1939 Liechtenstein putsch

Failed coup attempt January 2024 1939 Liechtenstein putsch 24 March 1939 Schaan, Liechtenstein Coup failed German invasion failed to materialize VDBL leadership arrested or fled German National Movement in LiechtensteinSupported by:Nazi Germany (unofficial) Progressive Citizens' PartyPatriotic Union Liechtenstein Loyalty AssociationFlag of Liechtenstein princely house.svg House of Liechtenstein Theodor Schädler Franz Josef II Josef Hoop Third Josef Hoop cabinet Anton Frommelt 40 or more Unknown 47 10 43 N 9 31 20 E region:LI inline The 1939 Liechtenstein putsch, also known as the Annexation putsch (de Anschlussputsch) was an unsuccessful coup d'état by the German National Movement in Liechtenstein (de Volksdeutsche Bewegung in Liechtenstein or VDBL) on 24 March 1939 designed to provoke Liechtenstein's annexation by Nazi Germany. The plan was for members of the VDBL to march on Vaduz and attempt to seize control of the government, which was hoped would cause clashes between them and the government. 600 German troops from Feldkirch would then move into Liechtenstein in response to a call for help and incorporate the country into Germany. The plan failed as the VDBL was stopped by opponents and most members were arrested or fled. Following World War II, several people were charged for their actions during the coup, of which seven were convicted. Background Formation of a Liechtenstein Nazi party Rotter kidnapping German National Movement in Liechtenstein thumb|300x300px|A Nazi swastika being hoisted in Vaduz, around 1938. Nazi groups had existed in Liechtenstein since 1933, primarily due to the rise of Nazi Germany and the introduction of anti-Jewish laws in Germany, which caused Liechtenstein to experience a large Jewish immigration.3 July 1933 Nazi Group Formed in Lichtenstein https://www.nytimes.com/1933/07/03/archives/nazi-group-formed-in-lichtenstein.html 6 October 2023 The New York Times 0362-4331 12 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231012124902/https://www.nytimes.com/1933/07/03/archives/nazi-group-formed-in-lichtenstein.html live 29 May 1933 Regierungschef Josef Hoop orientiert den Landtag über einen Entwurf für ein Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz https://www.e-archiv.li/textDetail.aspx?backurl=auto&etID=41700&eID=1 28 July 2023 Staatsarchiv des Fürstentum Liechtenstein de 28 July 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230728001140/https://www.e-archiv.li/textDetail.aspx?backurl=auto&etID=41700&eID=1 live As a result, there was continuing antisemitic agitation in Liechtenstein throughout the 1930s. Most notably, the Rotter kidnapping was designed to be an impetus for the formation of an organized Nazi group in Liechtenstein, but it instead weakened such efforts for a time.16 August 2021 Rotter-Entführung https://historisches-lexikon.li/Rotter-Entf%C3%BChrung 23 March 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 7 April 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230407125505/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Rotter-Entf%C3%BChrung live The 1938 Anschluss of Austria provided an impetus for the formation of the German National Movement in Liechtenstein (VDBL). In line with the Anschluss, the VDBL advocated the integration of Liechtenstein into Nazi Germany,Gustaf Adolf von Metnitz Hundert Millionen Deutsche schaffen Raum NS.-gauverlag Steiermark 1941 15 de and was associated with the slogan, de Liechtenstein den Liechtensteinern! (Liechtenstein for the Liechtensteiners!), which conveyed a sense of racial right-wing populism in opposition to Franz Josef II, the ruling prince of Liechtenstein.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 Its membership included many members of the former Liechtenstein Homeland Service, which had merged with the Patriotic Union in January 1936. Shortly after the Anschluss of Austria, the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle, in connection with the VDBL planned for the VDBL to be democratically elected into power via funding from Germany, then it would end the customs union with Switzerland and align towards Germany, leading to an eventual annexation of Liechtenstein into Germany. The plans were reportedly supported by Joseph Goebbels.Geiger 2007 141–142 They were personally blocked by Adolf Hitler on 18 March 1938 as he did not want to complicate relations with Switzerland.Geiger 2007 142–143 Politics prior to the coup 1939 Liechtenstein general election It has been speculated that Franz I had given the regency to Franz Joseph on 31 March 1938 as he did not wish to remain in control of the principality if Nazi Germany were to invade, primarily because his wife Princess Elsa of Liechtenstein was of Jewish origin.1 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 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.com The previous day, the governing Progressive Citizens' Party and opposition Patriotic Union formed a coalition, which was designed to avoid political deadlock while there was an ongoing threat from Nazi Germany.