1918 Liechtenstein putsch

1918 coup d'état in Liechtenstein 1918 Liechtenstein putsch 7 November 1918 Vaduz, Liechtenstein Christian-Social People's Party victory Government of Leopold Freiherr von Imhof forced to resign. Provisional Executive Committee established in place until 7 December 1918. three members of the Landtag resign in protest to the executive committee. Christian-Social People's PartyAnti-Imhof Landtag members Cabinet of Leopold ImhofPro-Imhof Landtag members *Wilhelm Beck Martin Ritter Fritz Walser Leopold Freiherr von Imhof Albert Schädler Imhof Leopold.jpg Leopold Imhof, Governor of Liechtenstein since April 1914 The 1918 Liechtenstein putsch (de Novemberputsch 1918),Quaderer Rupert Rupert Quaderer 31 December 2011 Novemberputsch 1918 https://historisches-lexikon.li/Novemberputsch_1918 3 October 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de also known as the Beck putsch, was a de facto coup d'état conducted by Wilhelm Beck, Fritz Walser, and Martin Ritter on 7 November against the government of Governor of Liechtenstein, Leopold Freiherr von Imhof. The coup forced Imhof's government to resign and established a Provisional Executive Committee in his place until 7 December. Background Following the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, Liechtenstein remained neutral. The government and general population were supportive of the Central Powers, particularly Austria-Hungary, as the two countries had been in a customs union since 1852. The majority of the Liechtenstein government did not expect the war to last long, thus no food or economic preparations were made for it; due to this belief, no official declaration of neutrality was made.Quaderer Rupert Rupert Quaderer 31 December 2011 Erster Weltkrieg https://historisches-lexikon.li/Erster_Weltkrieg 28 September 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de As a result, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom interned Liechtensteiners and partially confiscated their assets. In response, the Liechtenstein government made various declarations that the country was neutral and a separate entity from Austria-Hungary. thumb|200x200px|Leopold Freiherr von Imhof, Governor of Liechtenstein since April 1914 From autumn 1914, food deliveries from Austria-Hungary, which Liechtenstein relied on, began to decrease. In addition, Switzerland was pressured by the United Kingdom and France to end its food exports to Liechtenstein due to the latter's close ties to Austria-Hungary. In response to shortages, the Liechtenstein government, led by Leopold Freiherr von Imhof, issued emergency commissions throughout the country on 14 December 1914. These commissions aimed to manage the procurement of food and raw materials, now in short supply, and to distribute them to the population.Quaderer Rupert Rupert Quaderer 31 December 2011 Notstandskommissionen https://historisches-lexikon.li/Notstandskommissionen 12 November 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Despite this, food shortages increased as the war continued, and by 1916 all food deliveries from Austria-Hungary had ceased, which forced Liechtenstein to seek closer ties with Switzerland in order to ensure food deliveries continued.21 March 1915 10,000 NEUTRALS STARVING.; Swiss Government Sends Food to Liechtenstein Population. The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1915/03/21/archives/10000-neutrals-starving-swiss-government-sends-food-to.html 6 October 2023 0362-4331 As a result, smuggling of food and raw materials increased significantly.Burgmeier Markus 31 December 2011 Schmuggel https://historisches-lexikon.li/Schmuggel 12 November 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de From 1916, Liechtenstein was embargoed by the Entente countries.Marxer Roland 31 December 2011 Neutralität https://historisches-lexikon.li/Neutralität 28 September 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de As the war continued, the population grew increasingly dissatisfied with Imhof's leadership. This allowed for politicians such as Wilhelm Beck to gain prominence; Beck formed a social liberal-minded opposition group against Imhof in 1914, and also the newspaper Oberrheinische Nachrichten.Leipold-Schneider Gerda 31 December 2011 Beck, Wilhelm https://historisches-lexikon.li/Beck,_Wilhelm 30 September 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein deMarxer Wilfried 31 December 2011 Oberrheinische Nachrichten https://historisches-lexikon.li/Oberrheinische_Nachrichten 22 November 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Imhof soon faced accusations that the measures he took to address the economic crisis were inadequate and that of incompetent; fierce debates between Beck and Imhof took place in the Landtag of Liechtenstein.Quaderer Rupert Rupert Quaderer 31 December 2011 Imhof, Leopold Baron von https://historisches-lexikon.li/Imhof,_Leopold_Freiherr_von 3 October 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de In February 1918, the group around Beck formalized to form the social-liberal Christian-Social People's Party (VP), and the conservative Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) was officially founded in December the same year, the first political parties in Liechtenstein;Marxer Wilfried 31 December 2011 Christlich-soziale Volkspartei (VP) https://historisches-lexikon.li/Christlich-soziale_Volkspartei_(VP) 10 October 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein deMarxer Wilfred 31 December 2011 Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei (FBP) https://historisches-lexikon.li/Fortschrittliche_B%C3%BCrgerpartei_(FBP)?marker=FBP 4 December 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de in the 1918 Liechtenstein general election the FBP won seven of the twelve seats up for election, whereas the VP won five.