AHC-WI: A distinct Austro-Hungarian identity

Mercenarius

Banned
What PODs post-1867 could make Austria-Hungary develop their own national identity, instead of being identified as a relative of Germany?

And how could this affect the empire in the 20th century?
 

Delta Force

Banned
Are you looking for sense of a unified Austro-Hungarian national identity or simply one separate from Germany?

If the South German states had joined Austria-Hungary instead of Germany there might have been a separate Austrian/South German and Prussian/North German identity. That's not really a separate identity for the whole nation though, as Hungary would be promoting it's down identity as well.
 
So you want the A-H citizens to be like the Swiss (Swiss first, German, French and so on second)?

You need a different Ausgleich, have all the minorities fell they have a stake in the contry and not be second class subjects.
 
What PODs post-1867 could make Austria-Hungary develop their own national identity, instead of being identified as a relative of Germany?

And how could this affect the empire in the 20th century?

Well a distinct Austro-Hungarian national identity did sort of develop and had been developing for centuries. Most people in the Empire saw themselves as loyal servants an citizens of the Habsburg dynasty and Austria. It was only after German unification that groups like the German nationalists came into being. Even with all the nationalities fighting each other internally, most common men liked the Empire and supported it. With weaker nationalism, it would be easy for something like this to develop.
 
Top