Dieser Artikel ist nur in Englisch verfügbar  Österreich * Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law of that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal.
This neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the Soviet collapse of 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995. A prosperous country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999.
National name: Republik Österreich/Republic of Austria.
Capital: Vienna.
Major towns/cities: Graz 238,000; Salzburg 143,000; Linz 203,000; Innsbruck 118,000 inhabitants
Area:   Total: 83,858 sq km   Water: 1,120 sq km   Land: 82,738 sq km
Physical features: Landlocked mountainous state, with Alps in west and south (Austrian Alps, including Grossglockner and Brenner and Semmering passes, Lechtaler and Allgauer Alps north of River Inn, Carnic Alps on Italian border) and low relief in east where most of the population is concentrated River Danube
Polpulation:   Population 8,211,000 (2000 est).   Population growth rate 0.5 (19952000) 0.2 (200005).   Population density (per sq km) 98 (1999 est).
Religions:   78% Catholics   5% Protestants   2% Muslims   15% other
Language: German
Currency: EUR
* Edited by Austrian Trade/ Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Vienna/Austria