Munich Debates

The **Munich Debates** were a series of debates and discussions held in the Bavarian capital city of Munich between the governments of Bavaria, Germany and Austria discussing the potential reunification of the Bavarian Republic with the German Republic. The debates were in response to the impending October 22nd, 1965 date stated during the Berlin Conference as the earliest possible date that Bavaria could reunite with Germany. For distinction Klein-Bayern (German: Little Bavaria) refers to the eastern half of the Bavarian Republic and the land of the original Free State of Bavaria whilst Bavaria refers to the Bavarian Republic and the unification of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

## Potential Unification Plans

* Alemannisch Plan: Baden-Württemberg gains independence as the Republic of Swabia but Klein-Bayern is annexed by Austria
* Altbayern Plan: Austrian annexation of the Austro-Bavarian speaking parts of Bavaria and Germany annexing the remaining land
* Austrian Plan: Austrian annexation of the Bavarian Republic
* Bavarian Plan: Independent Bavarian Republic
* Bismarck Plan: Unification of Germany, Bavaria and Austria
* Freiheit Plan: German annexation of the Bavarian Republic but Bavaria remains an autonomous region
* German Plan: German annexation of the Bavarian Republic
* Kirchenkampf Plan: Austria annexes Klein-Bayern and Germany annexes Baden-Württemberg
* Swabian Plan: Baden-Württemberg gains independence as the Republic of Swabia and Klein-Bayern remains independent.
* Württemberg Plan: Germany annexation Baden-Württemberg, Klein-Bayern remains independent

## Gallery of Unification Plans

Red = Germany. Green = Austria. Blue = Bavaria. Yellow = Swabia.

Alemannisch PlanAltbayern PlanAustrian PlanBavarian PlanBismarck PlanFreiheit PlanGerman PlanKirchenkampf PlanSwabian PlanWürttemberg Plan
## Violence

The Debates were wracked with violence via four main paramilitary forces:

* The German Nationalist, Werwolf, which supported the German Plan
* The Austrian Nationalist, Austrian Unity Party (German: Österreichische Einheitspartei), which supported the Austrian Plan
* The Bavarian Nationalist, Bavarian Republican Army (Bavarian: Boarische Republikanische Armee), which supported the Bavarian Plan
* The Swabian Nationalist, Swabian League (Alemannisch: Schwöbisch Bund), which supported the Swabian Plan and Alemannisch Plan

## Resolution

On October 22nd, 1965 a Referendum was held to determine the future of the Bavarian Republic. Voters could either select:

1. The Bavarian Republic should join the German Republic.
2. The Bavarian Republic should join the Austrian Republic.
3. The Bavarian Republic should remain independent.

Following violent interference by German Nationalist Werwolf Paramilitaries, many Bavarians who had previously sided with Germany ironically now sided with an independent Bavaria. The election results were as follows:

* 39.15% Bavarian Republic should remain independent.
* 36.04% Bavarian Republic should join the German Republic.
* 24.81% Bavarian Republic should join the Austrian Republic.

As such the Bavarian Republic reaffirmed its independence. This led to rioting from the Protestant population of the Bavarian Republic who had mainly supported joining Germany.