„Das Vorarlberger Volk will leben und nicht zugrunde gehen“ Die Vorarlberger Anschlussbewegung an die Schweiz 1918–1920 aus staatsrechtlicher Sicht

Abstract

This article examines the political ambitions of the Austrian Land Vorarlberg to join the Swiss Federation in the years 1918 to 1920 from a constitutional point of view. While the Swiss opinions were divided on that issue, the Austrian government in Vienna tried to prevent the separation of Vorarlberg from the rest of Austria. By contrast, the government of Vorarlberg referred to the right of self-determination. However, the efforts of Vorarlberg to secede from the new Austrian Republic ultimately failed, because of the political realities and the prevailing historical circumstances. Eventually, the Land Vorarlberg integrated seamlessly into the Austrian federation.