in october 1945 after doubts renner stalin s puppet. thus, creation of separate western austrian government , division of country avoidable. austria, in general, treated though had been invaded germany , liberated allies.

on 15 may 1955, after talks lasted years , influenced cold war, austria regained full independence concluding austrian state treaty 4 occupying powers. on 26 october 1955, after occupation troops had left, austria declared permanent neutrality act of parliament.

austria joined european union in 1995 , signed lisbon treaty in 2007.

the political system of second republic based on constitution of 1920 , 1929, reintroduced in 1945. system came characterised proporz, meaning posts of political importance split evenly between members of social democratic party of austria (spÖ) , austrian people s party (Övp). interest group chambers mandatory membership (e.g. workers, business people, farmers) grew considerable importance , consulted in legislative process, hardly legislation passed did not reflect widespread consensus.

since 1945, governing via single-party government has occurred twice: 1966–1970 (Övp) , 1970–1983 (spÖ). during other legislative periods, either grand coalition of spÖ , Övp or small coalition (one of these 2 , smaller party) ruled country.

kurt waldheim, sa officer in second world war accused of war crimes, elected president of austria 1986 1992.

following referendum in 1994, @ consent reached majority of two-thirds, country became member of european union on 1 january 1995.

the major parties spÖ , Övp have contrary opinions future status of austria s military nonalignment: while spÖ in public supports neutral role, Övp argues stronger integration eu s security policy; future nato membership not ruled out Övp politicians (ex. dr werner fasslabend (ovp) in 1997). in reality, austria taking part in eu s common foreign , security policy, participates in peacekeeping , peace creating tasks, , has become member of nato s partnership peace ; constitution has been amended accordingly. since liechtenstein joined schengen area in 2011, none of austria s neighbouring countries performs border controls towards anymore.