History of the Jews in Liechtenstein

The Jewish community of Liechtenstein today is a population of 18 people (out of a total population of 33,987). [ [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51564.htm U.S. Department of State - International Religious Freedom Report 2005 - Liechtenstein] ]

World War II

According to a 2005 study, about 240 Jewish refugees fled during the Nazi area, and found safety in the neutral alpine principality during World War II. In addition, the principality allowed 144 Jews to become citizens “in return for high fees” during the Nazi era. Most of those new citizens ( _de. Neubürger) never lived in Liechtenstein but chose another country. The fact of being a Liechtensteiner made it easier for them to establish themselves in a western country.

However, an unknown number were turned back and between 1938 and 1939 at least 132 demands of entry visa were refused. [ [http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/25665/edition_id/498/format/html/displaystory.html The Jewish News Weekly, 22 April 2005, retrieved 10 Jan 2006] ]

Even though it was sandwiched between neutral Switzerland and Nazi-controlled Austria, Liechtenstein still had some room to manoeuvre. Liechtenstein accepted mainly rich Jews, who were expected to spend their money in the country or who created jobs by establishing companies in the prinicpiality. Like the most other western and overseas countries, Liechtenstein tighted its immigration laws in 1938. Liechtenstein’s policy can therefore be compared to the other countries.

The family of Liechtenstein’s Prince Franz Josef II bought property and art objects taken from Jews in Austria and Czechoslovakia and rented Jewish inmates from a Nazi SS concentration camp near Vienna for forced labour on nearby royal estates, the study said. [ [http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/25665/edition_id/498/format/html/displaystory.html The Jewish News Weekly, 22 April 2005, retrieved 10 Jan 2006] ]

References

See also

*History of the Jews in Switzerland
*The Holocaust
*Racial policy of Nazi Germany

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51564.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2005: Liechtenstein]