1 Peter Geiger – Tomáš Knoz – Eliška Fučíková – Ondřej Horák – Catherine Horel – Johann Kräftner – Thomas Winkelbauer – Jan Županič CZECH–LIECHTENSTEIN RELATIONS PAST AND PRESENT A summary report by the Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians Brno 2014 2 CONTENTS A Word of Introduction Foreword I. Introduction a. The Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians and its activities 2010–2013 b. Sources, literature, research, methodology II. The Liechtensteins in times of change a. The Middle Ages and the Early Modern Age b. The 19th Century c. The 20th Century III. Main issues a. Sites of memory and constructing a historical image of the Liechtensteins b. The Liechtensteins and art c. Land reform and confiscation IV. Conclusions a. Summary b. Outstanding areas and other possible steps V. Prospects VI. A selection from the sources and bibliography a. Archival sources b. Source editions c. Bibliography VII. Workshops and publications by the Commission of Historians a. Workshops b. Publications by the Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians Summary Zusammenfassung Index 3 A Word of Introduction This joint summary report by the Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians represents an important milestone in the relations between both of our countries. On the one hand, the Commission of Historians examined the joint history of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, as well as the House of Liechtenstein, while on the other, they looked at the relations between both our countries in the 20th century. The commission's findings have contributed greatly towards better mutual understanding and have created a valuable basis for the continued cooperation between the two countries. The depth and thoroughness of this three-year work by the Commission of Historians is impressive, and this extensive publication sheds light on the remarkable and still visible mark that the House of Liechtenstein left behind on Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. The Commission of Historians also examined complex periods in the relations between our two countries and identified issues which both sides have different opinions on. It is, therefore, incumbent on both of our countries to assess the wide-ranging results of the Commission of Historians and make them accessible to the general public to deepen our mutual understanding and overcome stereotypes. We share the Commission's opinion that we should build on the positive aspects of our shared history. The Commission of Historians' work represents the public image of the positive development in the relations on both sides following the re-establishment of diplomatic ties on 8 September 2009. Political, economic and cultural cooperation has reached a remarkable level over a relatively short period of time. The atmosphere of trust creates room for even more fundamental cooperation and allows for current issues of interest to be studied in more depth. Prague – Vaduz 13 January 2014 Jan Kohout Aurelia Frick Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs 4 Foreword Following three years of work the Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians presented its summary report to the people and governments of the Czech Republic and the Principality of Liechtenstein. In 2009 the Czech Republic and Liechtenstein re-established diplomatic ties, thus ameliorating a situation which had lasted since 1945. In 2010 the governments of both countries established a commission of historians in order to examine the development of relations within the context of their rich history to the present day. The basis of this report, which concluded the work of the Commission of Historians in 2013, was four two-day academic workshops which were attended by between twelve and eighteen speakers, and at the end of which a relevant academic paper was published. In addition, several academic projects were commissioned which were either published as part of the conference volumes (projects commissioned from the Czech contingent of the Commission), or as an independent publication (the Liechtenstein contingent of the Commission). The members of the Commission also carried out their own research work. They also collaborated with various specialists and institutions, which mainly included archives, museums and universities in Brno and Prague. Throughout the period, the Commission was involved in discussing and assessing various issues regarding Czech-Liechtenstein relations. The Commission has presented the summary report in a concise, compact and readable form. The Introduction (Chapter 1) contains the basis, assignment and mandate of the Czech- Liechtenstein Commission of Historians, as well as the brief form of its activities from 2010 to 2013, the character and scope of the sources and literature, and a summary of the methods used. A historical overview of the Princely House of Liechtenstein (chapter II) guides the reader through its ancestral history from the Middle Ages to the present, following the continuity as well as historical upheavals that it experienced, especially in the 17th and 20th centuries. From the 18th century, the Liechtensteins were also the reigning princes of the Rhenish Princely State, which meant that Czech-Liechtenstein relations took on the character of relations between two states. In the chapter entitled Main Issues (chapter III), historical images and stereotypes are looked at as “sites of memory”, which interconnect Liechtenstein and the Czech lands to this day. The next subchapter looks at art and its place in the history of the Princely House of Liechtenstein as a means of ancestral representation. One important and still current theme is the family's reaction to the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic, the introduction of land reform after 1920, the behaviour of the Liechtensteins both before and during the Second World War, and during the postwar period of confiscation. On the basis of its research, the Commission formulated certain conclusions, put forward open questions and attempted to suggest which directions could be taken in the future. Naturally, it is up to the governments of both countries how they wish to draw any practical conclusions. The Commission of Historians, consisting of four specialists from the Czech and Liechtenstein sides, worked independently, academically and in a collegial atmosphere. The summary report was unanimously approved by all the members of the Commission. The Commission is grateful for the help and cooperation from all of the speakers, authors, researchers, archives, institutions which held workshops, universities in Vienna, Prague and Brno, representatives from both governments, both ministries of foreign affairs, and in particular the two Commission secretaries, Sandra Wenaweser and Petra Sojková. The Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians Peter Geiger – Tomáš Knoz – Eliška Fučíková – Ondřej Horák – Catherine Horel – Johann Kräftner – Thomas Winkelbauer – Jan Županič 5 Brno – Schaan, 13th December 2013 I. INTRODUCTION 6 a. The Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians and its activities 2010–2013 (1) Background, objectives In Prague on the 8th of April 2009, the Liechtenstein Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aurelia Frick, and the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Kohout, signed a “Joint declaration on establishing diplomatic relations between the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic.”1 In connection to this there was issued a “Memorandum on the understanding and future cooperation” between the two countries. Among other things this document also established a “joint Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians,” which was to address “the joint history of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia and the Princely House of Liechtenstein, as well as relations between the two countries during the 20th century,” with the objective of “contributing towards the mutual understanding of their common history, their hopes and challenges, and in so doing, create a basis for future productive cooperation.”2 The establishment of the Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians was an important part of the process of restoring diplomatic relations. The Commission was to shed light on historical issues which had been ignored due to the situation following 1945. On the 7th of April 2010, the ministers Aurelia Frick and Jan Kohout signed a special “Memorandum of understanding” in Vaduz, the subject of which was the establishment of the Czech-Liechtenstein Commission of Historians. The document defined the objectives, work methods, financing and work with the public. The work of the Commission of Czech- Liechtenstein Historians was to be independent of any political bodies.3 (2) Appointments, composition, establishment The Commission was established for three years and the ministers appointed a total of eight academics, with four from Liechtenstein and four from the Czech Republic. Each side then appointed one co-chairperson. Liechtenstein: PD Dr. Peter Geiger (co-chairperson), historian, Schaan Prof. Dr. Catherine Horel, historian, Paris Dr. Johann Kräftner, art historian, Vaduz – Vienna Prof. Dr. Thomas Winkelbauer, historian, Vienna The Czech Republic: Prof. PhDr. Mgr. Tomáš Knoz, Ph.D. (co-chairperson), historian, Brno PhDr. Eliška Fučíková, CSc., art historian, Prague Doc. PhDr. Jan Županič, Ph.D., historian, Prague PhDr. Marek Vařeka, Ph.D., historian, Hodonín (until June 2012) JUDr. Mgr. Ondřej Horák, Ph.D., legal historian, Olomouc (from June 2012) Each party appointed one commission secretary: 1 Joint declaration from 8th of September 2009. 2 Memorandum of Understanding