Josef Hoop

Franz Josef Hoop (, ; 14 December 1895 – 19 October 1959) was a diplomat and political figure from Liechtenstein who served as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1928 to 1945. Hoop is best known for his efforts to retain Liechtenstein's neutrality and independence during World War II. Serving for seventeen years, he is the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, ahead of his successor Alexander Frick by 79 days. He served under the reign of Prince of Liechtenstein Johann II, Franz I and Franz Joseph II, making him the only prime minister to serve under three Princes consecutively.

Early life and diplomatic career
Hoop was born in Eschen on 14 December 1895 to Franz Josef Hoop, a farmer and deputy member of Parliament, and Berta Batliner; he was one of nine children. He attended high school in Feldkirch, Austria, and for a short time afterwards attended school in Zürich, Switzerland. After finishing his schooling there, Hoop took up post-secondary education at the University of Innsbruck, where he devoted himself to the study of Oriental languages. Hehe graduated in 1920 with a doctorate in philosophy. He was fluent in Arabic.

Hoop served as the attaché and chargé d'affaires at the Liechtenstein legation in Vienna, headed by Prince Eduard of Liechtenstein, from 1920 to 1923. He worked towards the removal of visa requirements for Austrian citizens in Liechtenstein in 1922. He also raised concerns over the low wages of the legation's staff, stating that it was not sufficient for them to properly feed and clothe themselves.

The Liechtenstein legation in Vienna was closed in 1923. Hoop had resisted the closure of the legation, as he believed it would negatively effect relations with Austria. He visited Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Grünberger regarding the closure, who had also privately opposed it. This led to Hoop being criticized in a letter by prime minister Gustav Schädler, as Liechtenstein's government had already agreed to be represented diplomatically by Switzerland. He became a member of the Historical Association for the Principality of Liechtenstein in 1921. From 1924 to 1928, he worked for the Swiss customs administration in Geneva and St. Gallen.

Hoop married Emilie Gstöhl (27 February 1898 – 11 February 1997) in 1920; they had no children. His niece, Emma Eigenmann was the first female to serve in the Landtag of Liechtenstein; she served from 1986 to 1993.

Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
Hoop was the third Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, from 4 August 1928 to 3 September 1945. Early elections were called after Johann II forced the government of Gustav Schädler to resign in June 1928 as the result of an embezzlement scandal at the National Bank of Liechtenstein. The 1928 Liechtenstein parliamentary election resulted with a win for the Progressive Citizens' Party and Hoop was appointed to serve as prime minister. As a result of the 1930 Liechtenstein by-election, the Progressive Citizens' Party became the first party to hold an absolute majority in the Landtag in its history.

Economic policy
During Hoop's tenure as Prime Minister, he oversaw the building of a 23 km long inland canal in order to increase the percentage of arable land within the country and create job opportunities. The project was approved in 1930; construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1943. He had also given advice for businesses and industrial start-ups in Liechtenstein in order to bring employment.

Spy affair
In January 1937, Carl Freiherr von Vogelsang, the editor of Liechtensteiner Vaterland and a founding member of the Liechtenstein Homeland Service, denounced Jews living in Liechtenstein in his publications and in letters sent to Nazi German officials. As a result, Hoop ordered a search of the offices of the Vaterland for any incriminating letters; Vogelsang promptly left the country. A majority of the Landtag approved of Hoop's actions, but members of the Patriotic Union called for his resignation over the issue, believing the search to be unconstitutional. It was decided that two special judges would determine the legal implications of the case. Eventually, in July 1937, it was concluded by both judges that Hoop had not acted unconstitutionally by ordering the search against Vogelsang, and Hoop was subsequently legally acquitted of any wrong-doing.