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1182 Coup Beck Wilhelm Dr.jpg Landtagspräsident Fritz Walser.jpg Wilhelm Beck Fritz Walser 200 Martin Ritter.jpg Martin Ritter In November 1918 Beck, who wanted a Liechtensteiner head of government, joined with Martin Ritter and Fritz Walser to plot to overthrow Imhof.Quaderer Rupert Rupert Quaderer 31 December 2011 Ritter, Martin https://historisches-lexikon.li/Ritter,_Martin 12 November 2011 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de On 7 November 1918, they proposed a motion of no confidence in the Landtag against him; Imhof asked for a vote of confidence and at the same time agreed to submit his resignation due to pressure from members of the Landtag. While the Landtag unanimously expressed its confidence in him, it was decided by the elected members, against the constitutionThe 1862 constitution stipulated that the prince had the sole authority to appoint and dismiss officials, particularly the governor, with the Landtag having no direct say. a and the prince-appointed Landtag members, to transfer the power of Governor to a Provisional Executive Committee led by Ritter. The three members of the Landtag appointed by the prince resigned in protest to the executive committee.Rheinberger Rudolf 31 December 2011 Schädler, Albert https://historisches-lexikon.li/Schädler,_Albert 12 November 2011 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein accepted Imhof's resignation on 13 November and recognised the formation of the committee. President of the Landtag Albert Schädler met with Johann II for talks in Vienna, where it was agreed that the committee would only last one month and that Johann's nephew Prince Karl Aloys would be appointed Governor upon the committee's dissolution; this was a compromise due to the popular demand for a Liechtensteiner head of government.Jureczko Andrzej Historia Liechtensteinu. W: Historia małych krajów Europy Wac Ewa 2007 978-83-04-04937-6 Ossolineum 106–107 pl History of Liechtenstein. In: History of small European countries Aftermath and legacy Within the general population of Liechtenstein the coup was popular, as Imhof was largely seen as the reason for the country's economic crisis. However, in the Landtag it was far more controversial.Rupert Quaderer Der 7. November 1918. Staatsstreich – Putsch – Revolution oder politisches Spektakel im Kleinstaat Liechtenstein? https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000000453_93/189/LOG_0007/ Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein 1995 93 204–212 Ritter in particular was a controversial figure due to the unconstitutional means by which he came into power, despite only serving for one month, from 7 November to 7 December 1918. thumb|Johann II Johann II reportedly responded with reservation to the coup. He remained in Vienna throughout the committee's duration but did not make any efforts to act against it, primarily due to its popularity within the country. The committee did not intend to break with the monarchy; its proclamation ended with the phrase "May the prince and the country live long." An expression of his involvement in state affairs was a telegram sent by his office to Albert Schädler: His Serene Highness reacted with reservation to the fact that a committee had taken over power in the country. Official decisions on the committee will follow. Prince's office on behalf of Johann II Prince of Liechtenstein The coup directly undermined the 1862 Constitution of Liechtenstein. With the economic devastation of World War I, it built a large base of support for constitutional revision in the country.Rupert Quaderer Der 7. November 1918. Staatsstreich – Putsch – Revolution oder politisches Spektakel im Kleinstaat Liechtenstein? https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000000453_93/189/LOG_0007/ Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein 1995 93 212–216 Soon afterwards, a constitutional committee was elected, which would begin a three-year period where both the Progressive Citizens' Party and Christian-Social People's Party, with assistance from Josef Peer, worked together to create a new constitution, as a continuation of Beck's ideals.Quaderer Rupert 31 December 2011 Schlossabmachungen (Septemberabmachungen, Schloss-Protokoll) https://historisches-lexikon.li/Schlossabmachungen_(Septemberabmachungen,_Schloss-Protokoll) 18 September 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein deWille Herbert 31 December 2011 Verfassung https://historisches-lexikon.li/Verfassung 24 December 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de The constitution was signed into law by Prince Karl Aloys on behalf of Johann II, with Josef Ospelt representing the government, on 5 October 1921. It established the rule of partial parliamentary democracy mixed with that of constitutional monarchy, as well as providing for referendums on decisions of the Landtag.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1156 It also abolished the three seats in the Landtag appointed by the Prince and lowered the voting age from 24 to 21 with universal male suffrage.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1158 Notes References Bibliography Nohlen Dieter Dieter Nohlen Elections in Europe: A data handbook Stöver Philip 2010 Nomos 978-3-8329-5609-7 See also History of Liechtenstein Constitution of Liechtenstein Category:1918 in Liechtenstein Category:Aftermath of World War I in Liechtenstein 1918 1918 Liechtenstein putsch Category:November 1918 in Europe Category:Wilhelm Beck