In Austria and around the world, the 80th anniversary of the Anschluss was noted - Austria's annexation to Nazi Germany. They held mournful ceremonies, spoke the right words, "Vitaly Portnikov wrote in a column on" Crimea. Realities ".

Meanwhile, 80 years ago everything was completely different. Germany was preparing to join Austria for decades - the emergence of the Nazis in power only accelerated the process. In Austria itself there were many politicians who were supporters of the Anschluss. The Austrian army, without any problems, let the occupier into its territory. Residents threw flowers car Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler - this method so intoxicated the Fuhrer that he went to the immediate annexation of the occupied country, without any federation or the Union of States.

The occupier held a referendum, in which the overwhelming majority of Austrian residents voted for the Anschluss. In the world, this decision was then met with understanding. It was recalled that the idea of ??unification was the leading political idea in both countries since the end of the First World War. That the unification did not happen only because of the opposition of the victorious powers in this war. That justice has now been restored, to which the Germans so much aspired. And if mankind does not want a new war, then it must sympathize with the restoration of this justice and the appearance on the political map of Europe of a united Germany.

And everything was exactly the opposite. The decision to join Austria, which Hitler accepted unilaterally, only provoked the Fuehrer, convinced him of his complete impunity, the possibility of a new expansion. The world order that was established after the First World War was destroyed and guaranteed the solution of complex issues at the negotiating table and with respect to the sovereignty of states. Next were Sudetenland, Poland, World War II.

And it's amazing that humanity has not learned this lesson. That decades after the Anschluss of Austria there was an Anschluss of the Crimea - about the same scenario and with a similar "understanding of historical justice". Let's be frank - most Austrians 80 years ago was behind the Anschluss. Like most Germans. And to that and to that majority then to the international law was, by and large, to spit. And the consequences of their desire to "reunite" they did not represent, and those who were against, considered hopeless marginals. And as a result, they brought grief to themselves and to millions of other people around the world. And it is this grief that must be the real criterion of the Anschluss. Both in Austria and in the Crimea.

Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Join also the TSN group. Blogs on facebook and follow the updates of the section!.