Editing History of Liechtenstein (section)

=== World War I ===
Liechtenstein did not participate in [[World War I]], claiming neutrality. However, until the end of the war, it was closely tied to [[Austria-Hungary]] due to the customs union between the two countries and was sympathetic to the [[Central Powers]]. The majority of the Liechtenstein government did not expect the war to last long, thus no food or economic preparations were made for it.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Quaderer |first=Rupert |author-link=Rupert Quaderer |date=31 December 2011 |title=Erster Weltkrieg |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Erster_Weltkrieg |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> At the outbreak of the war [[French Third Republic|France]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]] and the [[United Kingdom]] interned Liechtensteiners and partially confiscated their assets.<ref name=":5" /> As a result, the Liechtenstein government made various declarations that the country was neutral and a separate entity from Austria-Hungary.<ref name=":15" />

From September, food deliveries from Austria-Hungary, which Liechtenstein relied on, began to decrease. This quickly reduced the initial level of support for the war. In addition, Switzerland was pressured by Britain and France to end its food exports to Liechtenstein due to the latter's close ties to Austria-Hungary.<ref name=":15" /> In response, the Liechtenstein government, led by [[Leopold Freiherr von Imhof]], issued emergency commissions throughout the country on 14 December 1914. These commissions aimed to manage the procurement of food and raw materials, now in short supply, and to distribute them to the population.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quaderer |first=Rupert |author-link=Rupert Quaderer |date=31 December 2011 |title=Notstandskommissionen |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Notstandskommissionen |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref>

Foreign citizens living in Liechtenstein were conscripted into the armies of their respective home countries, primarily Austria-Hungary and [[German Empire|Germany]], of which 27 did not return. In addition, many Liechtensteiners also voluntarily enlisted in both armies, including several members of the house of Liechtenstein. In total, 4 Liechtenstein citizens are known to have been killed in the war despite the country being neutral, including [[Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein]], who is the highest member of the house of Liechtenstein to have been killed in action.<ref name=":15" /> Three Liechtensteiners were imprisoned for [[espionage]] during the war.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last1=Geiger |first1=Peter |author1-link=Peter Geiger |last2=Quaderer |first2=Rupert |author-link2=Rupert Quaderer |date=31 December 2011 |title=Spionage |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Spionage |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref>[[File:1916 Liechtenstein smugglers.jpg|thumb|A group of Liechtensteiner smugglers on pontoons, 1916.]]The [[Entente powers]] imposed an economic embargo on Liechtenstein in 1916.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Marxer |first=Roland |date=31 December 2011 |title=Neutralität |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Neutralität |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> The country faced economic devastation and food shortages as a result due to the lack of natural resources, which increased smuggling within the country significantly and forced the country to reduce its reliance on Austria-Hungary and seek closer economic ties with Switzerland.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burgmeier |first=Markus |date=31 December 2011 |title=Schmuggel |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Schmuggel |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":15" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 March 1915 |title=10,000 NEUTRALS STARVING.; Swiss Government Sends Food to Liechtenstein Population. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1915/03/21/archives/10000-neutrals-starving-swiss-government-sends-food-to.html |access-date=6 October 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
{{Further information|November 1918 Liechtenstein putsch}}
As the war dragged on, the country faced increasing civil unrest and dissatisfaction, particularly of that towards to the government of Leopold Freiherr von Imhof.<ref name=":05">{{Cite web |last=Quaderer |first=Rupert |author-link=Rupert Quaderer |date=31 December 2011 |title=Imhof, Leopold Baron von |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Imhof,_Leopold_Freiherr_von |access-date=3 October 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> Figures such as [[Wilhelm Beck]] formed an opposition group against him, and in November 1918 he was subject of a de facto [[coup d'état]] against him. The coup forced Imhof's government to resign and the establishment of a [[Provisional Executive Committee (Liechtenstein)|Provisional Executive Committee]] in his place until 7 December headed by [[Martin Ritter]], who was the first Liechtensteiner head of government.<ref name=":04">{{Cite web |last=Quaderer |first=Rupert |author-link=Rupert Quaderer |date=31 December 2011 |title=Novemberputsch 1918 |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Novemberputsch_1918 |access-date=3 October 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> Despite diplomatic efforts by Liechtenstein, they received no representation in the negotiations or signing of the [[Treaty of Versailles]], though the country received indirect recognition of its sovereignty in the [[Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919)|Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye]].<ref name=":15" />