OWRS
Österreich: What if the Republic survived (short OWRS) is an alternative history mod for the video game Hearts of Iron IV by Paradox Interactive.
In this timeline, Woodrow Wilson's suggestion of self determination went through in the Republic of German-Austria (later on becoming just the Republic of Austria) and in Hungary. This mod will be mainly be focused on Austria tho. Getting a lighter peace treaty did not mean Austria got scott-free off though. Although getting rid of most restrictions by 1936, the military is still hindered because of the treaty by a lot. It is also note worthy to point out that Czechoslovakia had never formed and that Bohemia and Slovakia have gone different paths. Bohemia and Slovakia have declared a Republic, until 1930 when Slovakia fell to a militarist coup, which would later lead to a war with Bohemia, which they would lose and would begin radicalizing, becoming a fascist ally with Germany.
Austria, in this timeline, did not enter a dark fascist era because Austrian resentment wasn't that bad since most Austrians were united under one banner, the Austrian one, forming a stronger Austrian identity united under the father of the Republic, Karl Renner.
The game starts in the year 1936 and the elections are coming up in the Austrian Republic. Many factions are struggling for power, and ever since the rise of totalitarianism in the 30s, fascist and communist movements have sprung up in the country too, threatening the young Democracy. This has also caused a "Red Scare" in Austria, threatening the stability of the State.
In this historical timeline, Austria, still upset about their status in Europe after the Great War, has moved more into interventionism, which would later down the road lead to the forming of the Federal Republic of Austria. The treaty of Saint Germain En-Laye has also been declared dead in Austria.
All things were not good in Austria tho, Adolf Hitler, wanting to unite the German peoples, has been planning to "Anschluss" the Republic into the Reich.
In the year 1939 at 1st of May, Hitler started the second World War by ordering his troops to take over Austria, calling it a "special military operation". The second Bruderkrieg has begun. Hungary, being highly pacifist, does not intervene directly but sends supplies. All Austrian fortifications meant nothing tho to the German Luftwaffe. Panzers rolled into the country but Austria did not give up. Militia has been mobilized and Veterans of the Great War have been put into army, ready for the final fight. Two weeks after the war had started, Austria had to pull out its troops out of the Sudetenland to avoid being encircled and trapped in it. By this point, Italy, eager to get the rest of South Tyrol, has joined the war against Austria and have sent their army to invade through the mountains. Austria, not having that many units in Tyrol stationed, not thinking the Italians would join the war, had to retreat to the narrow mountains where an attack would be impossible. The Alpenjäger's held out in the Mountains of Salzburg, Carinthia and Tyrol. While up on the Uppern Austrian Front, Austrian forces have been pushed back to the capital of Upper Austria, Linz. In the battle of Linz, Austrian special forces and armored divisions were able to push the Invader out, securing the city of Linz, for now. This was the first major defeat for the Reich, proving its army was not invincible. While that, Italy has still been preparing specialized mountain divisions to break through the Alpenjäger's lines in the Eastern Alps. Austria has been able to hold out the German Invaders in their Upper Austrian mountains, but new threats are awaiting. Germany, realizing it would take too many men to break through the Alpine Defences, have prepared a plan to invade Bohemia to get to the heart of Austria fast, Vienna. Bohemia, already being fully mobilized after seeing its neighbour get slaughtered, try to hold out as best as they can, but they are still weakened after a war with Slovakia they had in 1932 because of a border dispute. Even though they won, it still costed thousands of lifes. On around December, the last Bohemian forces surrender or flee to Austria to continue the fight. Austria, having no choice, had to pull out their troops out of Linz to avoid being attacked on all sides and even getting possibly encircled. Forces from Austria had to retreat behind the Danube in hopes of better natural defenses. In early 1940, Joint Italo-German forces broke through the Danube in the south east of Linz, heading straight to capture the capital of Austria, Vienna. The best forces of the Republic have been sent to halt the breakthrough but they were nothing at this point to the Wehrmacht. A few weeks later, the battle of Vienna had begun, deciding the outcome of Austria. Although Austria, having fought to the last man, have lost Vienna. Karl Renner announces capitulation of the Austrian Republic shortly after and flees to France. Hungary also joins the war shortly after and occupies the region of Dreiburgenland. Slovakia also joins the war after being gifted Southern Slovakia from Hungary.
The battle was not over though. Austrian guerillas in the alps have been sabotaging supply lines and raiding stockpile depots of the Reich, weaking the Wehrmacht when operating in Austria by a lot.
Most of WW2 is historical and follows along the events of real life until 1944
In the late months of 1944, Austrian resistance has been wide spread and a full on independence war begun against the German Reich not shortly after. Most German and Italian Garrisions have been driven out of Austria, trapping a lot of German Forces operating in Northern Italy.
Not too soon in 1945, the war was over and Austria and the Allies came out victorious. Austria took control of a lot of new territories including Eisenburg, Trnava and Trentino and integrated them into the Federal Republic.
