Was Hitler Austrian or German?

[Wernazuma III]

Culturally, they're South Germans.

WWII has changed sooo much. Personally I feel that mentality of people here in Styria is closer to Gibanica than to Matjes or Spreewaldgurken.

[Heresson]

Austrians confused themselves into thinking they're the "first victim of Hitler".

[Solomwi]

Most. Valid. Poll. Ever. That banana option was so awesome I felt compelled to register a serious vote on the poll.

[onodera]

Ummm... no, they're not - and never were (except from 1938-1945).

Haven't you heard of Austro-Prussian wars? They were fighting for the right to be the most German Germans. Austria lost, so now they have to invent ridiculous answers to the question what the difference between them and the Germans is.

[Thoth]

Austria lost, so now they have to invent ridiculous answers to the question what the difference between them and the Germans is.

Pish. The answer to that is easy: Germans gas Jews, Austrians lock up little girls in cellars.

[JEELEN]

Culturally, they're South Germans.

Ummm... no, culturally Austrians are Austrians as well.

Haven't you heard of Austro-Prussian wars? They were fighting for the right to be the most German Germans. Austria lost, so now they have to invent ridiculous answers to the question what the difference between them and the Germans is.

I'm quite familiar with the 19th century wars. As you mention yourself they were Austro-Prussian wars (Germany did not yet exist as a political entity prior to the 1870-'71 Prussian-French war). Furthermore the reason you mention is quite flawd: Bismarck wanted to establish a German Empire under Prussian leadership - what the people thought he couldn't care less about, being a Prussian aristocrat pur sang. The same holds true for the Austrian point of view: if a united Germany should be established under Austrian leadership (the Greater Germany option - finally realized under Hitler in 1938), it would be a political leadership, not one inspired by people' notions on such matters.

As a general comment politically Austria has a much longer history than Germany, which has remained a cultural rather than a political idea throughout most of history. The Holy Roman Empire never really presented a united a united front to the outside world, while being politically divided internally.

[aneeshm]

Uber-valid poll.

[BeBMan]

As a general comment politically Austria has a much longer history than Germany, which has remained a cultural rather than a political idea throughout most of history.

Regnum Teutonicum/Regnum Teutonicorum = German part of the medieval HRE. Usually seen as a political unit where German "statehood" began in the 10th century AD.

[Wernazuma III]

Austrians confused themselves into thinking they're the "first victim of Hitler".

And contrary to Hungarians [and other filthy easteners], they eventually ended up acknowledging that they had done their part in the Nazi machinery and extermination of jews and gypsies.
Poles and Hungarians were quite fine with the idea that the Germans did the dirty part of mass murder.

Oh, and of course, the "first victim" idea was helped by the fact that the Austrian state WAS the first victim. Which does undo the fact that many of those who had hailed and welcomed Hitler hid behind that fig leaf.

[Japher]

I voted Banana because I couldn't resist. And, I think he was Austrian.

[JEELEN]

Regnum Teutonicum/Regnum Teutonicorum = German part of the medieval HRE. Usually seen as a political unit where German "statehood" began in the 10th century AD.

The official name of the HRE was "Holy Roman empire of the German nation"; it derived from the reign of Louis the German, one of three parts (the others being the medieval kingdoms of Lorraine and France - Franks, properly speaking) of the inheritance of Charlemagne's empire. while this may be seen as the first "German" empire, its political clout soon dissolved. The HRE was an elective monarchy, where the emperor was chosen by the princes elect and could claim no real authority throughout the Empire.

[Heresson]

And contrary to Hungarians [and other filthy easteners], they eventually ended up acknowledging that they had done their part in the Nazi machinery and extermination of jews and gypsies.
Poles and Hungarians were quite fine with the idea that the Germans did the dirty part of mass murder.

A comparison between Poland and Hungary is outrageous. Poland was under brutal nazi occupation, milions of Poles were killed, resettled, sent to slave labour etc. Hungary was a nazi proxy.

[Asher]

Poles = fans of sausage
Germans = fans of sausage

What else is there to say? One and the same.

[BeBMan]

The official name of the HRE was "Holy Roman empire of the German nation";

This became the official name only in late medieval times IIRC. But there is certainly a lot of continuity from the early empire to the late HRE.

it derived from the reign of Louis the German, one of three parts (the others being the medieval kingdoms of Lorraine and France - Franks, properly speaking) of the inheritance of Charlemagne's empire. while this may be seen as the first "German" empire, its political clout soon dissolved. The HRE was an elective monarchy, where the emperor was chosen by the princes elect and could claim no real authority throughout the Empire.

Yes, but what does this mean for the HRE being a distinctive political unit? I am not sure what you mean by "its political clout soon dissolved".

The "real authority" of rulers was quite different at different times. In medieval times it was like in most other euro kingdoms - some rulers were "stronger" than others due to various reasons, and they usually traveled around and had to fight to reinforce their rule again and again.

We hardly would say England or Denmark have no political history/importance in say 10th, 11th or 12th century because of (sometimes) unstable/unsteady rule.

Later the German territorial rulers became more important indeed, but the emperor was still an important player, for example during the 30 years war. And there existed specific institutions, courts, and taxes with impact for the "Reich" or the emperor as such.

[Felch]

Austria is certainly Germanic, just as Ireland and Wales are Celtic. Austria just isn't a part of the modern German state. I don't see how that can be very complicated