# Alexander Frick

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{{Short description|Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1945 to 1962}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image           = Landesarchiv LLV Frick Alexander.jpg
| office          = [Prime Minister of Liechtenstein](/source/List_of_heads_of_government_of_Liechtenstein)
| deputy          = {{unbulleted list|[Ferdinand Nigg](/source/Ferdinand_Nigg)|[Josef Büchel](/source/Josef_B%C3%BCchel)}}
| monarch         = [Franz Joseph II](/source/Franz_Joseph_II%2C_Prince_of_Liechtenstein)
| term_start      = 3 September 1945
| term_end        = 16 July 1962
| predecessor     = [Josef Hoop](/source/Josef_Hoop)
| successor       = [Gerard Batliner](/source/Gerard_Batliner)
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1910|2|18|df=y}}
| birth_place     = [Schaan](/source/Schaan), [Liechtenstein](/source/Liechtenstein)
| death_date      = {{death date and age|1991|10|31|1910|2|18|df=y}}
| death_place     = Schaan, Liechtenstein
| party           = [Progressive Citizens' Party](/source/Progressive_Citizens'_Party)
| office2         = [President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein](/source/List_of_presidents_of_the_Landtag_of_Liechtenstein)
| term_start2     = January 1966
| term_end2       = December 1969
| predecessor2    = [Martin Risch](/source/Martin_Risch)
| successor2      = [Karlheinz Ritter](/source/Karlheinz_Ritter)
| monarch2        = Franz Joseph II
| caption         = Photograph by Walter Wachter {{circa|1960}}
| spouse          = {{marriage|Hildegard Kranz|1939}}
| children        = 9, including [Hansjörg Frick](/source/Hansj%C3%B6rg_Frick)
| office3         = Member of the [Landtag of Liechtenstein](/source/Landtag_of_Liechtenstein) for [Oberland](/source/Oberland_(electoral_district))
| term_start3     = 6 February 1966
| term_end3       = 3 February 1974
| vice_president2 = [Franz Nägele](/source/Franz_N%C3%A4gele)
| relations       = [Anton Frommelt](/source/Anton_Frommelt) (brother-in-law)<br>[Noldi Frommelt](/source/Noldi_Frommelt) (nephew)
}}
'''Alexander Frick''' ({{IPAc-en|f|ɹ|ɪ|k}}, {{IPA|de|ˌalɛˈksandɐ ˈfʁɪk|-}}; 18 February 1910 – 31 October 1991) was a politician from [Liechtenstein](/source/Liechtenstein) who served as [Prime Minister of Liechtenstein](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Liechtenstein) from 1945 to 1962. He later went on to serve in the [Landtag of Liechtenstein](/source/Landtag_of_Liechtenstein) from 1966 to 1974 and as the [President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein](/source/President_of_the_Landtag_of_Liechtenstein) from 1966 to 1969.

Initially a civil servant in the Liechtenstein fiscal administration, Frick was involved in the founding of the [Scouts of Liechtenstein](/source/Pfadfinder_und_Pfadfinderinnen_Liechtensteins) in 1931 and was the president of the [Liechtenstein Olympic Committee](/source/Liechtenstein_Olympic_Committee) at its first appearance at the [1936 Summer Olympics](/source/Liechtenstein_at_the_1936_Summer_Olympics). Frick was appointed prime minister in 1945 following the resignation of [Josef Hoop](/source/Josef_Hoop). His first years in office included domestic challenges, particularly that of pressure to repatriate the soldiers of the [First Russian National Army](/source/First_Russian_National_Army) and to cede the [Ellhorn](/source/Ellhorn) mountain to Switzerland. His premiership oversaw an economic boom in the Liechtenstein economy, and the transformation of the country into a modern welfare state. He resigned for health reasons in 1962.

Frick returned to politics when he was elected to the Landtag of Liechtenstein in [1966](/source/1966_Liechtenstein_general_election), where he served until 1974. He was the president of the Landtag from 1966 to 1969.

