AUSTRIA IN THE 20TH CENTURY
Then in 1914 Archduke Ferdinand, the heir of the Austrian throne was assassinated. That event led to the First World War.
In October 1918 even before the war officially ended the Austro-Hungarian Empire began to break up as the various races declared independence. On 11 November 1918 the emperor abdicated and on 12 November the Republic of Austria was declared.
During the 1920s Austria recovered from the war but in the early 1930s like the rest of the world Austria suffered in the depression.
In July 1934 the Nazis attempted a coup and they shot the chancellor Engelbert Dolfuss. However troops defeated the coup. Yet Hitler was determined to absorb Austria. Early in 1938 Hitler forced the Austrians government to appoint Nazis to important posts. The Chancellor Shuschnigg proposed a referendum on the issue of whether Austria should join Germany. However Hitler was not satisfied and German troops massed along the border. Shuschnigg resigned and on 12 March 1938 German troops occupied Austria.
Austria suffered greatly during the Second World War. Many Austrian soldiers were killed and the country suffered from allied bombing and from a Russian invasion in 1945. However in 1943 the allies decided to restore an independent Austria after the war.
The first provisional government in Austria was formed in April 1945 then in July 1945 Austria was divided into 4 zones by the allies (USA, France, Britain and Russia). The first parliamentary elections were held in November 1945.
In 1955 Austria became an independent nation again. Parliament declared permanent neutrality. Austria joined the UN in December 1955.
The late 20th century was an era of prosperity and economic growth for Austria. Then in 1995 Austria joined the EU. Austria joined the Euro in 1999.