Austria–Germany relations

Relations between Austria and Germany are close due to their shared history, with German being the official language of both nations.

Among the ancestors of Austrians were the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient Bavarians).

In early history the Baiuvarii established the Duchy of Bavaria ruled by Francia of West Germanic Franks from 555 to 843 and including the March of Pannonia that would become Austria in c. 970. Later, the Bavarian Austria came under East Francia (Kingdom of Germany) from 843 to 962. It then separated from the Duchy of Bavaria to become a sovereign state in 1156, and from 1156 to 1806 Austria and other German-speaking states were part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was officially designated a German polity from 1512 and predominantly led by Austria itself. Austria was part of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866 and led it.

From 1938 to 1945 under the Nazi regime, Austria was annexed into Germany in the Anschluss.