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Liechtenstein in World War I

© James Foster Robinson

With the outbreak of World in 1914, Liechtenstein found its self in a bad situation. While independent and neutral, the small country was closely tied by a customs agreement to Austria and its ruling Prince lived in Vienna. In the eyes of the Allies the Principality was an ally of Austria and Germany. They imposed economic sanctions against the Principality, which were to have devastating effects. The importation of raw materials into Liechtenstein was curtailed resulting in a partial closing of industrial plants in the country. The export of goods particularly into Switzerland was forbidden. Liechtensteiners tried to increase food production but it was not enough to feed the population. Switzerland did help out by shipping food into the little country, thus saving the Principality from starvation. The Hand Embroidery industry was very hard hit with no more orders coming in. Many Leichtensteiners living in France and England were interred in camps as enemy aliens for the duration. With the closure of the Rhine Ferry in 1917/18, the small village Ruggell was cut off somewhat from the rest of the little country. The road leading from it was poorly maintained and the area was mostly swamp.

After end of the war the Austrian Crown had collapsed and the Swiss Franc had not as yet become the coin of Liechtenstein. Hard cash became scarce. Many lost what savings they had. Business was often done by bartering. It would be some years before the little country's economy would recover.

On 3 November 1918, the Vorarlberg proclaimed its independence. During the winter a movement started up pressing for unification with Switzerland. A plebiscite on 11 May 1919 showed that the citizens of the Vorarlberg wanted to join Switzerland. The head of the Vorarlberg Government went to St. Germain to get the plan recognized. But the Austrians prevented him in seeing the delegates. Then the Swiss Federal Government decided it did not want another Catholic Canton and the allies incorporated the Vorarlberg into the Republic of Austria.

By 1918 it was increasingly self-evident to many in the Principality that things had to change, especially in foreign policy. Two men, of different backgrounds, but united by the desire to serve their country, were the principal architects of the change of direction in foreign policy. Prince Eduard Liechtenstein, a cousin of the Reigning Prince, a high-ranking Austrian civil servant and Liechtenstein's Minister in Vienna from 1918 to 1921, was the driving force in the movement to gradually separate Liechtenstein from Austria. Dr. Emil Beck, a native of Triensenburg but holding dual Swiss-Liechtenstein citizenship, was the Charge d'Affaires of the Principality in Berne. He prepared the way for closer relations between Liechtenstein and Switzerland as well as representing the Vaduz Government at the League of Nations.

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