1939 Liechtenstein general election

none Liechtenstein 1936 1945 4 April 1939 1939 Liechtenstein general election All 15 seats in the Landtag 8 yes Progressive Citizens' Party Josef Hoop – 8 11 Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein) Otto Schaedler – 7 4 Prime Minister Josef Hoop Progressive Citizens' Party Josef Hoop Progressive Citizens' Party 1939 Liechtenstein election map.svg Results by constituency 1937 List of members of the Landtag of Liechtenstein (1936–1939) List of members of the Landtag of Liechtenstein (1939–1945) General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 4 April 1939.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1164 Although a new system of proportional representation had been introduced to pacify voters at a time when the country was under threat from neighbouring Nazi Germany, it was not used and the elections became known as the "silent elections" as no actual vote was held.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1179 Instead, the governing Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) and opposition Patriotic Union (VU) formed a coalition, assigning a roughly equal number of seats each, in order to prevent the German National Movement in Liechtenstein from acquiring any seats in the Landtag.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1179Büchel Donat 31 December 2011 Stille Wahl https://historisches-lexikon.li/Stille_Wahl?marker=Wahl 15 January 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 7 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240907201601/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Stille_Wahl?marker=Wahl live Background alt=A photograph of four prominent Liechtenstein politicians in 1938. Standing from the left are Alois Vogt, Otto Schaedler, Josef Hoop and Ludwig Marxer.|thumb|Four major political figures in Liechtenstein in 1938. From left; Alois Vogt, Otto Schaedler, Josef Hoop and Ludwig Marxer. Formation of a coalition government In the wake of the Anschluss of Austria under the initiative of Franz Joseph, the FBP and VU started negotiations for the formation of a coalition government, and was put into effect on 30 March 1938.Büchel Donat 31 December 2011 Märzkrise https://historisches-lexikon.li/M%C3%A4rzkrise?marker=1938 28 August 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 26 December 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241226150646/https://historisches-lexikon.li/M%C3%A4rzkrise?marker=1938 live Marxer Wilfried 31 December 2011 Koalition https://historisches-lexikon.li/Koalition 28 August 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 27 December 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221227215043/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Koalition live Wilfried Marxer Under this coalition, deputy prime minister Anton Frommet of the FBP was succeeded by Alois Vogt of the VU.Schremser Jürgen 31 December 2011 Vogt, Alois https://historisches-lexikon.li/Vogt,_Alois 26 May 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 31 January 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230131165215/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Vogt,_Alois live In addition, prime minister Josef Hoop's second cabinet was succeeded by a new cabinet, now containing several members of both parties.Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021 https://www.regierung.li/files/attachments/Regierungsmitglieder-1862-2021-stand-0421.pdf?t=638338392447228367 live https://web.archive.org/web/20240216125957/https://www.regierung.li/files/attachments/Regierungsmitglieder-1862-2021-stand-0421.pdf?t=638338392447228367 16 February 2024 15 February 2024 www.regierung.li de The following day, Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein made Franz Joseph his regent and then moved to a family-owned estate in Feldberg, Czechoslovakia. He later died on 25 July while at one of his family's castles, Castle Feldberg, with Franz Joseph formally succeeding him.1 April 1938 Prince Franz to Return to Estate https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49180180/daily-news/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20200420235228/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49180180/daily-news/ 20 April 2020 Daily News 216 Newspapers.com26 July 1938 Oldest Former Ruler Succumbs https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49178617/kenosha-news/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20200420233456/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49178617/kenosha-news/ 20 April 2020 Kenosha News 1 Newspapers.com Although Franz I stated that he had given the regency to Franz Joseph due to his old age, it was speculated that he did not wish to remain in control of the principality if Germany were to invade, primarily because his wife Elsa, Princess of Liechtenstein was of Jewish relation.1 May 1938 Prince Franz of the 'Postage Stamp State' Retires https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49181566/st-louis-post-dispatch/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20200421002324/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49181566/st-louis-post-dispatch/ 21 April 2020 St. Louis Post-Dispatch 76 Newspapers.com1 April 1938 NAZIS IN CABINET IN LIECHTENSTEIN; Prince Franz Joseph, the New Ruler, Names Them Though Pledging Independence HITLER MOVEMENT GAINS Its Growing Strength Was One Reason for Abdication of Franz 1, Old Sovereign https://www.nytimes.com/1938/04/01/archives/nazis-in-cabinet-in-liechtenstein-prince-franz-joseph-the-new-ruler.html 16 May 2023 The New York Times 16 May 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230516220526/https://www.nytimes.com/1938/04/01/archives/nazis-in-cabinet-in-liechtenstein-prince-franz-joseph-the-new-ruler.html live Due to the formation of the coalition government, Liechtenstein Nazis formed the German National Movement in Liechtenstein (VBDL).Marxer Wilfried 31 December 2011 Volksdeutsche Bewegung in Liechtenstein (VDBL) https://historisches-lexikon.li/Volksdeutsche_Bewegung_in_Liechtenstein_(VDBL) 14 November 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 14 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231114174103/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Volksdeutsche_Bewegung_in_Liechtenstein_(VDBL) live Wilfried Marxer A compromise in the coalition agreement was to introduce a proportional representation to the country, despite it being rejected via referendum three years prior, and it was introduced unanimously on 18 January 1939.2007 Parties in Liechtenstein 1921-1943 https://www.fuerstundvolk.li/fuv/fuv.do?site=421174076f221000996d610c1957690b 15 May 2023 