History of Austria - Historiography

Historiography

The history of Austria creates a number of problems. For instance, should it be confined to the current relatively small Republic of Austria, whose boundaries date from the end of the First World War, or to all lands that fell under the various rulers of what is now known as Austria? Should Austrian history include 1938-1945 when it no longer existed, having been annexed to the German Third Reich? Of the lands now encompassed in modern Austria, many were added over time and only two of the nine provinces or Länder are strictly 'Austria', namely the 'core' provinces of Lower Austria and Upper Austria, while other parts are now included in surrounding countries such as Italy or the Czech Republic. Within Austria there are large regional variations, and parts of Austria have at various times wished to become part of adjacent countries. (Beller 2006, 2-9).