Military history of Liechtenstein

However, under the constitution of Liechtenstein citizens are still obligated to defend the country in the event of an external threat, and the army may be reformed if deemed necessary.

[1] Both the County of Vaduz and the Lordship of Schellenberg respectively held regional militias tasked with the defending of their territories, primarily compositioned of Ministerialis.

[5] Liechtenstein was obligated to provide a military force to the Swabian Circle of the Holy Roman Empire since its formation in the early 15th century, which was maintained until its dissolution its in 1803.

During the War of the Second Coalition, France invaded the country on 6 March 1799 and plundered several towns, including Nendeln that was burned by French troops, which resulted in the deaths of four people.

Liechtenstein shortly afterwards joined the German Confederation, in which it was also obligated to provide a military force, which initially consisted of 55 men.

[7]The military was commanded by Bavarian corporal Ludwig Freiherr von Falkenhausen from 1848 to 1858, though as a protestant he was not immediately accepted by the catholic-dominant Liechtenstein population.

[8] Like most of Europe at the time, the country was faced with the Revolution of 1848 in Liechtenstein, though the military was not used against the revolutionaries and Falkenhausen was granted leave in April of the same year.

[12] The Liechtenstein contingent took up position on the Stilfser Joch under the command of Peter Rheinberger to defend the Austrian border against possible attacks by the Italians under Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Due to its unpopularity among the population and the rising cost to maintain it, Liechtenstein disbanded its army of 80 men on 12 February 1868 and declared its permanent neutrality.

[2][15] Though Liechtenstein was neutral throughout World War I, it was closely tied to Austria-Hungary due to the customs union between the two countries and was sympathetic to the Central Powers.

Foreign citizens living in Liechtenstein were conscripted into the armies of their respective home countries, primarily Austria-Hungary and Germany, of which 27 did not return.

[30][31] However, under the constitution of Liechtenstein every citizen is required to defend the country in the event of an external threat, and the military may be reformed at any time is deemed necessary.