Der Kampf: The Rise and Fall of the Austrian Führer

[Johnharry]

given Lebensraums a more German concept, I think this Hitler instead may want a pan european crusade against “Bolsheviwith strong anti Semitic influence.

I could see him try and create a fascist puppet Russia with perhaps a Romanov heading the state. And given Bandera’s movements strong Austrian historical influence, Bandera will likely see his use.

I dont think mass lebensraum will be possible if Hitlers Austria is a credible threat given it lacks the initial strength Germany already had to pull it off.

Interestingly this Hitler I think will not grow to hate pan germanism simply from Austrian soldier - but rather grow to view it as a lost cause squashed by the Hohenzollern and squabbling German far right.

Hitler will also initially have to help the Austrian economy recover and be in my view more pro worker than OTL Austrian fascists were

 

[Whiteshore]

I could see him try and create a fascist puppet Russia with perhaps a Romanov heading the state.

Who would be more likely in your opinion to sign on to this? Vonsiatsky or Rodzaevsky?

 

[Mooze17]

I wonder if Hitler will get involved in any way with the Austrofascist movement? They where in power for four years before the Anschluss occured, and advocated for an Austria independent from Germany on the basis of its Catholic identity, and also persecuted Austrian Nazis who wanted too join with Germany in addition too all the usual opponents of Fascist regimes (such as communists and social democrats), so I could see Hitler allying with them or being a member of one of these movements for a time before taking control and radically altering them or betraying them in favor of his own movement.

 

[Johnharry]

Who would be more likely in your opinion to sign on to this? Vonsiatsky or Rodzaevsky?

Rodzaevsky due to his strong otl anti semetism and admiration for Hitler OTL.

Though Hitler TTL may be a strong Banderite patron given the strong Austrian influence OTL he will likely seek a neutered Russia.

 

[Johnharry]

I wonder if Hitler will get involved in any way with the Austrofascist movement? They where in power for four years before the Anschluss occured, and advocated for an Austria independent from Germany on the basis of its Catholic identity, and also persecuted Austrian Nazis who wanted too join with Germany in addition too all the usual opponents of Fascist regimes (such as communists and social democrats), so I could see Hitler allying with them or being a member of one of these movements for a time before taking control and radically altering them or betraying them in favor of his own movement.

The teaser shows a Austrofascist cross

 

[Tanner151]

given Lebensraums a more German concept, I think this Hitler instead may want a pan european crusade against “Bolsheviwith strong anti Semitic influence.

I could see him try and create a fascist puppet Russia with perhaps a Romanov heading the state. And given Bandera’s movements strong Austrian historical influence, Bandera will likely see his use.

I dont think mass lebensraum will be possible if Hitlers Austria is a credible threat given it lacks the initial strength Germany already had to pull it off.

Interestingly this Hitler I think will not grow to hate pan germanism simply from Austrian soldier - but rather grow to view it as a lost cause squashed by the Hohenzollern and squabbling German far right.

Hitler will also initially have to help the Austrian economy recover and be in my view more pro worker than OTL Austrian fascists were

Who are you and how did you access my notes?! Seriously though, excellent points and observations.

But yes Hitler does want to expand Austrian territory but never to Nazi Germany’s level of lebensraum. No Drang nach Osten or anything like that. That would simply be too unrealistic.

Lebensraum won’t really be a pillar policy of the Social Nationalists. More of restoring the Austro-Hungarian Empire under new management. A big thing with Hitler’s Austria is that Austrians are just “better Germans” which was something the Fatherland Party stated when it ruled Austria OTL.

When Hitler comes to power Austria is a wreck economically, with much of A-H food and industry being located outside Austria proper. He does have various plans to rejuvenate the Austrian economy and its subsequent militarization which will be revealed once we get there.

Austria will never have the manpower or industry on its own to take over Europe in the way Nazi Germany did but it will have allies, some known from OTL, others unknown. But also new and old enemies.

Who would be more likely in your opinion to sign on to this? Vonsiatsky or Rodzaevsky?

I hadn’t heard about either of those but very interesting figures to be sure. I could see them being involved in some way. Thanks for telling me about them!

 

[Ficboy]

I remember seeing another Nazi Austria timeline that involved a premise similar to yours.

 

[Tanner151]

I remember seeing another Nazi Austria timeline that involved a premise similar to yours.

Oh? Could you find that and link it please? I’m interested to see any potential similarities or differences.

I will state that Austria’s Social Nationalists will be similar but noticeably different to OTL Germany’s National Socialists in several key ways, the flipping of the names is a bit on the nose admittedly but I liked the ring of it.

These similarities and differences will be revealed in time once that party is created in the 1920s and we get to see it’s organic growth and it’s highs and lows.

 

[Vabasion]

Good writing, glad to see Bosniaks in KuK people usually forget them completely. Looking forward to more.

 

[Ficboy]

Oh? Could you find that and link it please? I’m interested to see any potential similarities or differences.

I will state that Austria’s Social Nationalists will be similar but noticeably different to OTL Germany’s National Socialists in several key ways, the flipping of the names is a bit on the nose admittedly but I liked the ring of it.

These similarities and differences will be revealed in time once that party is created in the 1920s and we get to see it’s organic growth and it’s highs and lows.

It's called Austria's Struggle (Osterreichs Kampf) by CountofDooku (get it) named after a book of the same name written by Adolf Hitler which is more or less Mein Kampf but with various differences. I also think that the National Socialist Austrian Workers Party/Nationasozialitsche Osterreichische Arbeiterpartei (NSOAP) or whatever it's called would still adapt the swastika as their main symbol and incorporate into their flag of the nation known as the Greater Germanic Reich or Austrian Reich/Nazi Austria and you should follow this idea I have to contribute for the timeline.

