"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Thursday, March 29, 2012
In case you were wondering about Liechtenstein's military history
"In Liechtenstein’s last military engagement in 1866, none of the 80 soldiers sent were injured, and that in fact 81 returned, including a new Italian 'friend'".
When we were in Munich, back in the 70s, we drove through Lichtenstein, just to say we'd been there. It took half an afternoon, if I recall. The only thing I remember about it is that the country is mostly vertical.
It's an attractive place in a sanitised rather dull sort of Swiss way which you might expect given the location. I was told that it has more banks than citizens and certainly every building you see has numerous blass plaques indicating that it's the (purely notional) headquarters of this or that company.
The Principality, I've heard, did have one later military encounter, during WWII. The way I heard it, the Nazis decided to take over the country, so they infiltrated a company of troops in civvies into the capital, Vaduz. A company of tanks was waiting at the border. Apparently the plan was for the "civilians" to seize the radio station and, pretending to be real Liechtensteiners, call for German intervention to "liberate" the place. The tanks would roll in, responding to the plea, and Liechtenstein would be one more Ausland brought home to the Reich.
The tankers waited and waited for the call, but none came. Finally a bus drove up to the border and the German "civilians" were let out of it and pushed across the border. The police had arrested them. It had not occured to the planners of this comic opera coup that in a tiny place like Vaduz, a bunch of super-fit, military age men walking around trying to look inconspicuous, would stand out like a cow in church.
Thus the German invasion was averted. The Prince got in touch with the Swiss, who threatened to cut off the butter shipments to Germany if there was any repetition, and Liechtenstein survived WWII victoriously.
AKA "The Duchy of Grand Fenwick"
ReplyDeleteWhen we were in Munich, back in the 70s, we drove through Lichtenstein, just to say we'd been there. It took half an afternoon, if I recall. The only thing I remember about it is that the country is mostly vertical.
ReplyDeleteIt's an attractive place in a sanitised rather dull sort of Swiss way which you might expect given the location. I was told that it has more banks than citizens and certainly every building you see has numerous blass plaques indicating that it's the (purely notional) headquarters of this or that company.
ReplyDeleteThe Principality, I've heard, did have one later military encounter, during WWII. The way I heard it, the Nazis decided to take over the country, so they infiltrated a company of troops in civvies into the capital, Vaduz. A company of tanks was waiting at the border. Apparently the plan was for the "civilians" to seize the radio station and, pretending to be real Liechtensteiners, call for German intervention to "liberate" the place. The tanks would roll in, responding to the plea, and Liechtenstein would be one more Ausland brought home to the Reich.
ReplyDeleteThe tankers waited and waited for the call, but none came. Finally a bus drove up to the border and the German "civilians" were let out of it and pushed across the border. The police had arrested them. It had not occured to the planners of this comic opera coup that in a tiny place like Vaduz, a bunch of super-fit, military age men walking around trying to look inconspicuous, would stand out like a cow in church.
Thus the German invasion was averted. The Prince got in touch with the Swiss, who threatened to cut off the butter shipments to Germany if there was any repetition, and Liechtenstein survived WWII victoriously.
At any rate, that's the story as I heard it.