Foreign policy and World War II
In 1936, Hoop led the signature of an extradition treaty being signed between Liechtenstein and the United States. After the rise of Nazi Germany in 1933 and the introduction of anti-Jewish laws in the country, Liechtenstein experienced a large rise in Jewish immigrants. Hoop's government supported the naturalization of the refugees under a new citizenship law. In doing so, Liechtenstein faced attacks from the German press and from domestic sources, such as the Liechtenstein Homeland Service. These were bolstered by the fact that Franz I's wife, Princess Elsa of Liechtenstein, was of Jewish descent. The 1933 Rotter kidnapping was designed to be an impetus for the formation of an organized Liechtenstein Nazi group, but it instead held back efforts for a time. Hoop personally attempted to temper relations with Germany through the use of private contacts and actively downplayed the threat of national socialism within Liechtenstein. In the wake of the Anschluss of Austria, Hoop and the Progressive Citizens' Party participated in the coalition government formed alongside the Patriotic Union, with the goal of preventing government deadlock and retaining Liechtenstein's neutrality. Franz Joseph II oversaw the coalition. Alois Vogt, the secretary of Patriotic Union, was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, replacing Anton Frommelt. Hoop rejected the fascist tendencies of the Liechtenstein Homeland Service, which was one the merger parties of the Patriotic Union; the party later faced suspicion after the German National Movement in Liechtenstein attempted a coup in 1939.

Starting from 1938, the Hoop government was faced with Swiss pressure to transfer the Ellhorn mountain to Switzerland. Though Hoop was supportive of the transfer, he argued that the country should be fairly compensated for the loss of territory, such as through the transfer of Swiss land elsewhere or greater banking cooperation between the two countries. The proposition faced resistance from the residents in Balzers, and was not approved by Franz Joseph II. Also facing unofficial objections from Nazi Germany, Hoop was forced to end the negotiations with Switzerland. Throughout World War II, Hoop considered friendly, non-binding, non-provocative diplomacy to be appropriate towards Nazi Germany, supplemented by courtesy gestures. In March 1939, he, along with Franz Joseph II, made an official visit to Berlin, where they met Adolf Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop. They discussed safeguarding Liechtenstein's independence and neutrality while maintaining good relations. Franz Joseph later reminisced on the visit, stating that Hitler showed little interest in them and that it only took place in order to "flatter Hitler's ego". In 1940, during a lecture in Stuttgart, Hoop showed respect for the German armies. At the same time, he tied the country as closely as possible to Switzerland during the war in hopes of retaining Liechtenstein's neutrality. He achieved the de facto inclusion of Liechtenstein into the Swiss national supply. Hoop did not consider the reformation of the Liechtenstein Army to avoid provocation. During the war, he worked closely with Franz Joseph II.

Resignation
In September 1945, after seventeen years as Prime Minister, Hoop formally resigned due to a worsening heart condition and his desire to move on from the role. He also remarked that Franz Joseph II had pressured him to do so, as the prince believed that post-war Liechtenstein required a change in leadership. This belief stemmed from an ongoing diplomatic crisis involving the pro-Axis First Russian National Army led by General Boris Smyslovsky, which had taken refuge in Liechtenstein a few months prior. This de facto dismissal of Hoop angered many within the Progressive Citizens' Party. He was succeeded by Alexander Frick.

Later life
In 1946, Hoop testified as a witness against the leaders of the German National Movement in Liechtenstein after they were charged for their 1939 coup attempt. Multiple members of Hoop's government were indicted for their actions during the Second World War, notably his former Deputy Alois Vogt, but Hoop was never charged of anything.

After resigning as prime minister, Hoop soon went on to study law at the University of Zurich and then at the University of Innsbruck in 1946, where he graduated and received a doctorate in 1948. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer in Vaduz.

Hoop later served as a board member for the National Bank of Liechtenstein and president of the Liechtenstein Constitutional Court. He was also elected to the Landtag in 1957, where he served until his death in 1959. He was President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1958 to 1959.

Death and legacy
Hoop, a habitual smoker throughout his adult life, died on 19 October 1959 due to heart failure following a surgery, at the age of 63 years old. He was buried in his home-town of Eschen and his funeral was attended by both Franz Joseph II and Princess Gina of Liechtenstein. A street in Eschen is named after him.

Hoop was regarded highly by Franz Joseph II due to his efforts to protect Liechtenstein's independence during World War II. He once said in retrospect that "Hoop saved the country". Martin Risch, a member of the Liechtenstein Historical Association and Hoop's successor as President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein, described him as "one of the finest men to serve within Liechtenstein, for his long-term service in the country".

In popular culture
Josef Hoop was portrayed by French actor Pierre Vaneck in the film Vent d'est, released in 1993.

Honours

 * 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein (1937)