Austrians

Austrians is used in reference to:

• the citizens of the Republic of Austria
• people of Austrian descent or origin

Historically also:

• native German speakers of the multiethnic state of Austria Hungary, the population of Inner Austria or First Austrian Republic
• old Austrians are citizens of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy, who lived outside the territory of Inner Austria and did not speak German

History

Main article: History of Austria

The origin of the name goes back to Ostarrîchi (country in Eastern Realm). Ostarrîchi is accepted as the linguistic ancestor of Österreich, which is the name its residents use when referring to Austria.

The oldest known written mention of Ostarrîchi dates to the year 996 and referred to a region close Neuhofen on the Ybbs in what is today Lower Austria. The term Ostmark, a 19th century translation of the Latin Marchia Orientalis which has later been appropriated by the Nazis, is unhistoric. It appears that a reverse translation of a Latin term into German. The historic name at that time was Ostarrîchi (Eastern realm) and the inhabitants of Ostarrîchi were thus Austrians.

The development of Austria in the High Middle Ages was roughly similar to that of Steiermark and Tirol. In the Late Middle Ages Austria and its inhabitants came under the rule of house Habsburg. In the process of of the following centuries the Habsburgs increased their territorial possessions. The expansion started with what it today Steiermark, continued with Goerz (Karinthia), Krain and Tirol, until the territory roughly corresponded to today's Republic of Austria. In 1526, kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia (including Moravia, Silesia and Lausitz) came under the rule of the Habsburgs and thus became part of the "House of Austria".

The historical notion of Austrians is also documented in European war reports from 18th and 19th century. The Austrian armies drew on soldiers of many varied ancestries from all countries of the Habsburg crown. The Habsburgs held the title of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire for many centuries and dominated the German Confederation, which was formed in the 19th century after its dissolution.

Traditionally, the population of the Austrian Empire formed regional identities independent of their native language. They would see themselves as Bohemians, Tirolyans and Styrians regardless of their ancestry. Over time, as the population of the empire coalesced, there was a stronger sense of an Austrian identity, especially among civil servants. In order to distinguish the German-speaking population from non-German speakers, the term "German" was used.

In the wake of the French Revolution, as the modern understanding of a nation and a nation state has formed, people of the Austrian empire started to form new national identities. That was particularly evident among Hungarians, Czechs and Romanians. The process has intensified after the formation of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, where Hungarians were granted far-reaching autonomy.

The German-speaking population identified itself much more strongly with the Austrian state and felt drawn to the emerging Pan-Germanic national movement because of their affiliation with German language and culture. The 19th century witnessed increased efforts to unite the multitude of disparate German states. It was hoped that all German speakers of Central Europe could find into a successor state of the Holy Roman Empire. Although the Dutch and the German-speaking population of Switzerland were not considered in these efforts, the German-speaking Austrians were. The first step was the formation of the German Confederation in 1815 under the lead of the Habsburgs. After the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and Franco-Prussian War (1871), German Empire, a new German nation state, was formed under the lead of Prussia.

From this point on, there was a new linguistic distinction between Imperial Germans the German Austrians, which has largely survived until the end of WW II. Austria remained part of Austria-Hungary and its German-speaking population continued to develop a separate national identity. Apart from the house of Habsburg, Prince Eugene of Savoy and Franz Grillparzer became treasured national figures.

In 1918, in the wake of WW IAustria-Hungary disintegrated and the First Republic of Austria was formed.

Its establishment was accompanied with the popular desire to unite German Austria, which was the official name of the new state between 1918 to 1919, with the former German Reich. It was hoped that Austria could maintain a special status with the Weimar Republic and that Vienna could be maintained as a secondary capital. Nearly all political parties of Austria, with exception of the monarchists and the communists, strove for this union.

There were various motives for this combination desire: German national thought, the economic situation (many considered small "remainder Austria" economically not survivable) or both. The union was then forbidden however by winner powers for various reasons and also the state name had to be changed in accordance with the regulations in contract of Saint Germain. To 21 October 1919 the name in "Republic of Austria" was changed. The relationship to the national (Germans) identity remained zwiespaeltig in the following years. Width of parts of the Austrian population and German national parties, initially also socialists and Christian democrats, later the national socialists, wanted further the connection to the German Reich. In the years since 1919 with many Austrians in addition, a new self understanding had developed and did not want therefore the independence of the new Republic of Austria maintained few.

When (since 1925 stateless people) the Austrian Hitler, who became only as 43 year old (1932) citizen of the German Reich, its homeland to the German Reich attached, thereby also its compatriots became realm Germans. The terms "Austria" and "Austrian" forbidden, which annektierte country left Hitler only in "ostmark" and in "Danube and alpine realm gaus" to rename later. Colloquially there were however further the Austrians; Hitler was called among other things of his generals (and before of Hindenburg) devaluing the "Austrian Gefreite". In now "large German realm" and in the fright time of the Hitler dictatorship and the II. World war said good-bye many (former) Austrians mental gradually to the German nation desired before. However of Hitler and the national socialist in this time particularly heroisierte "Deutschtum" became straight also of many Austrians ideologically strongly inside light. The proportional portion NSDAP party members was in the ostmark (Austria) more highly than in the rest of realm area.

But there also Austrians that have engaged in acts of civil disobedience. The most notable resistance group was named '"O5"', in symbolic reference to Oesterreich. After the demise of the Third Reich and reestablishment of the Republic of Austria, the designation "German Austrians" fell quickly into disuse.

National identity

Main article: Pan-Germanism

Since the end of WW II, and with the growth of newer generations, the self-image of Austrians has changed considerably. After the War, most still did not have any confidence in an independent Austria. With the passing of time and the consolidation of the state, and the passing of new generations, this attitude has changed to a more independent viewpoint. This change in attitude has been reflected in the way Austrian history is viewed. The rule of the Babenberg and Habsburg are seen as times, from which the country and its people can forge and build their identity. The 7-year long period of the Anschluss with Nazi-Germany is something most would like to forget, and is a cause of great embarassement.

Many Austrians today may resent being called German by anyone, quite similar to how Walloons from the French-speaking part of Belgium do not like being called French. They even pejoratively call Germans Piefkes, which is actually an old joke on the Prussians and Bavarians were originally, and are sometimes still, excepted from that term. The overwhelming majority of Austrians today are quite happy to be independent and enjoy their independent national identity with the exception of a few Pan-Germanic diehards and right-wing radicals. Questioning the existence of Austria is more likely to be interpreted as state treason than be greeted with sympathy today.

As a people, Austrians are fairly homogeneous, although four decades of strong immigration have significantly altered the population of Austria. According to the 2001 population census, 88,6% are native German speakers (96% Bavarian and 4 % Alemanic) while the remaining 11,4% speak Turkish, Slovenian, Czech, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Polish and several other minority languages. The non-German speakers of Austria can be divided into two groups: traditional minorities, who are related to territories formerly part of the Habsburg Empire, and new minorities, resulting form recent immigration.

The surname Österreicher (Austrian)

Notable personalities named Österreicher:

• Karl Österreicher, Austrian conductor (1923-1995)
• Richard Österreicher, Austrian musician and conductor (* 1932)
• Christian Österreicher, Austrian musician (* 1946)
• Helmut Österreicher, Austrian Gourmet Haubenkoch

See also

• Austro-Bavarian
• List of Austrians
• Demographics of Austria
• Germans