==Early life and career==

Frick was born on 18 February 1910 in [Schaan](/source/Schaan) as the son of his father by the same name and Theresia Wanger as one of 10 children, including his brother [Georg Frick](/source/Georg_Frick).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Frommelt |first=Fabian |date=31 December 2011 |title=Frick, Alexander |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Frick,_Alexander?marker=Alexander+Frick |access-date=18 May 2023 |website=[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein](/source/Historisches_Lexikon_des_F%C3%BCrstentums_Liechtenstein) |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stahl |first=Oliver |date=31 December 2011 |title=Frick, Georg |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Frick,_Georg |access-date=19 March 2024 |website=[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein](/source/Historisches_Lexikon_des_F%C3%BCrstentums_Liechtenstein) |language=de}}</ref> From 1925 to 1929 he attended a teacher's training college, where he received a certificate.<ref name=":2" />

From 1929 until 1936 he was a civil servant for the Liechtenstein fiscal administration, becoming director in 1936 and serving until 1945. In 1931 he founded the [Scouts of Liechtenstein](/source/Pfadfinder_und_Pfadfinderinnen_Liechtensteins), in which he played an active role in countering the activities of the [German National Movement in Liechtenstein](/source/German_National_Movement_in_Liechtenstein) (VBDL).<ref name=":2" /> From 1935 to 1937 he served as chairman of the [Liechtenstein Olympic Committee](/source/Liechtenstein_Olympic_Committee), and as the president of the committee at the [1936 Summer Olympics](/source/Liechtenstein_at_the_1936_Summer_Olympics).<ref name=":2" />

==Prime Minister of Liechtenstein==
[[File:Prinz Emanuel, Pfarrer Wachter, Alexander Frick und Oswald Bühler am Musikfest in Mauren.jpg|thumb|Frick (center) with [Oswald Bühler](/source/Oswald_B%C3%BChler) and [Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein](/source/Prince_Emanuel_of_Liechtenstein_(1908%E2%80%931987)) at a music festival in [Mauren](/source/Mauren) in June 1954.]]
Frick served as the [Prime Minister of Liechtenstein](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Liechtenstein) from 3 September 1945 until 16 July 1962, serving as a member of the [Progressive Citizens' Party](/source/Progressive_Citizens'_Party).<ref name="officehistory3">{{Cite web |title=Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021 |url=https://www.regierung.li/files/attachments/Regierungsmitglieder-1862-2021-stand-0421.pdf?t=638338392447228367 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216125957/https://www.regierung.li/files/attachments/Regierungsmitglieder-1862-2021-stand-0421.pdf?t=638338392447228367 |archive-date=16 February 2024 |access-date=15 February 2024 |website=www.regierung.li}}</ref> He succeeded [Josef Hoop](/source/Josef_Hoop) after his resignation on 3 September 1945.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 September 1945 |title=Liechtenstein Gets New Chief |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1945/09/04/archives/liechtenstein-gets-new-chief.html |access-date=18 May 2023 |work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 September 1945 |title=Liechtenstein gets a new boss |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/nice/southern-france-stars-and-stripes/1945/09-06/page-4/ |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=Stars and Stripes Newspaper Southern France |location=Nice |pages=4}}</ref> The government coalition established in 1938 continued throughout his premiership.<ref name=":2" />