 

[pls don't ban me]

Noice chapter!
I love it when a tl has book-like story chapters

 

[DougM]

Being on the Eastern Front but in AH (Not Germany) could result in a Hittler that has less problems using Gas weapons as gas was not as ugly as in the trenches of the Western Front so that could be one difference.
And if Hittler and his Nazis are doing well with the AH economy and Germany is doing as bad as OTL you may see calls for a Unified German Nation and see Germany join AH thus giving them the Industry they need to push WW2

 

[Sarthak]

I think, Austria having Trieste, Istria, Slovenia, the Sudetenland at least as a part of the 'appeasement' could happen.

 

[pls don't ban me]

Being on the Eastern Front but in AH (Not Germany) could result in a Hittler that has less problems using Gas weapons as gas was not as ugly as in the trenches of the Western Front so that could be one difference.
And if Hittler and his Nazis are doing well with the AH economy and Germany is doing as bad as OTL you may see calls for a Unified German Nation and see Germany join AH thus giving them the Industry they need to push WW2

excuse me?

 

[Triune Kingdom]

Very interesting concept.

Even once this New Austria Hungary is territorially complete, presuming that they manage to restore all the prewar lands, it is still going to be substantially weaker then Germany was. This is likely to result in much more cautious actions then IOTL, and a need for solid alliances to be made.

Though, considering the title, one can imagine ITTL Hitler victorious, but his fall is actually his removal from the political scene, and perhaps a democratization movement in the restored Austria-Hungary, which manages to survive up to the present day?

 

[Tanner151]

Good writing, glad to see Bosniaks in KuK people usually forget them completely. Looking forward to more.

Thank you! The more I research the A-H and it’s part on the Eastern Front the more I’m floored by just how bad it performed the war and just how diverse it was.

It's called Austria's Struggle (Osterreichs Kampf) by CountofDooku (get it) named after a book of the same name written by Adolf Hitler which is more or less Mein Kampf but with various differences. I also think that the National Socialist Austrian Workers Party/Nationasozialitsche Osterreichische Arbeiterpartei (NSOAP) or whatever it's called would still adapt the swastika as their main symbol and incorporate into their flag of the nation known as the Greater Germanic Reich or Austrian Reich/Nazi Austria and you should follow this idea I have to contribute for the timeline.

Ah yes, I’ve read parts of that. Hitler’s Party will not be called the NSÖAP and will not adopt the swastika as it’s symbol nor will Austria be referred to as the Reich. It’s official name as of now will be the Fascist State of Austria but this is subject to change. The Kruckenkruez flag shown in the Prelude is the Party flag

Very interesting concept.

Even once this New Austria Hungary is territorially complete, presuming that they manage to restore all the prewar lands, it is still going to be substantially weaker then Germany was. This is likely to result in much more cautious actions then IOTL, and a need for solid alliances to be made.

Though, considering the title, one can imagine ITTL Hitler victorious, but his fall is actually his removal from the political scene, and perhaps a democratization movement in the restored Austria-Hungary, which manages to survive up to the present day?

Good observations! I will say that Hitler’s Austria grow pre-WW2 territory wise but won’t directly encompass all of its pre-WW1 territory.

Due to Austria being weaker than Germany, Hitler does have to be more diplomatic and cautious and work with his allies more closely.

The Big Three Axis countries in this ATL will be more on an equal footing in the alliance but with Hitler as its nominal head.

 

[Whiteshore]

The Big Three Axis countries in this ATL will be more on an equal footing in the alliance but with Hitler as its nominal head.

The other two members are still Italy and Japan?

It’s official name as of now will be the Fascist State of Austria but this is subject to change.

None of the Fascist regimes referred to themselves as the "Fascist State" or anything like that IOTL, so "Austrian State" would honestly suffice for the name of TTL's Austria.

 

[lukedalton]

I think, Austria having Trieste, Istria, Slovenia, the Sudetenland at least as a part of the 'appeasement' could happen.

Sure, once they launch an invasion of Italy and win they can have it...Italy is not Czechoslovackia and have a total different strategic situation.

 

[lukedalton]

The other two members are still Italy and Japan?

The problem with Italy is that Austria is our hereditary enemy, people thought that have ridden the world of A-H in the previous war and Hitler trying to reenstablish that and having desire on italian land will greatly complicate any alliance if not make that impossible

 

[Tanner151]

The other two members are still Italy and Japan?

None of the Fascist regimes referred to themselves as the "Fascist State" or anything like that IOTL, so "Austrian State" would honestly suffice for the name of TTL's Austria.

Then the State of Austria/Austrian State it is then. Social Nationalist Austria will be an unofficial term. Also Social Nationalist in German in Sozialnationalistische. They won't be called Nazis in this timeline but Sozinats (Sozialnationalistische).

As for the composition of the Axis Powers, we shall see once we get there as I don't wish to spoil too much.

Sure, once they launch an invasion of Italy and win they can have it...Italy is not Czechoslovackia and have a total different strategic situation.

Italy and Austria will have a... difficult relationship. Especially during the 20s and early 30s. It's bad.

The problem with Italy is that Austria is our hereditary enemy, people thought that have ridden the world of A-H in the previous war and Hitler trying to reenstablish that and having desire on italian land will greatly complicate any alliance if not make that impossible

An upcoming PoV character will eventually be sent to the Italian Front once 1915 rolls around and Italy joins the Entente.

The issue of South Tyrol will be a toxic subject for many years.