WAKKER WORDEN IN UW EIGEN DROOMHUIS ...

Austria (German: Österreich), officially known as the Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich), is located in Central Europe. The country borders on Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, with Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east and Italy and Slovenia in the south.

History

Having previously been conquered and ruled by the Romans, Huns, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Bavarians and Franks, Austria’s various duchies were governed by the House of Babenberg between the 10^th and 13^th century. The House of Babenberg was succeeded by the Habsburg dynasty, who continued to rule the countries until the 20^th century. The Habsburgs, who mainly expanded their empire through succession, came to rule over a large area known as the Habsburg monarchy. The Austrian Empire was founded in 1804 when it became clear that the Holy Roman Empire – of which Austria had been a part – was finally crumbling. In 1848, the Hungarians revolted against the Austrian government. Although the revolt was crushed, a settlement was reached with the Hungarians following the Austrian defeat by Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War. As a result of this Ausgleich (compromise) the empire was replaced by the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867. After its defeat in the First World War, the monarchy was split up into various independent nations. Austria then took on its current form, with Vorarlberg, Burgenland and Carinthia joining the new nation state after referendums. Austria became a republic in 1918. This republic of Deutschösterreich existed until 1919 when the country was dissolved following the Treaty of Saint-Germain, resulting in the proclamation of the Austrian Republic. This First Republic existed until 1938, although Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss governed the country in dictatorial style from 1933 onwards. Austria was incorporated into the Third Reich in 1938 (the Anschluss). Following the defeat of the Nazis, the country was occupied by the Allies until 1955. Austria was then granted full independence, under the precondition that it would always remain neutral. Austria became involved more closely in European politics following the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. The country became a member of the European Union in 1995, and introduced the Euro in 2002.