=== First Russian National Army and foreign policy ===
{{Further information|First Russian National Army}}
Upon taking office in 1945, Frick was faced with the challenge of dealing with the members of the [First Russian National Army](/source/First_Russian_National_Army) that had taken refuge in the country a few months prior.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Monday |date=13 April 1953 |title=Last of the Wehrmacht |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,818218,00.html |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=22 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222120252/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,818218,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> They were cared for by the [Liechtenstein Red Cross](/source/Liechtenstein_Red_Cross). On 16 August 1945, the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union) sent a delegation to Liechtenstein in an attempt to repatriate the Russians, which was refused despite increasing Soviet pressure to participate in the repatriation program.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Tolstoy |first=Nikolai |title=The Secret Betrayal |publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons |year=1977 |isbn=0-684-15635-0 |language=English}}</ref> Eventually the government of [Argentina](/source/Argentina) offered the Russians asylum, and about a hundred people left.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Wanger |first=Harald |date=31 December 2011 |title=Liechtenstein, Franz Josef II |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Liechtenstein,_Franz_Josef_II._von |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein](/source/Historisches_Lexikon_des_F%C3%BCrstentums_Liechtenstein) |language=de}}</ref> Liechtenstein was the only country that did not participate in the Soviet repatriation program.<ref name=":0" /> According to Frick, with the support of [Franz Joseph II](/source/Franz_Joseph_II%2C_Prince_of_Liechtenstein), the Russians were at no point in danger of being [extradited](/source/Extradition) and the general population of Liechtenstein supported the government in providing asylum to them.<ref name=":0" />

Frick played a major role in expanding Liechtenstein's foreign policy and affairs. Notably pioneering the country's ascension to the [International Court of Justice](/source/International_Court_of_Justice) in 1950 and the [Geneva Conventions](/source/Geneva_Conventions) the same year, despite resistance from countries in the [Eastern Bloc](/source/Eastern_Bloc). He also attempted to join the [European Free Trade Association](/source/European_Free_Trade_Association) but was unsuccessful, instead being represented by [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland).<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 October 1961 |title=Liechtenstein Hilltop Is Summit For Conference of 'Little Four'; 'LITTLE 4' CONFER IN LIECHTENSTEIN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/10/23/archives/liechtenstein-hilltop-is-summit-for-conference-of-little-four.html |access-date=18 May 2023 |work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)}}</ref> In 1949, he oversaw Liechtenstein ceding the [Ellhorn](/source/Ellhorn) mountain to Switzerland as a result of Swiss demands and threats to, among other things, cease end the [customs union](/source/customs_union) between the two countries. Despite the local community in [Balzers](/source/Balzers) previously refusing to do so in November 1948, the transfer was approved by the [Landtag of Liechtenstein](/source/Landtag_of_Liechtenstein) the following month. In exchange to the transfer, Switzerland agreed to forgive much of Liechtenstein's debt that it had acquired to the country throughout World War II.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Büchel |first=Donat |date=31 December 2011 |title=Ellhorn |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Ellhorn |access-date=19 March 2024 |website=[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein](/source/Historisches_Lexikon_des_F%C3%BCrstentums_Liechtenstein) |language=de}}</ref>

=== Domestic and economic policy ===
Frick advocated for the reconciliation of relations between Liechtenstein's political parties and pro-German elements during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), including the social re-integration of former members of the VBDL.<ref name=":2" /> However, members of the VDBL were still charged for an [attempted coup](/source/1939_Liechtenstein_putsch) in 1939.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 1939 |title=27 April 1939 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/91014149/?terms=Liechtenstein&match=1 |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 1939 |title=Liechtenstein Jails Nazi For Attempt at Uprising |work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/04/27/91573866.html |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref> Other figures were charged for illegal intelligence providence, notably former Prime Minister [Gustav Schädler](/source/Gustav_Sch%C3%A4dler) who was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, but did not serve the sentence for health reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quaderer |first=Rupert |date=31 December 2011 |title=Schädler, Gustav |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Schädler,_Gustav |access-date=18 May 2023 |website=[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein](/source/Historisches_Lexikon_des_F%C3%BCrstentums_Liechtenstein) |language=de}}</ref>
thumb|Frick (right) at the opening of the new Landesbank building on 28 November 1953
During Frick's premiership, he pioneered the transformation of Liechtenstein into a modern [welfare state](/source/welfare_state). In 1952 his government succeeded introducing [pension](/source/pension)s and survivors insurance via a [referendum on the subject](/source/1952_Liechtenstein_insurance_referendum) despite resistance from local businesses and agricultural establishments, followed by the introduction of family compensation in 1958 and [disability insurance](/source/disability_insurance) in 1959.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Frick |first=Julia |date=31 December 2011 |title=Sozialstaat |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Sozialstaat |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein](/source/Historisches_Lexikon_des_F%C3%BCrstentums_Liechtenstein) |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> At the same time, Frick was reserved on economic growth facilitated by foreign workers and immigrants, and supported a restricted border policy and limits of the residency of foreigners in Liechtenstein throughout his premiership, though he permitted non-residential commuters in the country. His term also included the creation of the [Liechtenstein National Archives](/source/Liechtenstein_National_Archives) in 1961 and the Liechtenstein nature reserves in the same year.<ref name=":2" />

