The Tirol line of the Habsburgs died out in 1665, but Maria
Theresa helped the city retain its glory by building more
fabulous buildings. Tirol was ceded to Bavaria after
Napoleon's conquest in 1805 and it remained so until 1814,
when it was given back to Austria at the Congress of Vienna.
After the railway came through the Brenner pass in 1884,
Innsbruck became a vital crossroads linking north and south as
well as east and west. Innsbruck grew and prospered.
Theresa helped the city retain its glory by building more
fabulous buildings. Tirol was ceded to Bavaria after
Napoleon's conquest in 1805 and it remained so until 1814,
when it was given back to Austria at the Congress of Vienna.
After the railway came through the Brenner pass in 1884,
Innsbruck became a vital crossroads linking north and south as
well as east and west. Innsbruck grew and prospered.
Yet, after World War One, Italy was allowed to annex the Southern part of the province of Tirol,
with a population of about 250, 000 German speaking people. After the rise of Fascism in 1922, a
policy of brutal Italianization began. Even the tiniest villages were given Italian names and German
family names were Italianized. This intensified in the 1930s, and Mussolini enticed thousands of
southern Italians to relocate to Tirol. Innsbruck in 1685, above
with a population of about 250, 000 German speaking people. After the rise of Fascism in 1922, a
policy of brutal Italianization began. Even the tiniest villages were given Italian names and German
family names were Italianized. This intensified in the 1930s, and Mussolini enticed thousands of
southern Italians to relocate to Tirol. Innsbruck in 1685, above
As in other areas where the Allies artificially created new populations, the Italian speaking population
grew from 3% in 1910 to over 34%. In 1939, the German-speaking population had to make a
horrible choice: emigrating to Germany or remaining in Italy as Italians, their language or the land of
their fathers. In 1943, German speaking South Tyrol was annexed to the Reich.
grew from 3% in 1910 to over 34%. In 1939, the German-speaking population had to make a
horrible choice: emigrating to Germany or remaining in Italy as Italians, their language or the land of
their fathers. In 1943, German speaking South Tyrol was annexed to the Reich.
During the Second World War, the Austrian Tirol suffered massive damage
from air attacks. In a bomb attack on small Woergl, February 22,1945, 69
civilians were murdered, 43 houses destroyed and 105 badly damaged. From
1943 until April,1945, Innsbruck experienced 21 bomb attacks and suffered
heavy damage. By May 1945, Innsbruck lost hundreds of civilians to the Allied
terror bombing. The Innsbruck cathedral, with its domes and Baroque interior
featuring a high altar painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, the Bahnhof and
Maria-Theresienstrasse were destroyed. The Cathedral has since been rebuilt.
20,000 tons of bombs were dropped on Vorarlberg and north and South Tirol,
killing 1500 civilians. South Tirol was once again cruelly severed from her
cultural roots by the Allies.
from air attacks. In a bomb attack on small Woergl, February 22,1945, 69
civilians were murdered, 43 houses destroyed and 105 badly damaged. From
1943 until April,1945, Innsbruck experienced 21 bomb attacks and suffered
heavy damage. By May 1945, Innsbruck lost hundreds of civilians to the Allied
terror bombing. The Innsbruck cathedral, with its domes and Baroque interior
featuring a high altar painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, the Bahnhof and
Maria-Theresienstrasse were destroyed. The Cathedral has since been rebuilt.
20,000 tons of bombs were dropped on Vorarlberg and north and South Tirol,
killing 1500 civilians. South Tirol was once again cruelly severed from her
cultural roots by the Allies.
| Tirol |
Typical of how the results of the fallout from First World War still affect modern day is the story of
Tirol. Associated with music, flowers and happy peasants, the victorious Allies vindictively severed
the Tirol from her ancient Austrian cultural roots. There was no historical excuse for the spiteful
action, only the motive that Tirol was part of Austria's heart and sole since the days of the Romans.
Tirol. Associated with music, flowers and happy peasants, the victorious Allies vindictively severed
the Tirol from her ancient Austrian cultural roots. There was no historical excuse for the spiteful
action, only the motive that Tirol was part of Austria's heart and sole since the days of the Romans.
The year 1248 is known as 'the year of Tirol's birth' because it was then that the counties around
the Brenner pass unified. Duke Friedrich IV built the castle Schloss Tirol at Meran, and Innsbruck
became the capital of all Tirol in 1429. Emperor Maximilian I turned the city into a vibrant,
thriving cultural and financial center in the 15th and 16th centuries. He built das Goldene Dachl,
a magnificent Renaissance building which is Innsbruck's most famous landmark.
the Brenner pass unified. Duke Friedrich IV built the castle Schloss Tirol at Meran, and Innsbruck
became the capital of all Tirol in 1429. Emperor Maximilian I turned the city into a vibrant,
thriving cultural and financial center in the 15th and 16th centuries. He built das Goldene Dachl,
a magnificent Renaissance building which is Innsbruck's most famous landmark.
Life became very difficult in Tirol after 1945. Bombing destruction was substantial, and daily rations
were below 1000 calories. The French occupied Nord-tirol until 1955. East Tirol was occupied by
the British until 1953. With the vengeful Allied separation of South Tyrol from Austria, there was a
painful tear in history at the Schneeburg mountain mining community. With each departing or
torn-apart miner family, the close bond which had developed over the centuries disappeared along
with historical uniforms, language, holidays, customs, music, privileges and area names. Their
various connections to the surrounding valleys and the divided Tirol disappeared or were interrupted
by the closed state border .
were below 1000 calories. The French occupied Nord-tirol until 1955. East Tirol was occupied by
the British until 1953. With the vengeful Allied separation of South Tyrol from Austria, there was a
painful tear in history at the Schneeburg mountain mining community. With each departing or
torn-apart miner family, the close bond which had developed over the centuries disappeared along
with historical uniforms, language, holidays, customs, music, privileges and area names. Their
various connections to the surrounding valleys and the divided Tirol disappeared or were interrupted
by the closed state border .
The treaty of Paris 1946 guaranteed South Tirolean's full equality "within the scope of special
measures for the protection of their national character and for the furtherance of their cultural and
economic development" and, while the German-speaking people in South Tirol were granted some
rights, Italians were now the artificially created majority in government, making self-government for
German South Tiroleans impossible. More and more Italians were encouraged to relocate to South
Tirol with the aim of creating an Italian political majority. This destruction of culture gave rise to
intense anti-Italian feelings in South Tirol and bred a bit of terrorism.
measures for the protection of their national character and for the furtherance of their cultural and
economic development" and, while the German-speaking people in South Tirol were granted some
rights, Italians were now the artificially created majority in government, making self-government for
German South Tiroleans impossible. More and more Italians were encouraged to relocate to South
Tirol with the aim of creating an Italian political majority. This destruction of culture gave rise to
intense anti-Italian feelings in South Tirol and bred a bit of terrorism.
Eventually, the pressure caused the Italian central government to consider a "Second Statutory
Order," primarily for South Tirol, giving it a high degree of autonomy, and relations with Austrian
North and East Tirol are good.
Order," primarily for South Tirol, giving it a high degree of autonomy, and relations with Austrian
North and East Tirol are good.