Prince and People: Liechtenstein Civics de 16 November 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251116091657/https://www.fuerstundvolk.li/fuv/fuv.do?site=421174076f221000996d610c1957690b live Gesetz vom 18. Januar 1939 - über die Einführung des Verhältniswahlrechtes https://www.gesetze.li/lilexprod/lgpage2.jsp?formname=showlaw&lgblid=1939004000&version=0&search_loc=text&lgblid_von=1939004000&sel_lawtype=chrono&rechts_gebiet=0&menu=0&tablesel=0&observe_date=26.02.2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20170202041112/https://www.gesetze.li/lilexprod/lgpage2.jsp?formname=showlaw&lgblid=1939004000&version=0&search_loc=text&lgblid_von=1939004000&sel_lawtype=chrono&rechts_gebiet=0&menu=0&tablesel=0&observe_date=26.02.2016#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url 2 February 2017 28 August 2024 Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung de dead Nohlen Stöver 2010 1172 On 11 March 1939 Franz Joseph II, in agreement with both parties, disbanded the Landtag and called for early elections. The elections were only used to distribute a roughly equal number of seats in the Landtag between the two parties, as such it became known as the "silent election" as no actual voting took place.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1179 This was allowed due to article thirty of the new proportional representation law, which allows for one or more parties, representing at least 80% of the vote share in the previous election to propose a joint list of candidates, and for them to be declared elected while excluding other parties. The clause was enacted due to both parties' desire to not hold an election campaign period that would jeopardize the recently formed coalition government and allow for the VDBL to be able to gain support. Attempted putsch 1939 Liechtenstein putsch On 24 March 1939 a putsch took place, where approximately 40 members of the VDBL starting from Nendeln marched towards Vaduz, planning to provoke a clash between them and the government. Wehrmacht troops from Feldkirch would then move into Liechtenstein in response to a call for help and incorporate the country into Germany. Further coup participants were supposed to close the Triesen-Balzers road and the Vaduz-Sevelen Rhine bridge in the wake of the German invasion, though this did not happen as it was blocked on Adolf Hitler's orders after intervention by Vogt.Büchel Donat 31 December 2011 Anschlussputsch https://historisches-lexikon.li/Anschlussputsch 14 November 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 28 June 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240628031848/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Anschlussputsch live Schremser Jürgen 31 December 2011 Vogt, Alois https://historisches-lexikon.li/Vogt,_Alois 26 May 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 31 January 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230131165215/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Vogt,_Alois live The plan failed however, as they were stopped by opponents, and most VDBL members were arrested or fled. The coup was unpopular with most people in Liechtenstein and it generated a strong sense of patriotic unity. This caused the Liechtenstein Loyalty Association, which had been founded months prior, to heighten its operations against the VDBL and launch a signature campaign to reaffirm Liechtenstein's independence, which received 2492 signatures.3 April 1939 Ninety-Five Per Cent of Voters in Liechtenstein Reject Union with Nazis https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/kansas/lawrence/lawrence-daily-journal-world/1939/04-03/page-1 29 January 2024 Lawrence Journal-World 7 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240907201603/https://newspaperarchive.com/lawrence-daily-journal-world-apr-03-1939-p-1/ live Marxer Wilfried 31 December 2011 Heimattreue Vereinigung Liechtenstein https://historisches-lexikon.li/Heimattreue_Vereinigung_Liechtenstein 17 November 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 7 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240907201617/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Heimattreue_Vereinigung_Liechtenstein live The scheduled elections is believed to be the primary motivation for the coup, as many within the VDBL saw it as a last hope to gaining power within the country.Geiger 2000 327–331 The election process could have been challenged and been made a subject via referendum, which would have required at least 400 signatures to force an open ballot election. However, this did not happen, and on 6 April the results – a predetermined list of candidates from both parties – were announced. Results The FBP maintained its majority in the Landtag and Josef Hoop remained prime minister.Vogt 1987 210 However, both the FBP and VU now held a roughly equal number of seats.Vogt 1987 210 This coalition between the two parties lasted until 1997.Marxer Wilfred 31 December 2011 Koalition https://historisches-lexikon.li/Koalition 28 August 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 27 December 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221227215043/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Koalition live Progressive Citizens' Party 8 –3 Patriotic Union 7 +3 0 Nohlen & StöverNohlen Stöver 2010 1182 File:Landtag liechtenstein 1945-1970.svg By electoral district List of members of the Landtag of Liechtenstein (1939–1945) Electoral district Seats Party Seatswon Elected members SubstitutesOberland9Patriotic Union5*Johann Beck Florian Kindle Otto Schaedler Josef Sele Basil Vogt*Rudolf Amann Heinrich Andreas Brunhart Meinrad Schädler Johann WachterProgressive Citizens' Party4*Louis Brunhart Franz Eberle Anton Frommelt Ferdinand Risch*Johann Beck Adolf Frommelt Gustav Jehle Bernhard RischUnterland6Progressive Citizens' Party4*Oswald Bühler Johann Georg Hasler (politician, born 1898) Johann Georg Hasler de Johann Georg Hasler (Politiker, 1898) Franz Xaver Hoop Eugen Schädler*Philipp Elkuch Karl Marxer Rudolf MarxerPatriotic Union2*Rudolf Matt Chrisostomus Öhri*Johann Georg Hasler Konrad WohlwendSource: VogtVogt 1987 210 References Bibliography Nohlen Dieter Dieter Nohlen Elections in Europe: A data handbook Stöver Philip 2010 Nomos 978-3-8329-5609-7 Geiger Peter Peter Geiger Liechtenstein in den Dreissigerjahren 1928–1939 Liechtenstein Institute, Chronos Verlag 2000 2nd Zürich de Vogt Paul Paul Vogt (historian) 125 Jahre Landtag 1987 Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein Vaduz de Liechtenstein General Category:General elections in Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Category:Premiership of Josef Hoop Category:Uncontested elections