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Originally Posted by DGG
On a journey in Austria, I visited a former Concentration Camp. All of the information there depicted Austria as being "the first victim" of Germany and "occupied" 1938-45. With me on the visit were people from other countries, and the Germans were especially upset at this view of history. They told some of the others of us that Germany had made up with its guilt from the Nazi years, but this was proof that the Austrians had not.
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You put your finger into an Austrian wound.
I guess you are talking about the KZ Mauthausen, are you? The exhibition is decades old and has come even in the Austrian media some time ago into the cross fire, exactly because of constructing a victim role, that never existed, but could be seen as the birth-lie of Austria.
But: The exibition in the KZ Mauthausen is under redesign as far as I have heard, because of the very reason you have pointed out. The unfounded victim role has to be corrected, especially in sensitive areas like the places of mass murder.
Our President has just recently made clear that the victim role that some Austrians defend up today is a lie and not more than a cheap excuse. He made some more comments about some attached issues too.
Furthermore are the compensation payments heading towards completement. The last existant obstacles that remain are in the area of arts. But also there work is in progress, just look at the Klimt paintings refundations. Among those paintings the currently most expensive of the whole world.
So all in all, you point out a sensitive point of the Austrian history and self perception. The impression that Austria still at whole and large still believes into the victim role is however a wrong perception. There are still some relicts that might give a wrong impression. But those relicts are the target of current ambitions to rework our history now once and for all.
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In a way, Austria is a historical anomaly, considering that most European states are nation states. It exist as a sovereign state separate from Germany, because it was the lands of the strong House of Habsburg-Lothringen. Now it isn't any longer, the raison d'etre for the sovereign state of Austria disappeared in 1918. There were not few Austrians who wanted their state to become part of Germany before 1938. This was even considered an option after WWI, but the Entente did not want Germany to gain any territory.
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Austria IS a nation state for itself. Austrians dont belong to a "German nation" nor are they German nationals.
You have a valid point when saying that the right of existance of Austria after the fall of the monarchy was much doubted, not the least among its own citizens. But at any time there was a large mass of people, even if they may not allways have been the majority that demanded an independant state.
But thats historical skirmish anyway. In fact the Austrian nation that exists today, is a child of the WWII. By defining themselves as Austrians they neglected being responsible for the crimes of "the Germans". That was not more than a great lie, but it served as a very strong motivations to lead to the birth of a new nation.
Today no Austrian would say anymore that he is Austrian just to feel not responsible for WWII. Its because he feels and thinks that he is Austrian. Of course this does not hinder Austrians to feel as Europeans additionally. Like I do feel to belong to both. I am European and Austrian. But in no way do I feel more German like a Swiss feels German. We have a certain part of history in common with Germany, we share more or less a language, but for sure, we dont share a nation. Never.
And the best indicator for a nation still is the self perception of the citizens of a state. And in Austria 90% of its citizens say that Austria is not just a state, but a nation.
Any attempt of Germany to try a secound Anschluss would be seen as most severe hostile action. It would be an act of war against Austria.