Liliputin - 6156

Ostmark instead of Oesterreich?,- only over my dead body ... "
Engelbert Dollfuss


Lilliputins in English What the heck are they?
http://stihi.ru/2025/09/05/6339

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Ostmark" was the name the Nazis gave to Austria after the Anschluss in 1938, referring to the historical German term for the region as an "eastern march". While "Oesterreich" (Austria) also derives from "Ostmark," the Nazi usage was a political act to erase Austrian independence. Today, "Ostmark" is not used to refer to Austria and would likely be perceived as a Nazi-era term if used.
Historical Context
Medieval Origin: The name "Ostmark" is a German translation of the Medieval Latin Marchia orientalis ("Eastern March"). It historically referred to the medieval Margraviate of Austria, a frontier march that protected the eastern borders of the Holy Roman Empire.
Nazi Propaganda: The term was officially used by the Nazi regime from 1938 to 1945 to describe the annexed territory of Austria. This was part of the propaganda effort to portray Austria as a mere eastern territory of Germany, rather than an independent nation.
Post-War Status
Re-establishment of Austria: After the end of World War II in 1945, the region of Austria was dismantled as a Nazi-era province and became an independent republic once more.
Modern Usage: The contemporary state is officially known as the Republic of Austria (Republik Oesterreich). The term "Ostmark" has no current legitimate use in relation to Austria.


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Engelbert Dollfuss[a] (alternatively Dollfuss 4 October 1892 – 25 July 1934) was an Austrian politician and dictator who served as chancellor of Austria between 1932 and 1934. Having served as Minister for Forests and Agriculture, he ascended to Federal Chancellor in 1932 in the midst of a crisis for the conservative government. This crisis culminated in the self-elimination of the Austrian Parliament, a coup sparked by the resignation of the presiding officers of the National Council. Suppressing the Socialist movement in the Austrian Civil War and later banning the Austrian Nazi Party, he cemented his rule through the First of May Constitution in 1934. Later that year, Dollfuss was assassinated as part of a failed coup attempt by Nazi agents. His successor Kurt Schuschnigg maintained the regime until Adolf Hitler's Anschluss in 1938.