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 into Nazi Germany.
Nazi groups had existed in Liechtenstein since 1933, primarily due to the rise of Nazi Germany and the introduction of anti-Jewish laws in the country, 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]
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 Elisabeth von Gutmann was of Jewish relation.)[3][6] 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.[7][8]
The plan was drawn up by Nazi authorities in Feldkirch and 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 was hoped to cause clashes between them and the government. German troops from Feldkirch would then move into Liechtenstein after a call for help and incorporate the country into Germany.[9]
In the late evening of 24 March 1939, during a visit of 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.[9][10] However, in front of Schaan opponents had gathered to stop them and they were convinced to turn back by government councillor Anton Frommelt who also blocked their telephone lines.[9][11]
VDBL members subsequently gathered outside of Schaan under the leadership of Theodor Schädler, but many were prevented from leaving their homes by opponents. Further coup participants were supposed to close the Triesen-Balzers road and the Vaduz-SevelenRhine 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 Deputy Prime MinisterAlois Vogt.[9][12] Instead, VDBL members resorted to burning swastikas in order to provoke an intervention from Nazi Germany.[9]
Aftermath
After the coup's failure, 36 out of the 100 participants fled to Feldkirch and another 76 people were arrested and questioned, with about 50 of them being charged.[9][13][14] Though out of fear of German intervention, they were all released in December 1939 on the condition that they leave Liechtenstein.[9]
As a result of the coup, a large majority of Jews living in Liechtenstein fled the country to Switzerland, though most returned in the following days after its failure. The coup was unpopular with the general population of Liechtenstein, and created a large sense of patriotic unity following it.[9] This directly 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 people in Liechtenstein.[15][16]
The VDBL was effectively defunct after the coup until it was reformed by Alfons Goop in 1940.[17] After World War II ended in 1945, 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 in prison, 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.[18]
Nazi Germany (unofficial)
