# Swiss Accidentally Invade Liechtenstein **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 2, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336 "2007-03-02T19:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/21 "2007-03-03T07:59:43Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Those _filthy_ Neutrals! You can’t trust em. With an enemy, you know where you stand. But the sneakiness of Neutrals makes them too unscrutable to turn your back on… [/QUOTE] What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/22 "2007-03-03T08:24:57Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] I like the fact that they were carrying assault rifles – but no ammunition. In a fight between the Swiss and the [Japanese](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=409674), who would win? [/QUOTE] Hey, I have no idea about the army, but I’ll place my bets on their navies. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/23 "2007-03-03T08:35:49Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] I like the fact that they were carrying assault rifles – but no ammunition. In a fight between the Swiss and the [Japanese](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=409674), who would win? [/QUOTE] Do the Japanese have Godzilla as part of their arsenal? I think that’s a crucial factor. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/24 "2007-03-03T12:13:22Z")
[QUOTE=Sunrazor] The Swiss have a Navy? Who knew? [/QUOTE] Well, don’t forget that Capt. Wilhelm von Trapp (he who Solve[d] a Problem like Maria by Climb[ing] Ev’ry Mountain with her, presumably trampling all the Edelweiss…) was retired from the Austrian Navy. And, of course, the Regent of Hungary (between the wars, Hungary operated on the principle that the most effective way to run a government was to have the trappings of a monarchy without the problems associated with actually letting the monarch across the border into he country) was Admiral Horthy. There are also ocean-going ships flying the Swiss flag, which can come up the Rhine to Basel. So apparently being landlocked in Europe doesn’t mean what it does elsewhere. (I shall carefully avoid bringing up the time the Paraguayan cavalry charged a U.S. Navy gunboat, or the Chileño Indians who raided the grounded steam frigate.) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/25 "2007-03-03T12:21:19Z")
Switzerland does have a bit of a Navy - some patrol boats on lakes which are part of an international border. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/26 "2007-03-03T12:23:34Z")
In fairness, it has to be acknowledged that Liechtenstein looks a lot like Switzerland. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/27 "2007-03-03T12:34:48Z")
[QUOTE=Sunrazor] The Swiss have a Navy? Who knew? [/QUOTE] I did. [here](http://www.swissnavy.ch/Fotobuch/G8/InFormation/information.html) are some [pictures](http://www.swissnavy.ch/wk2000/Touristenfahrten/touristenfahrten.html) of the boys at [work](http://www.swissnavy.ch/wk2000/Zeitungsartikel/zeitungsartikel.html). ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/28 "2007-03-03T12:45:07Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] I like the fact that they were carrying assault rifles – but no ammunition. [/QUOTE] What do they need with ammunition? They have those funky little knives with deadly weapons, such as the corkscrew. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/29 "2007-03-03T15:47:02Z")
[QUOTE=flodnak] What do they need with ammunition? They have those funky little knives with deadly weapons, such as the corkscrew. [/QUOTE] Far more deadly is the gumsmack for getting stones outta horses hooves ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/30 "2007-03-03T18:20:32Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] Hey, don’t knock it. Personally, I think that’s the best way to conduct an invasion. You wander in, look around, enjoy the day, wander back out. And I bet it didn’t cost any $3B, either. [/QUOTE] What sort of idiotic country would waste $3B on an invasion? * * * What no mention of the [Swiss Guard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Guard) yet? I always wondered if the Halberd have tools built into them also. Jim ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/31 "2007-03-03T18:36:49Z")
You know, once you’ve accidentally invaded, you might as well accidentally conquer it. I mean how much of an army can Liechtenstein have? A couple weightlifters and a gardner with a rake? You could probably overwhelm their forces with a liquored-up pee-wee football team. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/32 "2007-03-03T18:44:34Z")
According to Richard Armour in _It All Started With Stones And Clubs_, Hitler’s forces overran Lichtenstein in a single day during WWII … then checked their maps and came back more slowly. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/33 "2007-03-03T19:11:55Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] Well, don’t forget that Capt. Wilhelm von Trapp (he who Solve[d] a Problem like Maria by Climb[ing] Ev’ry Mountain with her, presumably trampling all the Edelweiss…) was retired from the Austrian Navy.[/SIZE] [/QUOTE] I cannot believe I am actually writing a post discussing the naval history in a cheesy musical, but when I saw that movie I assumed he had been in the [Austro-Hungarian Navy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Navy). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/34 "2007-03-03T21:14:09Z")
[QUOTE=slaphead] I cannot believe I am actually writing a post discussing the naval history in a cheesy musical, but when I saw that movie I assumed he had been in the [Austro-Hungarian Navy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Navy). [/QUOTE] You’re right. The Master speaks on Capt. von Trapp’s naval service: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a950707b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a950707b.html) As for the “accidental” invasion of Liechtenstein: no wonder the _Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists_ has moved the minute hand of their famous clock a little closer to midnight… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/35 "2007-03-03T21:45:01Z")
As a person with her ancestral feet firmly in Liechtenstein, I must say: _We are not amused._ ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/36 "2007-03-03T22:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin] I did. [here](http://www.swissnavy.ch/Fotobuch/G8/InFormation/information.html) are some [pictures](http://www.swissnavy.ch/wk2000/Touristenfahrten/touristenfahrten.html) of the boys at [work](http://www.swissnavy.ch/wk2000/Zeitungsartikel/zeitungsartikel.html). [/QUOTE] Well, I’ll be darned! They really do have a nav … hey, wait a minute! Those boats all say “Police” on 'em! What’re you tryin’ta pull here!? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/37 "2007-03-03T23:08:58Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] You’re right. The Master speaks on Capt. von Trapp’s naval service: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a950707b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a950707b.html) As for the “accidental” invasion of Liechtenstein: no wonder the _Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists_ has moved the minute hand of their famous clock a little closer to midnight… :eek: [/QUOTE] When did \*\*Liechtenstein \*\* get the Bomb? Jim ---
**Author:** ![29car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/ebca7d/32.png) [@29car](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/29car)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/38 "2007-03-03T23:37:18Z")
Was France able to take their surrender back? ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/39 "2007-03-03T23:51:09Z")
GWB: “This act of aggression will not stand!” US Citizens: “Oh, fuck.” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336/40 "2007-03-04T02:16:36Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality? [/QUOTE] “If I don’t make it, tell my wife…hello.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-accidentally-invade-liechtenstein/394336.md?page=3)