Twice during Frick's premiership, early elections were called when the [Patriotic Union](/source/Patriotic_Union_(Liechtenstein)) members in the Landtag resigned and forced new elections as per the coalition government, first in [June 1953](/source/June_1953_Liechtenstein_general_election) as a result from a dispute over the administrative composition of the [old age and survivors’ insurance](/source/Old_age_and_survivors%E2%80%99_insurance_(Liechtenstein)) office in Liechtenstein and again in [1958](/source/1958_Liechtenstein_general_election) as a result over a dispute on electoral law.<ref name=":2" /> Both times, however, Frick succeeded in remaining as Prime Minister and maintaining the coalition government between the two parties.<ref name="NS">[Dieter Nohlen](/source/Dieter_Nohlen) & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p1157 {{ISBN|978-3-8329-5609-7}}</ref> From 1945 to 1981, Frick was a board member of the [Historical Association for the Principality of Liechtenstein](/source/Historical_Association_for_the_Principality_of_Liechtenstein) and was also a contributor to the ''[Liechtensteiner Volksblatt](/source/Liechtensteiner_Volksblatt)''.<ref name=":2" />

=== Resignation ===
Frick resigned on 16 July 1962 reportedly for health reasons, after serving the premiership for nearly seventeen years.<ref name=":2" /> He was succeeded by [Gerard Batliner](/source/Gerard_Batliner).<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 July 1962 |title=Bericht über die öffentliche Landtagssitzung vom 16 Juli 1962 |url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1962/737/LOG_0111/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |work=[Liechtensteiner Volksblatt](/source/Liechtensteiner_Volksblatt) |pages=1 |language=de}}</ref>

==Later life==

In 1961 he was awarded a doctorate ''honoris causa'' from the [University of Fribourg](/source/University_of_Fribourg). He was president of the Liechtenstein-Switzerland society from 1972 to 1974. He was made an honorary member of the Historical Association for the Principality of Liechtenstein in 1981, the Liechtenstein-Switzerland society in 1986 and then in the Scouts of Liechtenstein in 1990.<ref name=":2" />

Frick once again entered politics in [1966](/source/1966_Liechtenstein_general_election), when he was elected to the Landtag of Liechtenstein, where he served until 1974.<ref>{{Cite book |last=[Paul Vogt](/source/Paul_Vogt_(historian)) |title=125 Jahre Landtag |publisher=Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein |location=Vaduz |language=de}}</ref> He served as the [President of the Landtag](/source/List_of_presidents_of_the_Landtag_of_Liechtenstein) from January 1966 to December 1969.<ref name="präsidenten">{{Cite web|url=https://www.landtag.li/praesidenten.aspx?nid=4159&groupnr=4159|title=Mitglieder - Präsidenten|date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327123617/https://www.landtag.li/praesidenten.aspx?nid=4159&groupnr=4159|archive-date=2019-03-27}}</ref> After the Progressive Citizens' Party lost in the [1970 Liechtenstein general election](/source/1970_Liechtenstein_general_election) and [Alfred Hilbe](/source/Alfred_Hilbe) became Prime Minister, he was a proponent of continuing the coalition between the party and the Patriotic Union.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 February 1970 |title=Liechtenstein's Voters End 32-Year Coalition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/02/02/archives/liechtensteins-voters-end-32year-coalition.html |access-date=16 May 2023 |work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Frick married Hildegard Kranz (23 December 1917 – 29 April 1993) on 5 October 1939 and they had nine children together.<ref name=":2" /> His son [Hansjörg Frick](/source/Hansj%C3%B6rg_Frick) served as a government councillor from 2001 to 2005 in the [first Otmar Hasler cabinet](/source/first_Otmar_Hasler_cabinet).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Frommelt |first=Fabian |date=31 December 2011 |title=Frick, Hansjoerg |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Frick,_Hansj%C3%B6rg |url-status= |access-date=19 April 2023 |website=[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein](/source/Historisches_Lexikon_des_F%C3%BCrstentums_Liechtenstein) |language=de}}</ref>

