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Originally Posted by Slartibartfas
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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Yes, Mauthausen is just the KZ I am talking about.
I am glad to read that the exhibition there is up for discussion and review, along with other relics and the self image of the Austrians. I never thought all Austrians believed they äwere just victims of German agression in the 30's and 40's. Most people who lived in those days must know the truth, a lot of those would certainly have told of this to their children and others in younger generations.
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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.
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It is interesting to read this. I am naturally not as aware of the views of Austrians as you are. I did write: "[i]
n a way, Austria is a historical anomaly". This is to say, one view of looking at Austria, is that it is a historical anomaly, while by other views it would not be.
There is a quote attributed to George Bernard Shaw, though not found in his published writings: "England and America are two countries divided by a common language". Perhaps you can make a paraphrase of this, saying that Germany and Austria are two countries divided by a common language?
I once read that if East Germany had not joined West Germany so soon after the fall of the communist regime, the two countries would probably never have merged. Their cultures and self images would have drifted appart, perhaps also their versions of the German language. Many people in these two countries were in favour of unification, but I have never doubted that a majority of both Germans and Austrians would not see any real advantages of uniting these countries and would be opposed to such an idea.