Austland West Hagen
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| Country |  Vittmark
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| Capital | Katarinaberg |
| Population | 3,077,818 |
| Demonym | Austlander, Hagenite |
| Time zone | UTC-3 |
Austland West Hagen (or Austland Västra Haga in Wortsproke) is a member state of Vittmark. It borders Aedeland to the west and the member state of Mellersta Haga to the southeast and shares a short border with United Provinces and the member state Laxholmen. It joined Vittmark as a member state in 7591 during the Pan-Stoldavic War, after belonging to Aedeland until then. Austland's status was confirmed after a plebiscite in 7598, where the Aldsay population supported membership of Vittmark opposed to rejoining Aedeland.
History
Austland West Hagen has been a border region between the Aedelish zone of influence and the Mellanhand Orkanan sphere since the disintegration of the Greater Stoldavic Empire in 7204. It has always had a mixed population of Aldsay and Mellanhand Orkanans, during the 73rd and 74th century more and more of Hagenite descend. The border between Hagen and Aedeland has shifted many times, always with minorities ending up at the "wrong" side of the border.
In 7518, Aedeland managed to occupy almost all of West Hagen as a part of the Pan-Anarian War. The Hagenite population was forced to integrate through compulsory Aedelish education and an urban migration program. The Hagenite language was banned from public life. Aedelish forces occupied large parts of Mellersta Hagen during the war, but did not annex them. In 7564 Vittmark formed as a successor state of Hagen, with Aedelish forces maintaining positions in Hagen as peacekeepers. After the 7566 plebiscite a disputed region called Genomhagen was added to Vittmark, leading to the majority of the Aldsay population moving out. Friendly trade relations between Vittmark and Aedeland developed, while at the same time the Aedelish peacekeepers had to retreat from Mellersta Hagen.
The Treaty of Aerilar of 7574 regarding passage of sea straits however triggered the animosity between the two nations. As a clear diplomatic signal, the member state of Kötthagen changed its name to Mellersta Haga (Central Hagen) again, clearly indicating the existence of a West Hagen. When the treaty was amended in Gadalhem in 7579 the situation escalated with Vittmark removing Aedelish presence in the concession town of Strömstad.
When a Häverist coup successfully took control over Aedeland in 7581, it resulted in Aldsay refugee streams towards Mellersta Hagen. The province of Austland was abolished and replaced by a regional technate. The refugee streams into Vittmark put the nation in a peculiar situation, since Vittmark opposed both the old and new regime. But the states of Hagen saw an opportunity to start training the refugees for incursions into technate territory. These rebellions became more and more successful and resulted in a full-out civil war in eastern Aedeland around 7584. In 7585 the rebels had taken control over a large part of the former Austland province, partially thanks to the Hagenite population sabotaging the Häverist technate's efforts to adapt the region.
This led to the Häverist Commonwealth rushing to the Technate's aid with military support. The rebel liberators requested Vittmark to provide military back-up. Much to the surprise of the international community, Vittmark not only delivered that support but entered Austland and helped the rebels to found the territory of West Hagen. This resulted in a series of conflicts now known as the Pan-Stoldavic War, which roughly had the Häverist sphere combating the joint democratic and loyalist nations of Anaria. In 7591 West Hagen was declared a member state of Vittmark.
When the Wolgos started meddling in the Pan-Stoldavic War, the Aedelish Technate ad Häverist Commonwealth faced an impossible two front war. A cease-fire was signed in 7598. As a part of the treaty, a plebiscite was organised under the guidance of the International Council of Nations (ICoN) to determine the future status of Vittmark occupied Austland. The referendum had two parts, of which the one among the native Aldsay population was the decisive one. With guarantees for religious, cultural and linguistic freedom from Vittmark, 52.1% of the Aldsay population supported statehood within Vittmark, with 38.2% supportive of reintegrating with Aedeland after a non-Häverist system change.
The state was renamed Austland West Hagen to indicate the mixed heritage.
Demographics
The state has about equally large populations of Hagenite and Aldsay ethnicities, which also means equally large Sunnist and Mellanhand Orkanan congregations. However, these communities live largely separated from each other in their own villages and town neighbourhoods. Only in higher education and in some parts territorial administration the two groups have to cooperate. Since the 7570's both groups start to get more integrated due to mixed sporting and athletic clubs, joint high school education and the transition from a rural and industrial society into a post-industrial service community. Much of the commercial services aim at both communities.