Today, Liechtenstein is a small country – the fourth-smallest state in Europe and the sixth smallest in the world. It rests on the banks of the Rhine between Switzerland and Austria.
It was named after the Prince of Liechtenstein, who united the County of Vaduz and the lands of Schellenberg in 1719, forming their small but charming Principality of Liechtenstein.
They managed to remain neutral and to a huge extent avoid both world wars. In 1943, Lichtenstein went so far as to ban the Nazi party. By this time, indeed, they didn’t even have an army, having disbanded it completely in 1868.
The last time the Liechtenstein army was deployed was in 1866 and this date remains notorious for two reasons: first, they lost no battles and suffered zero casualties (having avoided all fighting). Second, they left with a force of 80 men — and returned home with 81.
The war in which the army was deployed for is known as the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Liechtenstein sent an army of 80 strong soldiers to guard the Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy while a reserve of 20 men stayed behind at home.
While the deployed force was there to defend the territory against any attack from the Prussian-allied Italians, according to War History Online, “there was really nothing to do but sit in the beautiful mountains, drink wine and beer, smoke a pipe and take it easy.”
So the men of Liechtenstein marched home. When they returned, however, their numbers had grown to 81. But who was the extra man?
According to The World at War, an Austrian liaison officer joined them and the number of soldiers grew from 80 to 81. Other sources name the newcomer as an “Italian friend” suggesting that he defected from the Italian army.
None of the stories seems to be substantiated — but no one has debunked them either. Meanwhile, Liechtenstein remains a thriving and successful country — that still has no army to this day.
It is not under any threat from its neighbours, and its small police force maintains order in a nation with one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
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