Liechtenstein Homeland Service

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Liechtenstein Homeland Service
Liechtensteiner Heimatdienst
AbbreviationLHD
Founded1 October 1933;91 years ago (1933-10-01)
Dissolved1 January 1936;89 years ago (1936-01-01)
Merged into Patriotic Union
NewspaperStimme 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.

Contents

History

LHD rally on 9 December 1934. At the front, Alois Vogt can be seen on the right and Carl Freiherr von Vogelsang on the right. LHD Rally 9 December 1934.jpg
LHD rally on 9 December 1934. At the front, Alois Vogt can be seen on the right and Carl Freiherr von Vogelsang on the right.

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]

References

  1. ↑ "Liechtensteiner Heimatdienst". e-archiv.li (in German). Liechtenstein National Archives. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Biedermann, Klaus; Geiger, Märten; Ospelt-Geiger, Barbara (31 December 2011). "Liechtensteiner Heimatdienst (LHD)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  3. ↑ Büchel, Donat (31 December 2011). "Risch, Martin". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  4. ↑ Stahl, Oliver (31 December 2011). "Frick, Georg". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  5. ↑ Schremser, Jurgen (31 December 2011). "Schaedler (Schaedler), Otto". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Geiger 1997a, pp. 374–381.
  7. ↑ Geiger 1997b, p. 67.
  8. 1 2 Marxer, Wilfred (31 December 2011). "Nationale Opposition". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  9. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1172.
  10. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Christlich-soziale Volkspartei (VP)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  11. ↑ Marxer, Wilfred (31 December 2011). "Vaterländische Union (VU)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  12. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried (2015). "Liechtensteiner Vaterland". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 15 January 2024.

Bibliography

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