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 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 Proportional representation was unanimously introduced to Liechtenstein on 18 January 1939, as was a point of compromise between the two parties.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 On 11 March of the same year, Franz Joseph, in agreement with both parties, disbanded the Landtag and called for early elections.Büchel 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 Geiger 2000 327–331 The election was intended to be used only as a means 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 states that "If one or more parties, representing at least 80% of the votes cast in the previous legislative elections, form a joint list of candidates, these, excluding the other candidates proposed by other parties, are declared elected, if fewer than 400 persons registered on the electoral lists do not object in writing within 14 days." 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. This scheduled election is believed to be the primary motivation for the coup, as many in the VDBL saw it as a last hope to gaining power within the country.Geiger 2000 327–331 Preparation and coup thumb|Franz Josef II (centre) with members of the German and Liechtenstein government outside the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, 2 March 1939. The plan was drawn up by Nazi authorities in Feldkirch and the leader of the VDBL Theodor Schädler, although not backed by the German government itself. The plan was for members of the VDBL to march on Vaduz and seize control of the government, which it was hoped would cause clashes between them and the government. German troops from Feldkirch would then move into Liechtenstein in response to a call for help and incorporate the country into Germany.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 It has also been speculated that the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle was involved in the coup.Geiger Peter Peter Geiger 31 December 2011 Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle (VoMi) https://historisches-lexikon.li/Volksdeutsche_Mittelstelle_(VoMi) 21 June 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 25 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221025122731/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Volksdeutsche_Mittelstelle_(VoMi) live It was originally planned for 22 March 1939, in the same month of a visit by Franz Joseph II and Josef Hoop to Berlin where they met Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop, but it was delayed until the 24th. This is accredited with removing the element of surprise from the preparations, as reportedly employees of the Deutsche Reichsbahn informed Swiss authorities of 600 German troops amassing in Feldkirch.Geiger 2000 364–408 In the late evening of 24 March, approximately 40 members of the VDBL marched from Nendeln towards Vaduz. In front of Schaan, opponents had gathered to stop them and the VDBL were convinced to turn back by government councillor Anton Frommelt who also blocked their telephone lines, in addition to aid from Ferdinand Risch.Vogt-Frommelt Rita 31 December 2011 Frommelt, Anton https://historisches-lexikon.li/Frommelt,_Anton 27 May 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 27 May 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230527152830/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Frommelt,_Anton live Büchel Donat 31 December 2011 Risch, Ferdinand https://historisches-lexikon.li/Risch,_Ferdinand?marker=Adolf+Buck 30 April 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 7 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240907201620/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Risch,_Ferdinand?marker=Adolf+Buck live Some VDBL members subsequently gathered outside of Schaan under the leadership of Theodor Schädler, but many others were prevented from leaving their homes by opponents. Further coup participants were supposed to close the Triesen-Balzers road and the Vaduz-Sevelen Rhine bridge in the wake of the German invasion, albeit the invasion did not happen as it was blocked on Hitler's orders following intervention by Alois Vogt.