Frick died on 31 October 1991 in Schaan, aged 81 years old.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000000453_91/12/#topDocAnchor |title=Fürstlicher Rat Dr. h.c. Alexander Frick Alt Regierungschef 1910–1991† |date=1991 |publisher=[Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein](/source/Jahrbuch_des_Historischen_Vereins_f%C3%BCr_das_F%C3%BCrstentum_Liechtenstein) |volume=92 |location=Vaduz |pages=2–6 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 November 1991 |title=Alt Regierungschef und Landtagspräsident Alexander Frick ♱ |url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1991/3939/LOG_0250/ |access-date=24 April 2025 |work=[Liechtensteiner Volksblatt](/source/Liechtensteiner_Volksblatt) |pages=1 |language=de}}</ref>

== Honours ==

* {{Flag|Austria}}: [Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria](/source/Decoration_of_Honour_for_Services_to_the_Republic_of_Austria) (1957)<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Reply to a parliamentary question |trans-title= |url=http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXIV/AB/AB_10542/imfname_251156.pdf |access-date=2 October 2012 |page=38 |language=German}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Belgium}}: [Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold](/source/Order_of_Leopold_(Belgium))<ref name=":2" />
* {{Flag|Vatican}} [Knight's Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great](/source/Order_of_St._Gregory_the_Great)<ref name=":2" />
* {{Flag|Liechtenstein }}: 
** [Commemorative Medal for the 50th birthday of HSH Prince Franz Joseph II](/source/Commemorative_Medal_for_the_50th_birthday_of_HSH_Prince_Franz_Joseph_II) (1956)<ref>{{cite web |title=Statuten betreffend die Erinnerungsmedaille zum 50. Geburtstag Seiner Durchlaucht des Fürsten Franz Josef II. |url=https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1956008000?version=1 |access-date=8 February 2018 |publisher=Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung}}</ref>
** [Grand Cross with Diamonds of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein](/source/Order_of_Merit_of_the_Principality_of_Liechtenstein) (1967)<ref name=":2" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Scouting}}

* [Politics of Liechtenstein](/source/Politics_of_Liechtenstein)
* [Alexander Frick cabinet](/source/Alexander_Frick_cabinet_(disambiguation))

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{HDS|21115|Alexander Frick}}

{{LiechtensteinPrimeMinisters}}
{{Presidents of the Landtag of Liechtenstein}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frick, Alexander}}
Category:1910 births
Category:1991 deaths
Category:Heads of government of Liechtenstein
Category:20th-century heads of government of Liechtenstein
Category:Presidents of the Landtag of Liechtenstein
Category:Recipients of the Grand Decoration with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria
Category:Scouting in Liechtenstein
Category:Scouting pioneers
Category:Anti-fascism in Liechtenstein
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great
Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein
Category:Politicians from Schaan
Category:Liechtenstein International Olympic Committee members
Category:Alexander Frick
Category:Members of the Landtag of Liechtenstein (1966–1970)
Category:Members of the Landtag of Liechtenstein (1970–1974)
Category:Liechtenstein journalists
Category:Progressive Citizens' Party members of the Landtag of Liechtenstein

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alexander Frick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Frick) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Frick?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.