Why don't Germany and Austria unite?

Question

They are so alike

Answer 1

wouldn't be a good idea

Answer 2

They were joined for about a thousand years, from a couple generations after Charlemagne until Napoleon finally destroyed the Holy Roman Empire (The First Reich).

The Holy Roman Empire had a lot of internal struggles (to put it mildly) in the 1600's and by the time Napoleon rolled around, the ummm, let's just call it, the nation that was where Germany and Austria are presently located, was largely a divided up confederation of small dukedoms and territories.

The reason why it initialled became so divided was mainly due to inheritance, birthrights, division of land to EACH son. Inheritance to only the first-born son is: primogeniture (like England followed) but Germany followed the other ideal. I can't remember what its called anymore, but you get the idea.

Anyway, I'll spare you the rest. Also you could look up Austro-Prussian War of 1866, blah, blah. And the last time they were joined was under Hitler for some 6-7 years. So the most recent time they were joined, hmm... let's put it this way: No politician in Europe today has the nerve to follow that precedent.

There may be a small, residual case against joining due to different predominant religions. Germany would be Protestant vs. Austria being Catholic. But only nominally so at best.

The answer is there's no impetus on the part of the people nor the politicians to make that happen.

The last time something like this (or the opposite in this case) nearly happened was when Canada almost broke up, what in the 1990's or something. Or when every now and then Puerto Rico has a referendum to become the 51st US State, then they vote to stay a territory. Most folks are just naturally conservative when it comes to this type stuff. As long as they have a decent representative government, they'll stay Austria and Germany.

Answer 3

First of all, they are not so much alike at all. But anyway:

Germany was really a late-comer to national unification, with dozens of small principalities and kingdoms and bishoprics all over the map until a unification movement came into place in the mid-19th century. Even then, there was a lot of debate about whether to include Austria (which, at the time, was still Austria-Hungary) partly or wholly in an all-German nation-state. Eventually, the German Empire was formed without Austria-Hungary in 1871.

After World War 1, Austria-Hungary was broken up, and the remaining Austrian Republic was prevented from joining the German Empire by the allies. It was very small in comparison to the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and ethnically mostly German, however, which is why it was easy for Nazi Germany to annex it in 1938.

After World War 2, wary of yet another powerful Germany in the future, separated Austria from Germany again. (The Austrians, at the time considering themselves "the first victims" rather than fellow perpetrators of Nazi Germany, were quick to agree.) In return for a speedy end of the Allied occupation, Austria was sworn to "eternal neutrality" and was forbidden to enter into an "economic union with Germany".

Nowadays, with German and Austrian culture having diverged somewhat in the last sixty years, and with the unprecedented era of peace that the overall status quo has brought to Western Europe, nobody sees a positive argument for unification compelling enough to disturb a functioning system.

Also, since Austria's accession to the European Union in 1995, individuals of both nations have very few obstacles left in terms of living and working in the other country, if they want to, obliterating another potential argument in favor of unification. (Which, incidentally, has also been put forward on a possible reunification of South Tyrol with Austria, which, although unlikely, is still much more plausible than a Germany-Austria unification.)

Answer 4

That is a ridiculous statement. Is there a reason why you picked on those two and not say Sweden and Norway or Netherlands and Belgium or Spain and Portugal or USA and Canada? I would guess because they are not alike and I am sure the Austrians and Germans would say the same.

Answer 5

Leiderhosen.

Answer 6

the politicians fear a lose of opportunity.
u know 1 chancellor.
1 finance minister
which means 50% job cut for politicians.

Answer 7

Right - that would be like US & UK uniting - after all - WE are so alike!

Answer 8

I think that countries like Austria,Switzerland,Belgium,Luxembuorg,Ukraine,Belarus,All the Latin American countries should not exist.

Answer 9

Ha ha!

Funny!

Answer 10

Hitler already tried it and it didn't turn out that well.