When did Switzerland accidentally invade Liechtenstein?

On October 14, 1968, Swiss soldiers accidentally fired five mortar shells into Liechtenstein while practising about two miles from the border. The shells hit what was then the country’s only ski resort east of Triesenberg. Liechtenstein authorities reported no one was hurt and they would “only mildly” protest.

How many times has Switzerland invaded Liechtenstein?

Swiss history: How the army attacked Liechtenstein three times — by mistake. Switzerland has been neutral for the past 500 years. But that didn’t stop it from “invading” its tiny neighbour three times in the past 35 years. How did this happen?

Has Switzerland ever invaded another country?

The Swiss army at the time of the First World War 1815 was the last time Switzerland had invaded another state, namely France, two weeks after the Battle of Waterloo! The Swiss army had last fought in 1847, during the Sonderbund, a short civil war.

Did Liechtenstein get invaded?

The Swiss army is not renowned for its aggressive expeditionary adventures – but it does appear to have accidentally invaded Liechtenstein. According to the Swiss daily Blick, around 170 infantry soldiers from the famously neutral country wandered more than a mile across the unmarked border with the tiny principality.

What country accidentally invaded Switzerland?

Liechtenstein
Switzerland apologized to Liechtenstein for the incident. On 3 March 2007, a company of 171 Swiss soldiers mistakenly entered Liechtenstein, as they were disoriented and took a wrong turn due to bad weather conditions. The troops returned to Swiss territory after they had travelled more than 2 km into the country.

Why is Liechtenstein a separate country?

Liechtenstein joined Napoleon in 1806 following the Confederation of the Rhine and the dissolution of the HRE. It retained its independence only because Charles VI had granted it the highest status as a result of the acquisition of Schellenberg and Vaduz.

How many wars has Liechtenstein been in?

The 15th century brought three wars and some devastation. The Principality takes its name from the Liechtenstein family, rather than vice versa, and the family in turn takes its name from Liechtenstein Castle in Lower Austria, which it owned from at least 1140 until the 13th century and from 1807 onwards.

Did Switzerland invade Liechtenstein in 2007?

Switzerland invades Liechtenstein March 13, 2007 WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — Most Swiss newspapers didn’t even bother to report that on March 1, 170 Swiss Army troops crossed the border into Liechtenstein. Not that we see that many invasions here in the Alps, but it soon became clear that this was simply an error in orienteering.

What would you do if you were invaded by Liechtenstein?

Invading Liechtenstein was admittedly a foolish thing to do, but at least the Swiss Army has shown it knows how to bring a failed military action to a happy conclusion. You just turn around and sneak back home as quickly and quietly as you can before anybody notices.

How dangerous is the Swiss-Lichtenstein border?

Now, admittedly, the Swiss-Lichtenstein border is undefended and largely unmonitored, but crossing into another country is a big deal, especially if you’re an army. To start off the international incidents, in 1968 the Swiss army accidentally attacked a ski resort at Malburn with grenades.

Why did the Swiss Army launch rockets into Liechtenstein?

On December 5, 1985, the Swiss Army was conducting a training exercise which included the use of surface-to-air missiles. Despite the bad weather and strong winds, they decided to launch their rockets anyway, so off they went… Straight into Liechtenstein’s Bannwald forest.