Liechtenstein Homeland Service Liechtensteiner Heimatdienst | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | LHD |
Founded | 1 October 1933 |
Dissolved | 1 January 1936 |
Merged into | Patriotic Union |
Newspaper | Stimme für heimische Wirtschaft, Kultur und Volkstum (Voice for local business, culture and folklore) |
Ideology | Corporate statism Nazism |
Political position | Far-right |
[1] |
Liechtenstein Homeland Service (German : Liechtensteiner Heimatdienst, LHD) was a political party in Liechtenstein that advocated corporate statism and the abolition of party politics. Shortly after its founding, the party also moved towards Nazism. It merged with the Christian-Social People's Party to form the Patriotic Union in 1936.
The LHD was formed on 1 October 1933, with Otto Schaedler, Alois Vogt and Carl Freiherr von Vogelsang as leading members. Although the party was initially formed on the basis of an authoritarian corporate state similar to that of Austria under Engelbert Dollfuss, it quickly moved towards that of National socialism. The people behind the Rotter kidnapping also became active in the party following their release from prison. [2] This move towards Nazism caused several founding members, such as, Richard Meier and Martin Risch to abandon the party. [2] [3] The party briefly held a seat in the Landtag of Liechtenstein when Georg Frick left the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) to found the party, but he too abandoned the party following the move towards Nazism and re-joined the FBP. [4]
The party ran an antisemitic campaign within Liechtenstein and advocated against the government's naturalization policies. [2] In addition, the party also developed a cult of personality similar to that of Nazi Germany, with the phrase 'Heil Otto!' being used towards Schaedler within the party. [5] The party's primary aims were the abolition of party politics, ending the customs union with Switzerland, and alignment towards Germany, with the eventual goal of Liechtenstein's annexation into the country. [6] The party sought to gain contacts within Nazi Germany, particularly within the Verein für Deutsche Kulturbeziehungen im Ausland (VDA). In doing so, Rudolf Schädler, Alois Vogt and Carl Freiherr von Vogelsang were guests at the 1934 Nuremberg rally. [7] In a speech on 18 March 1934, both prime minister Josef Hoop and president of the Landtag Anton Frommelt spoke out against the LHD. [2]
In 1935, the LHD formed an alliance with the Christian-Social People's Party (VP) which was referred to as the 'National Opposition'. This alliance pushed through an initiative to introduce proportional representation within the country. [8] However, the subsequent 1935 Liechtenstein electoral system referendum was narrowly rejected by voters. [9] Motivated by a desire to unite the opposition prior to the 1936 Liechtenstein general election, the VP and LHD merged on 1 January 1936 to form the Patriotic Union. [8] [10] Despite the LHD being the smaller of the two parties, the new Patriotic Union was heavily influenced by it, with Otto Schaedler becoming the party president, and Alois Vogt the party secretary. [11] In addition, the two parties' respective newspapers merged to form the Liechtensteiner Vaterland with Carl Freiherr von Vogelsang as its editor. [12]
Political identity came to the territory now occupied by the Principality of Liechtenstein in 814, with the formation of the subcountry of Lower Rhætia. Liechtenstein's borders have remained unchanged since 1434, when the Rhine established the border between the Holy Roman Empire and the Swiss cantons.
The German National Movement in Liechtenstein was a Nazi party in Liechtenstein that existed between 1938 and 1945.
The Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein is an order of merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein that is awarded for services rendered to the principality. Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein founded the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein on 22 July 1937.
Liechtensteiner Vaterland is the largest daily newspaper in Liechtenstein. Published by Vaduzer Medienhaus AG, it is the official newspaper of the Patriotic Union party.
Gustav Schädler was a teacher and politician from Liechtenstein who served as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1922 to 1928. He previously served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1919 to 1922.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 4 April 1939. 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. Instead, the governing Progressive Citizens' Party and opposition Patriotic Union 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.
Franz Josef Hoop was a Liechtensteiner diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1928 to 1945. Hoop is best known for his efforts to retain Liechtenstein's neutrality and independence during World War II. Serving for seventeen years, he is the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, ahead of his successor Alexander Frick by 79 days. He served under the reign of Johann II, Franz I and Franz Joseph II, making him the only prime minister to serve under three Princes of Liechtenstein consecutively.
The Christian-Social People's Party, often shortened to simply the People's Party, was a social liberal political party in Liechtenstein. It tended to be more popular in the Oberland, and supported closer ties with Switzerland as opposed to Austria. Founded in 1918, the Christian-Social People's Party and the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) were the first political parties in Liechtenstein.
Otto Schaedler was a physician and political figure from Liechtenstein who served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein and was one of the founders of the Patriotic Union party.
Alois Ritter was a lawyer and politician from Liechtenstein who served as the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein in 1954 and again in 1956. He also served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1945 to 1958.
Alois Vogt was an advocate and political figure from Liechtenstein who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1938 to 1945. He later served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1949 to 1966.
Peter Marxer was an advocate and political figure from Liechtenstein who served as the president of the Progressive Citizens' Party from 1970 to 1982. He also oversaw the law firm Marxer & Partner Rechtsanwälte from 1962 until his death.
Carl Freiherr von Vogelsang was a German and Liechtensteiner journalist.
The second Josef Hoop cabinet was the governing body of Liechtenstein from 28 February 1936 to 30 March 1938. It was appointed by Franz I and chaired by Josef Hoop.
The third Josef Hoop cabinet was the governing body of Liechtenstein from 30 March 1938 to 9 November 1944. It was appointed by Franz Joseph II and chaired by Josef Hoop. The cabinet was formed as a coalition government following the Anschluss of Austria in 1938, and it oversaw the majority of World War II before being succeeded in 1944.
The 1939 Liechtenstein putsch, also known as the Annexation putsch was an unsuccessful coup d'état by the German National Movement in Liechtenstein on 24 March 1939 designed to provoke Liechtenstein's annexation by Nazi Germany.
The 1937 Liechtenstein spy affair was a scandal involving Carl Freiherr von Vogelsang, a founding member of the Patriotic Union and editor of the Liechtensteiner Vaterland, where it was revealed that he had sent numerous letters detailing Jews in Liechtenstein to Nazi Germany. The scandal caused prime minister Josef Hoop to order the offices of the Vaterland to be searched and for any papers to be confiscated. As a result, Vogelsang promptly left the country.
Bernhard Risch was a politician from Liechtenstein who served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1930 to 1936 and again from 1940 to 1945. He previously served as the mayor of Vaduz from 1927 to 1930 and again 1933 to 1936.