What do you prefer for Südtirol (South Tyrol) ?

[GMantis]

I really don't see any reason for South Tyrol not to rejoin Austria.

For one, I don't think that Austria will be prepared to give them the same generous benefits as Italy does. Also, South Tyrol has a substantial Italian and Ladin, which would be strongly against South Tyrol joining Austria, which could cause substantial problems. Note that the Italians are actually a majority in Bozen, the capital of South Tyrol and which is quite close to the southern border of the province. The South Tyrolians might find themselves without their capital if they attempt this...

[GMantis]

Welschtirol should join Austria as well. Next up, Triest.

Then Slovenia Carniola and Venice. Then invite Karl von Habsburg to become the head of state...

[GMantis]

I really don't see any reason for South Tyrol not to rejoin Austria.

For one, I don't think that Austria will be prepared to give them the same generous benefits as Italy does. Also, South Tyrol has a substantial Italian and Ladin, which would be strongly against South Tyrol joining Austria, which could cause substantial problems. Note that the Italians are actually a majority in Bozen, the capital of South Tyrol and which is quite close to the southern border of the province. The South Tyrolians might find themselves without their capital if they attempt this...

Possible compromise: Cut off South Tyrol just north of Bozen, give Bozen and suburbs to Trentino and merge the rest of South Tyrol with North and East Tyrol as one new state of Austria with Innsbruck as the capital.

But ... would Austria even want South Tyrol back these days ?

Maybe a sizeable amount in the general population but I'll doubt you'll find more than a handful of politicians within the SPÖ or ÖVP that support it ...

That's probably because it is currently completely unrealistic. But if it becomes plausible, lots of supporters will suddenly appear.

[GMantis]

Merged with Austria which in turn should merge with Germany.

And the Sudetenland?

No, considering there are virtually no Germans in the Sudetenland these days.

And there are virtually no Austrians who consider themselves German. Decades of creating an artificial Austrian national identity have been entirely successful.