1939 Liechtenstein putsch

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1939 Liechtenstein putsch
Date24 March 1939
Location
Schaan, Liechtenstein
47°10′43″N 9°31′20″E / 47.17861°N 9.52222°E / 47.17861; 9.52222
Result

Coup failed

  • German invasion failed to materialize
  • VDBL leadership arrested or fled
Belligerents
German National Movement in Liechtenstein Progressive Citizens' Party
Patriotic Union
House of Liechtenstein
Commanders and leaders
Theodor Schädler
Alfons Goop
Strength
40 or more Unknown

The 1939 Liechtenstein putsch, also known as the Annexation putsch (German: Anschlussputsch) was an unsuccessful coup d'état by the German National Movement in Liechtenstein (Volksdeutsche Bewegung in Liechtenstein or VDBL) designed to provoke Liechtenstein's annexation by Nazi Germany.

Background[edit]

Main articles: Rotter kidnapping and German National Movement in Liechtenstein
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.[1][2] As a result, there was continuing antisemitic agitation in Liechtenstein throughout the 1930s.[3] 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.[4]

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,[5] and was associated with the slogan, 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.[6] Its membership included many members of the former Liechtenstein Homeland Service, which had merged with the Patriotic Union in January 1936.[6]

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.[3][7] In March 1938, the governing Progressive Citizens' Party and opposition Patriotic Union formed a coalition, assigned a roughly equal number of seats each, in order to prevent the VDBL from acquiring any seats in the Landtag.[8][9]

Preparation and coup[edit]

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.[10]

In the late evening of 24 March 1939, in the same month of a visit by Franz Joseph II and Josef Hoop to Berlin where they met Adolf Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop, approximately 40 members of the VDBL starting from Nendeln marched towards Vaduz.[10][11] However, 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.[10][12]

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, though the invasion did not happen as it was blocked on Adolf Hitler's orders after intervention by Deputy Prime Minister Alois Vogt.[10][13] Instead, VDBL members resorted to burning swastikas in order to provoke an intervention from Nazi Germany.[10]

Aftermath[edit]

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.[10][14][15] However, out of fear of German intervention, they were all released in December 1939 on condition that they leave Liechtenstein.[10]

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.[10] This caused the Liechtenstein Loyalty Association to heighten its operations against the VDBL and launch a signature campaign to reaffirm Liechtenstein's independence which was signed by 2492 citizens.[16][17]

The VDBL was effectively defunct after the coup until relaunched by Alfons Goop in 1940.[18] After World War II, twelve coup participants were put on trial on charges of high treason, of which seven were convicted in 1946. Alois Baltiner, Franz Beck, and Josef Frick were each sentenced to five years in prison, while Egon Marxer was 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 had served in the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front.[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ TIMES, Wireless to THE NEW YORK (3 July 1933). "Nazi Group Formed in Lichtenstein". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Regierungschef Josef Hoop orientiert den Landtag über einen Entwurf für ein Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz". Staatsarchiv des Fürstentum Liechtenstein (in German). 29 May 1933. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b "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". The New York Times. 1 April 1938. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  4. ^ Editorial (16 August 2021). "Rotter-Entführung". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  5. ^ Gustaf Adolf von Metnitz (1941). Hundert Millionen Deutsche schaffen Raum (in German). NS.-gauverlag Steiermark. p. 15.
  6. ^ a b Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Volksdeutsche Bewegung in Liechtenstein (VDBL)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Prince Franz of the 'Postage Stamp State' Retires". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1 May 1938. p. 76. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Parties in Liechtenstein 1921–1943". Prince and People: Liechtenstein Civics (in German). 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  9. ^ Dieter Nohlen; Philip Stöver (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook (in German). Nomos. p. 1179. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Büchel, Donat (31 December 2011). "Anschlussputsch". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Prince Franz Josef II visits Adolf Hitler in Berlin". Liechtenstein-Institut (in German). 27 March 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  12. ^ Vogt-Frommelt, Rita (31 December 2011). "Frommelt, Anton". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  13. ^ Schremser, Jürgen (31 December 2011). "Vogt, Alois". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Liechtenstein Jails Nazi For Attempt at Uprising". The New York Times. 27 April 1939. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  15. ^ "27 April 1939". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 27 April 1939. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Ninety-Five Per Cent of Voters in Liechtenstein Reject Union with Nazis". Lawrence Journal-World. 3 April 1939. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  17. ^ Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Heimattreue Vereinigung Liechtenstein". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  18. ^ Peter Geiger (31 December 2011). "Goop, Alphonse". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Das Kriminalgericht führt die Schlussverhandlung im Prozess gegen die Putschisten durch". www-e--archiv-li.translate.goog. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
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