Liechtenstein’s 81st soldier
The Prussian War was one of several that dominated Europe in the 19th century- but the army of one of the continent’s smallest states was the subject of one of the more bizarre stories
Liechtenstein is far from being a European superpower. Nestled in between Switzerland and Austria, it is the fourth smallest country on the continent. But Liechtenstein is an example of no country being too small to have a rich and colourful history.
If you go back through the years, past its stunning castles and the culturally rich capital of Vaduz, you’ll find a remarkable story. The Austro-Prussian War of 1866 was essentially a German Civil War, with other European nations backing the Austrian-led Confederate states.
One of these nations was Liechtenstein, which in 1866 had a very small army. During the war, the nation sent 80 soldiers to join in the fight against Prussian forces- a number that was far less than the other belligerents including Austria, Bavaria, and Saxony.
The 80 soldiers were sent off to guard the Brenner Pass which lies between Austria and Italy, and another 20 were kept behind as a reserve. They had a relatively comfortable job in the war, which only lasted around five weeks, and this was to keep an eye out for Italian soldiers who were backing Prussia. Such was the quiet nature of this section of the line, many of the soldiers reported being able to relax, take in the views, drink wine, and smoke their pipes.
The final blow of the war was dealt by Prussian forces at the Battle of Königgrätz, bringing the conflict to an end. This meant that the 80-strong force in Liechtenstein was on the losing side, but in all fairness, they seemed to enjoy their time in this particular war. The soldiers made their way back home West, through Austria, and back to Liechtenstein.
However, to the surprise of probably their superiors and most of the homeland’s population, 81 soldiers returned over the border. Of course, this was one more than had left Liechtenstein, which is quite unusual in war.
A mystery figure joined the soldiers on their march back from their positions on the Italian-Austrian border. The stories surrounding the identity of the 81st soldier are varied, but several of them confirm that he was Austrian. However, others suggest he was Italian, leading to suggestions the man was a defector.
This is one of the real mysteries of war in Europe, from a nation that is often overlooked, being surrounded by some of the continent’s powerhouses. They are a rare example of an army returning from a war with more soldiers than it left with, and it was one of the last acts of Liechtenstein’s national army.
The army was disbanded in 1868 following the dissolving of Leichtenstein’s confederacy. This is when the nation declared permanent neutrality, and it was maintained during both of the world wars. It’s been over 150 years since this small European nation had an army, but this unusual tale of how it once went to war and came back with more soldiers than it went with will live on.
