What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident after a company of 170 Swiss soldiers got lost at night - and then marched into neighbouring Liechtenstein. The troops wandered about 1.5km across an unmarked border into the tiny principality before realising their mistake and turning back. An army spokesman said serious repercussions for the mistaken ``invasion’’ were unlikely.It gets funnier, though. Nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington DC, doesn't have an army. Nor is it likely to need one to repel the neutral Swiss.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Swiss Army Knife-Edge
Troops `Invade’ Liechenstein By Mistake
What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident after a company of 170 Swiss soldiers got lost at night - and then marched into neighbouring Liechtenstein. The troops wandered about 1.5km across an unmarked border into the tiny principality before realising their mistake and turning back. An army spokesman said serious repercussions for the mistaken ``invasion’’ were unlikely.It gets funnier, though. Nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington DC, doesn't have an army. Nor is it likely to need one to repel the neutral Swiss.
What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident after a company of 170 Swiss soldiers got lost at night - and then marched into neighbouring Liechtenstein. The troops wandered about 1.5km across an unmarked border into the tiny principality before realising their mistake and turning back. An army spokesman said serious repercussions for the mistaken ``invasion’’ were unlikely.It gets funnier, though. Nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington DC, doesn't have an army. Nor is it likely to need one to repel the neutral Swiss.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I bet Ulrich Von Licthenstein was there to repel them.
Perhaps not, but he might take the credit!
Pull up a sandbag. Anecdotal, but there is strong evidence that it actually happened!
During the second phase (August 1974) of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, a bunch of Turkish soldiers led by a captain were steam-rollering their way to the south and east, with the intention of taking the port of Famagusta. They travelled at night, and despite not having up-to-date navigational maps, they made good time and were within sight of their objective just before dawn. They didn't meet any resistance from the Cypriot National Guard. But they didn't count on running into a British Army contingent from the nearby British Army base at Dhekelia, who were also led by a captain.
As dawn broke, both sets of soldiers were taken by surprise when they spotted the 'enemy'. But commonsense prevailed and both sides refrained from 'putting down fire'. Rather, the two officers approached each other and 'conferred'.
Brit: "I say, old chap, what exactly are you doing here?"
Turk: "Capturing the territory."
Brit: "But you can't do that!"
Turk: "Why not? We are the invading army."
Brit: "And when did your country declare war on mine?"
Turk: "Pardon?"
Brit: "You're standing on British Soveriegn Base Area territory. In other words, you're on British soil."
Turk: "Came too far, huh?"
Brit: "Seems like it. Congratulations, but you'd better go back about 20 kilometres."
Turk: "Oh, okay. I am sure we can do that. Good day to you."
Brit "And to you."
Not a shot fired. Not a drop of blood spilled. And if you have the time, or inclination, click on this link to see how the island of Cyprus was eventually carved up. Follow the "Green Line" (that's another story for another time) eastward and check out the proximity of the British SBA with the port of Famagusta.
Post a Comment