Alemannic Separatism

Alemannic Separatism is a historical movement of limited notability advocating the unification of the Alemannic-speaking areas northeast of the Rhine and Lake Constance with Switzerland. It has its roots in the Napoleonic era, and briefly resurfaced after the Second World War in with the call of Otto Feger for separatism of all Alemannic parts of Germany in his 1946 "Schwäbisch-Alemannische Demokratie".

There are no active proponents of the idea today, and "Alemannic Separatism" is at best found occasionally as a sentimental attitude among the Alemannic speaking population northeast of the Rhine and Lake Constance.

History

The historic reasons for the movement lie in the randomly drawn borders set up during the Napoleonic era, which took no concern for linguistic borders but rather separated large areas from Switzerland for the sake of territorial concessions to Baden, Württemberg, and Bavaria, or left them with France. The city of Laufenburg for instance, is one of the last divided cities of Europe, and Büsingen is an enclave of Germany.

Alemannic Separatism also roots in the liberation fight of the Southern Badian peasants against Napoleon, which led to an emerging Alemannic national assertiveness. Examples of Alemannic Separatism can be found in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein. Following World War I, Voralberg held a referendum in which the population voted by a large majority for negotiating their separation from Austria and unification with Switzerland, which was dismissed by both governments. Liechtenstein successfully separated from Austria at the end of World War I and established monetary ties with Switzerland. Similar movements north of the Rhine and Lake Constance were quickly suppressed by the states of Baden and Wuerttemberg.

After World War II, political forces in Southern Baden who had in many cases been part of the resistance against Nazism, together with Southern Alsace and the Canton Basel attempted to set up an Alemannic State. This failed due to Swiss and French opposition to the plan.

Northern Alemannic point of view (Germany)

Support of the idea is mostly found in Southern Baden, in the region north of the Rhine, directly bordering to Switzerland.

The movement is paradoxically fuelled by the retreat of the Alemannic language in Southwestern Germany, which seems severely threatened by the Standard German language. Those people who perceive themselves as Alemannic, regard stronger ties with Switzerland as the only way to preserve their cultural and ethnic integrity.

Apart from the sentimental disaffirmation of the affiliation to the Federal Republic of Germany, economic reasons loom large, and unification with Switzerland is seen as a way to maintain economic prosperity and political stability.

Overall, the movement is of minor importance. The slogan "Adee Düütschland. Mr gont!" (bye, bye Germany we're going) is occasionally heard.

wiss point of view

In Switzerland, the Alemannic separatism is only known as a southern German peculiarity, if it is known at all. When it is noted, it typically meets with amusement, since Switzerland is not an Alemannic nation-state but a consociational state with a significant Latin minority, and there is no Swiss irredentism concerning non-Swiss Alemannic territories. On the contrary, there is a certain feeling of division between "Swiss" and "Swabian", a traditional sentiment harking back to the Swabian War of 1499.

In French-speaking Switzerland, Alemannic Separatism is known virtually exclusively to historians. Mostly the idea is seen with indifference due to it being perceived as utopical.

Historically more associated with Switzerland are the Veltlin which belonged to the Grisons until the French Revolution, the Chablais in which Switzerland had the right of military passage in case of war, and Vorarlberg which has always had strong ties to the Grisons.

Vorarlbergian point of view

Following the First World War, Vorarlberg officially sought accession to the Swiss Confereracy. Today, pan-Alemannic aspirations, if any, are largely a matter of nostalgic sentiment, perhaps felt strongest in the south, where the people feel an attachment to the Canton Graubünden.

Alsatian point of view

In Alsace a separatist right-radical splinter-party called "Alsace d'abord" (Alsace first) advocates weaker ties to France. As the Alsatians identify themselves mainly as Alsatians and have a certain animosity toward the people of Southern Baden and the Germans in general, they are not supportive of Alemannic Separatism. Only in the south of Alsace, near Mulhouse are the ties to Basel and Switzerland stronger and the population would like to foster these cultural and economic ties with Switzerland.

ee also

*Alemannia
*Swabia
*Alamanni