South Tyrol, a region in the heart of the Alps about half the size of Connecticut, brings into sharp focus an important part of twentieth-century history. Tyrol, a province that had been part of Austria for over 500 years and was almost totally German-speaking, was split in two after World War I and the southern part awarded to Italy as ""spoils of war.""The first phase to follow after the split of Tyrol was systematic subjection by the Italian Fascists of what had been a regional majority in South Tyrol, but was now a minority within Italy. In a second phase, to gain an Italian majority, the country was settled with Italians from the south, who had a totally different mentality from the Italians residing in South Tyrol. With the emergence of National Socialism in Germany, and eventually with the Hitler-Mussolini Agreement of 1939, a third phase emerged: an experiment in ""ethnic cleansing"" called the ""Option."" Eighty-six percent of all South Tyroleans agreed to leave South Tyrol and become citizens of ""Greater Germany."" After World War II, the region was not returned to Austria: South Tyrol became the first victim of the Cold War. It took almost forty years of hard bargaining before South Tyrol was granted real autonomy in 1969. This resolution is now regarded as a model for solving minority conflicts.Rolf Steininger traces the history of this troubled region during several periods: 1918-1922, in which he covers the period from the division of Tyrol to the march on Bozen; 1922-1938, in which he reviews fascist policy towards South Tyrol; the ""Option"" of 1939; the resettlement and so-called reunification from 1943-1945; South Tyrol's role as a bargaining chip in the Cold War, and the Gruber-Gasperi Agreement of 1946; and the volume closes with a discussion of the plan negotiated in 1969 for a new autonomy for South Tyrol that came to be known as the ""Package."".

Tirol. A country in the middle of the Alps and in the heart of Europe Breathtaking nature, cities with medieval flair, picturesque mountain, villages and excellent sports and leisure opportunities – Tyrol has a lot to offer. This guide is a reliable and informative companion for anyone who wants to travel and discover this country. This meticulously researched travel guide is aimed at English speaking guests from all over the world and presents a country with extraordinary scenic and cultural highlights. After a general introduction to the history, geography and art of Tyrol, six chapters describe the most important and beautiful places and sights in Tyrol. Leisure tips (eg museums, swimming pools, summer toboggan runs) can be found in this richly illustrated guide as well as information on opening hours, telephone numbers and internet addresses. With the Top 10 sights of Tyrol!

"Parties and Elections in Austria and South Tyrol" is a comprehensive reference guide to the federal and state elections and federal and state governments in Austria since 1918, the national and provincial elections and provincial governments in South Tyrol (Italy), the elections to the European Parliament and to all significant present and past political parties. Listed are more than 240 parties. The guide includes basic data of these parties (founding years, political orientations, affiliations to European political parties, European Parliament groups and political internationals) and a chronological summary of their history (predecessors, name changes, mergers and splits).