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Crack extension under static loading in pseudoplastic and pseudoelastic binary NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) compact tension (CT) specimens was examined. Two material compositions of 50.3 at.% Ni (martensitic/pseudoplastic) and 50.7 at.% Ni (austenitic/pseudoelastic) were investigated. The SMAs were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry to identify the phase transformation temperatures and tensile testing to characterize the stress–strain behavior. A miniature CT specimen was developed, which yields reliable critical fracture mechanics parameters. At 295 K, cracks propagate at similar stress intensities of 30 ± 5 MPa √m into martensite and pseudoelastic austenite. Integrating the miniature CT specimen into a small test device which can be fitted into a scanning electron microscope shows that this is due to cracks propagating into regions of detwinned martensite in both materials. Investigating a pseudoelastic miniature CT specimen in a synchrotron beam proves that martensite forms in front of the crack in the center of the CT specimen, i.e. under plane strain conditions.