How Liechtenstein Achieved a Negative Casualty Rate With Humor
Let’s learn how the very small country of Liechtenstein used humor to have a negative casualty rate in war:
Liechtenstein is a wonderfully small country that holds a firm policy of neutrality — in fact, as of right now, they maintain no military at all. The last time they had an army was 1866, during the Austro-Prussian War, as an international obligation to the German Confederation in that war required them to keep an army.
Liechtenstein was able to field a small but mighty army of 80 men. They did, however, have a deployment that remains unbelievable for two reasons. First, they lost no battles and suffered no deaths (having avoided all fighting). Second, and much more notoriously, the army suffered negative casualties, as they went out with 80 men and returned home with 81. How did this happen?
Liechtenstein was tasked with guarding the Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy. The force was supposed to defend against any attack from the Prussian-allied Italians, an attack never came. As a result, there was nothing to do but sit in the beautiful mountains, drink wine and beer, smoke a pipe, and take it easy by joking around. When the army marched back to the Liechtensteiner capital of Vaduz, they realized that they had one more man than they had left with. But who was this man?
There are a few different theories as to who this man was, but most of them believe that this extra man was an Italian soldier who decided to defect. Most versions have it that the Liechtensteiners were enjoying themselves at the border, and the Italian soldier simply liked them, joined the group, and decided to go home with them.
What does this mean for a theory of humor in international affairs? Surprisingly, a fair bit.
When in war, soldiers are taught to see the enemy as nonhuman, to help soldiers avoid the mental distress of killing another human being. They are told that enemies are after you and your family, so you better kill them first. Humor allowed for this Italian soldier to see his enemies as friends, depriving him of any want to kill or fight against them. Jokes and jesting restored the humanity of his enemies, to the point where he went back with them!
