November 1918 Liechtenstein putsch
Date7 November 1918
Location
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Result Government of Leopold Freiherr von Imhof forced to resign and replaced by a provisional executive committee led by Martin Ritter.
Belligerents
Christian-Social People's Party Independent or no organized group
Commanders and leaders

Wilhelm Beck
Martin Ritter

Fritz Walser

Leopold Freiherr von Imhof

  • Leopold Freiherr von Imhof cabinet
Albert Schädler

The November 1918 Liechtenstein putsch, also known as the Beck putsch (German: Novemberputsch 1918)[1] was a de facto coup d'état by the leaders of the Christian-Social People's Party (Christlich-Soziale Volkspartei or VP) against the government of Governor of Liechtenstein Leopold Freiherr von Imhof. The coup forced Imhof's government to resign and the establishment of a provisional executive committee in his place.

Background

In the wake of the World War I, though Liechtenstein was neutral, the general population was supportive of the Central Powers, particularly Austria-Hungary, of which the two countries had been in a customs union since 1852. The majority of the Liechtenstein government did not expect the war to last long, thus no food or economic preparations were made for it.[2]

Leopold Freiherr von Imhof, Governor of Liechtenstein since April 1914

Though from September 1914 food deliveries from Austria-Hungary began to decrease, which quickly soured the initial war support. In addition, due to the country's close ties to Austria-Hungary, Switzerland was forced to cease it's food exports with Liechtenstein as the result of pressure from Britain and France to do so.[2] In response, the Liechtenstein government, led by Leopold Freiherr von Imhof issued emergency commissions throughout the country on 14 December 1914 in order to manage the procurement of food and raw materials for the distribution of it to the population, as it had now become in short supply.[3]

Despite this, food shortages in the country increased as the war continued and by 1916 all food deliveries from Austria-Hungary had ceased, which forced Liechtenstein to seek closer ties with Switzerland in order to ensure food deliveries continued.[2][4] As a result, smuggling within the country increased significantly for bringing food and raw materials into the country.[5] From 1916 Liechtenstein was embargoed by the Entente countries, which caused mass unemployment in the country.[6]

As the war continued, the population grew increasingly dissatisfied with Imhof's leadership.[2] This allowed for politicians such as Wilhelm Beck to gain prominence and growing support in Liechtenstein when he formed an opposition group around himself against Imhof in 1914 and it's newspaper Oberrheinische Nachrichten. This primarily advocated for the expansion of welfare, broader voting rights and a Liechtensteiner head of state, as Imhof was Austrian.[7][8] Imhof soon faced accusations that the measures he took to address the economic crisis was inadequate, and that of his own incompetence.[9] As a result, it often led to fierce debates between Beck and Imhof in the Landtag of Liechtenstein.[7] The Christian-Social People's Party was formed in February 1918 on the basis of Beck's ideals and in the 1918 Liechtenstein general election won five out of thirteen seats in the Landtag of Liechtenstein.[10][11]

Coup

Wilhelm Beck
Fritz Walser

In November 1918 Beck, along with Landtag members Martin Ritter and Fritz Walser, who were deeply dissatisfied with Imhof's handling of the economy and who wanted a Liechtensteiner head of state, plotted to overthrow him.[7][12] In the Landtag on 7 November 1918 they proposed a motion of no confidence against him. Imhof asked for a vote of confidence and at the same time agreed to submit his resignation. While the Landtag unanimously expressed its confidence in him it was decided, against the constitution and the princely appointed Landtag members, to transfer the power of governor to a provisional executive committee led by Martin Ritter.[1]

Imhof had attempt to resist the establishment of the committee but was unsuccessful in doing so.[9] Other figures, such as Albert Schädler, who opposed Beck's ideals had also attempted to prevent the establishment.[13] Johann II accepted Imhof's resignation on 13 November.[9][14] Schädler met with Johann II for talks in Vienna, where it was agreed that Prince Karl Aloys of Liechtenstein would be appointed governor upon the committee's conclusion the following month.[15]

Aftermath and legacy

Within the general population of Liechtenstein the coup was popular, as Imhof was largely seen as the reason for the country's economic crisis. However, in the Landtag it was far more controversial.[16] Martin Ritter in particular was a controversial figure in the government, due to him being the first Liechtensteiner head of state and the unconstitutional means in which he came into power, despite only serving for one month, from 7 November to 7 December 1918.[12] In response to the coup, all three members of the Landtag appointed by Johann II resigned in protest.[16]

Johann II reportedly responded with reservation in response to the coup. He remained in Vienna throughout the committee's duration but did not make any efforts to act against it, primarily due to its popularity within the country. The committee did not intend to break with the monarchy, its proclamation itself ended with the phrase "May the prince and the country live long." An expression of his involvement in state affairs was a telegram sent by his office to Albert Schädler:[15]

His Majesty reacted with reservation to the fact that a committee had taken over power in the country. Official decisions on the committee will follow.

— Prince's office on behalf of Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein, [15]

The coup had directly undermined the 1862 Constitution of Liechtenstein and in combination with the economic devastation created from World War I it had created a large and significant basis of support for constitutional revision in the country.[17] This would begin a period of the next three years where both the Progressive Citizens' Party and Christian-Social People's Party worked together in creating a new constitution based on a constitutional monarchy, which was ratified on 5 October 1921.[18][19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Quaderer, Rupert (31 December 2011). "Novemberputsch 1918". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Weltkrieg, Erster (31 December 2011). "Erster Weltkrieg". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ↑ Quaderer, Rupert (31 December 2011). "Notstandskommissionen". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "10,000 NEUTRALS STARVING.; Swiss Government Sends Food to Liechtenstein Population". The New York Times. 21 March 1915. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Burgmeier, Markus (31 December 2011). "Schmuggel". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  6. ↑ Marxer, Roland (31 December 2011). "Neutralität". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Leipold-Schneider, Gerda (31 December 2011). "Beck, Wilhelm". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  8. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Oberrheinische Nachrichten". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 Quaderer, Rupert (31 December 2011). "Imhof, Leopold Baron von". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Vincent E McHale (1983) Political parties of Europe, Greenwood Press, p609 ISBN 0-313-23804-9
  11. ↑ Dieter Nohlen; Philip Stöver (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook (in German). p. 1182. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
  12. 1 2 Quaderer, Rupert (31 December 2011). "Ritter, Martin". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  13. ↑ Rheinberger, Rudolf (31 December 2011). "Schädler, Albert". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  14. ↑ "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862–2021". www.regierung.li.
  15. 1 2 3 Jureczko, Andrzej; Wac, Ewa (2007). Historia Liechtensteinu. W: Historia małych krajów Europy [History of Liechtenstein. In: History of small European countries] (in Polish). Ossolineum. pp. 106–107. ISBN 978-83-04-04937-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. 1 2 Rupert, Quaderer. "Der 7. November 1918. Staatsstreich – Putsch – Revolution oder politisches Spektakel im Kleinstaat Liechtenstein?". Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein. 93: 204–212.
  17. ↑ Rupert, Quaderer. "Der 7. November 1918. Staatsstreich – Putsch – Revolution oder politisches Spektakel im Kleinstaat Liechtenstein?". Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein. 93: 212–216.
  18. ↑ Quaderer, Rupert (31 December 2011). "Schlossabmachungen (Septemberabmachungen, Schloss-Protokoll)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  19. ↑ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1156 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
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