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 Instead, VDBL members resorted to burning swastikas in order to provoke an intervention from Nazi Germany. Vogt later met Schädler, where he explained that the German invasion would not happen, and that he would allow the Swiss border police to open fire on the VDBL demonstrators should they not stand down. Realizing that the coup was a failure, many of the coup's participants were arrested or fled. However, many were prevented by border guards in both Switzerland and Nazi Germany once they gained news of the attempted coup.Geiger 2000 364–408 Aftermath After the coup's failure, 36 out of the over 100 participants fled to Feldkirch, and another 76 people were arrested and questioned, with about 50 of them being charged.27 April 1939 Liechtenstein Jails Nazi For Attempt at Uprising https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/04/27/91573866.html 18 May 2023 The New York Times 7 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240907201619/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/04/27/91573866.html live 27 April 1939 27 April 1939 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/image/91014149/?terms=Liechtenstein&match=1 16 May 2023 16 May 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230516174144/https://www.newspapers.com/image/91014149/?terms=Liechtenstein&match=1 live However, out of fear of German intervention, they were all released in December 1939 on condition that they leave Liechtenstein. It is not known exactly why Hitler decided against intervening in the coup, albeit it has been speculated that he was not very interested in Liechtenstein and did not want to provoke a war with Switzerland.Geiger 2000 364–408 During the attempted coup, a large majority of Jews living in Liechtenstein fled the country to Switzerland, though most returned in the days following its failure. The coup was unpopular with most people in Liechtenstein, and it generated a strong sense of patriotic unity. This caused the Liechtenstein Loyalty Association to heighten its operations against the VDBL and launch a petition 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 VDBL was effectively defunct after the coup until it was relaunched by Alfons Goop in 1940.Geiger Peter Peter Geiger 31 December 2011 Goop, Alphonse https://historisches-lexikon.li/Goop,_Alfons?marker=Alfons+Goop 6 October 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 12 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231012124903/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Goop,_Alfons?marker=Alfons+Goop live After World War II, twelve coup participants were put on trial on charges of high treason, of which seven were convicted in 1946. Alois Batliner, Franz Beck, and Josef Frick were each sentenced to five years in prison, while Egon Marxer and Goop were sentenced to 2.5 years, and Alois Kindle, Hermann Marxer, and Josef Gassner each received suspended two-month sentences. During the war, Batliner had served in the Schutzpolizei, while Marxer and Goop had served in the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front.Das Kriminalgericht führt die Schlussverhandlung im Prozess gegen die Putschisten durch https://www-e--archiv-li.translate.goog/textDetail.aspx?etID=41592&_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc 28 November 2023 www-e--archiv-li.translate.goog 13 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231213001757/https://www-e--archiv-li.translate.goog/textDetail.aspx?etID=41592&_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc live Goop Alfons, Dr. phil., Politiker, Altphilologe, Lehrer, Sportpionier https://www.e-archiv.li/personDetail.aspx?backurl=auto&eID=1&etID=41716&persID=29252 28 November 2023 www.e-archiv.li 7 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240907201622/https://www.e-archiv.li/personDetail.aspx?backurl=auto&eID=1&etID=41716&persID=29252 live See also Rotter kidnapping German National Movement in Liechtenstein Liechtenstein in World War II History of Liechtenstein References Further reading 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 2000 2nd Zürich de Geiger Peter Peter Geiger https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/ext-linst-c5-web-liechtenstein-institut.li-2019/5615/7435/1000/42_09_Der_Kleinstaat_in_der_Aera_der_Weltkriege.pdf Der Kleinstaat in der Ära der Weltkriege Liechtenstein Institute, Liechtensteinischen Akademischen Gesellschaft 2007 Schaan 141–143 de Geiger Peter Peter Geiger Kriegszeit, Liechtenstein 1939 bis 1945, 2 Bände, illustriert Chronos Verlag 2010 1st Zürich de Putsch Putsch, 1939 Category:Collaboration with Nazi Germany Putsch, 1939 Category:1939 conflicts 1939 Category:1930s coups d'état Category:March 1939 in Europe Category:Liechtenstein collaborators with Nazi Germany Category:Attempted coups d'état in Europe Category:Fascist revolts Category:Nazism Category:Premiership of Josef Hoop