Austrian attempts to unite with Germany from the founding of the republic to the referendums in Tyrol and Salzburg in 1921

The union of the two countries was meant to counter the economic, political and national difficulties with which the new republic saw itself confronted after the end of the war and the collapse of the Habsburg Empire. The Grossdeutsche Partei (Pan-German Party) and the Landbund (Country Alliance) advocated the union for ideological reasons, their argument being based on the common cultural heritage, the common language and nationality. The Social Democrats, particularly Otto Bauer, also advocated joining the German Republic, which was more highly industrialized than the Austrian territories and thus had a larger Social Democrat base. Together with these arguments derived from political strategy, it was above all economic considerations that predominated. Among the Christian Socialists, who had initially hoped for the restoration of the Habsburgs, there was markedly less support for the attempts at a union.

The German side reacted positively to the resolution passed by the National Assembly of German-Austria. In November 1918 the German government announced the incorporation of German-Austria, which was later confirmed by Article 61 of the constitution of the Weimar Republic.   

However, hopes of union were dashed by the treaties of Saint-Germain (for Austria) and Versailles (for Germany). The former stipulated that Austrian independence was ‘irrevocable’ and required the name ‘German-Austria’ to be changed to ‘Republic of Austria’. Germany also had to bow to pressure from the Allies and delete the article of the constitution mentioned above. The aim of the victorious powers was to prevent any strengthening of the political power of Germany and Austria, who had to bear the burden of war guilt. Nevertheless, the explicit ban on any union was not able to eradicate completely the idea of it, which remained widespread among the Austrian population.

On 1 October 1920 the Constituent National Assembly passed a motion calling on the government to hold a plebiscite on the union of Austria with Germany. There was a guarded reaction from Germany, because it was due to hold negotiations on loans with the League of Nations and feared that the Allies might terminate their aid programme. Nevertheless, in April and May the provinces of Tyrol and Salzburg each held a referendum on the question, ‘Is union with the German Reich required?’ The result was that an overwhelming majority voted in favour of union. Although the votes did not have any political consequences, they make clear how explosive the issue was among the Austrian population. As a result of the Allies’ threats  and the still unconcluded negotiations regarding the borders of Burgenland it was eventually decided that there would be no more referendums, but the idea of union with Germany by no means disappeared from the political debate.      

Translation: Leigh Bailey