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Post-communist reparations is one big mess in central Europe. I think the case of Lichtenstein is one of the most stark: > Through the prince of Liechtenstein
by zokier 7y ago
Post-communist reparations is one big mess in central Europe. I think the case of Lichtenstein is one of the most stark:
> Through the prince of Liechtenstein and his family, this country on the Alpine Rhine was still closely linked to the distant Czech lands in the first half of the 20th century, and after 1918 the prince and other family members had an influential role in Czechoslovakia as late-Medieval propertied aristocrats. There were two phases which led to the complete loss of this property – firstly, they lost more than half from 1920 to 1938 as a result of Czechoslovak land reform (with financial compensation), and they lost the rest after 1945 through confiscation. The fate of the Czech lands, Czechoslovakia and its population in the first half of the 20th century had repercussions for the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Liechtenstein princely family. The prince was both the head of state and the head of the family. He gradually lost 90% of his assets as a result of land reform and confiscation in Czechoslovakia. From the 1920s to the 1960s the prince and his family were plagued by financial difficulties.
It is easy to brush these away as long past history, but for example these properties were confiscated from the hands of the current princes father. That I'd think as pretty close connection still.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- Gibbon1 7y ago> It is easy to brush these away as long past history, but for example these properties were confiscated from the hands of the current princes father. That I'd think as pretty close connection still. I'm having a problem coming up with a reason why we should care about the prince of Liechtenstein compared any other random person. Seriously during the period when they lost their lands whole families were totally wiped out. Especially considering they were neutral during WWII.
- zokier 7y ago> I'm having a problem coming up with a reason why we should care about the prince of Liechtenstein compared any other random person I see the situation in quite the opposite way; these high profile cases spearheading the effort to get the soviet/communist abuses acknowledged and establishing the principle of restitution that'll then help all those subjected to confiscations etc
- darkcha0s 7y ago1. So what about the abuses that came before, which lead these families to have such vast properties and wealth? Those castles weren't built by good will 2. I can only echo the sentiment that I care very little about restitution of former royals, while entire families were dispossessed or wiped out in the same periods of time. Not like anyone cared to return the millions stolen from the Jews during WW2
- Gibbon1 7y agoMisc reading led me down a rabbit hole of how wealthy land owners in Prussia would use tax laws and threats of force to steal land from smaller farmers.
- afiori 7y ago> Especially considering they were neutral during WWII. Neutrality is strongly in favor of Liechtenstein case here. Similarly to how when the neutral San Marino got bombed in WWII Italy was held liable for reparations.
- Gibbon1 7y agoEveryone had to sacrifice something, my uncle sacrificed 4 years of his life. Maybe losing his inherited lands is the prince of Liechtenstein's sacrifice.
- afiori 7y agoI would say that this kind of sacrifice should not be expected or demanded across national borders. Had the prince forfeited or sold the land for the safety of the nation then he would agree with you. but as far as I know this is more like your uncle getting kidnapped for 4 years (human life and land are incomparable, so this makes little sense) by a different country to fight their war. Note that this sort of already happen when regions that want to/should be independent get exploited in war times.
- pmiller2 7y agoEspecially since the Prince is the richest monarch in Europe according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Adam_II,_Prince_of_Liechtenstein#Personal_wealth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Adam_II,_Prince_of_Liecht... Once someone is worth $4billion, the idea that we should care that they're not worth 10x more is ludicrous.