560
PARTISAN REVIEW
historical experiences. The Gennan tendency to dominate, and the reac–
tion to this domination by the Austrians, has been of central importance.
Ever since 1866, when Prussia defeated the Hapsburg army, the Austrians
have been the underdogs. From the battle of Koniggratz until the end
of the Third Reich, Germans defined what was right and what was
wrong in politics, military affairs, and the economy. Austrians developed
independently only in the cultural sphere. Thus, Austria's politicians and
its economic elite have suffered from a kind of inferiority complex - a
typical Viennese term - resulting in an over-adaptation on the one hand
and rough rebellion against big brother on the other. For a long time
Germany was a threat to the Austrians, but I think that neither today
nor in the future will Germany retain such an influence on Austria. Nev–
ertheless it is relevant to remember the "longue duree" in mentalities to
understand the odd relations between Austria and Germany.
As long as the former GDR existed, Austrians had a good chance at
minimizing Germany's visible influence on Austrian matters. Secretly,
Austrians welcomed the German division with malicious glee. Therefore
the existence of the GDR offered the Austrians a chance to disengage
themselves from the overwhelming embrace of the West Germans, and
Austria's neutrality provided a reason for doing so. After nearly half a
century, the independent development of both states has become irre–
versible, and Austrians developed a feeling of security about their own
identity, their separate role in European history, and recently within the
politics of the European Union.
Behind the diplomatic center stage the Austrians continue to playa
different game. On the front stage they welcome West Germans as
tourists; they are pleased that West Germany offers jobs to more than
half a million Austrian guest-workers; and that West German networks'
production of dubbed adaptations of American movies and television se–
ries serve the whole German-speaking audience. Backstage, they despise
the Germans because they are wealthier, are better soccer players, still re–
tain their Prussian attitudes, and are terrible cooks. In comparison to the
West Germans, the East Germans were less threatening to the Austrians.
They were poor, dirty, and imprisoned. For the first time the defeated
Austrians were able to offer help to Germans.
First there was an export of people from Austria to the former
GDR. For instance, the composer of East Germany's national anthem,
Hanns Eisler, was not only born in Vienna but remained an Austrian citi–
zen until his death (and he more than once fled from East Berlin to Vi–
enna to escape official attacks). The most famous East German poet,
Bertolt Brecht, became an Austrian citizen before he decided to settle in
East Berlin accompanied by his Viennese born wife, Helene Weigel.
