Alemannic Separatism

Alemannic Separatism is a political movement advocating the unification of the Alemannic speech areas northeast of the Rhine and Lake Constance with Switzerland.

Historically, Alemannic Separatism was a political movement during the early 19th Century and the time after the two world wars; whereas the contemporary Alemannic Separatism is no organized political movement, but an occasionally found attitude among the Alemannic-speaking population northeast of the Rhine and Lake Constance. Support for this idea is found mostly there, whereas few people in Switzerland and Alsace support the idea.

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 Lauffenburg for instance, is one of the last divided cities of Europe, and Büsingen is an enclave of Germany.

Alemannic Separatism also has its roots in the wars of liberation of the Southern-Badian peasants against Napoleon, which resulted in a new Alemannic national conscience. Examples of Alemannic Separatism can be found in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein. Voralberg held a referendum following World War I, in which the population unsuccessfully voted for separation from Austria and unification with Switzerland. 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.

After World War II, political forces in Southern Baden, 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.

German point of view

The current reasons for the disillusionment and refusal of membership in the Federal Republic of Germany, lie in the reunification of Germany, the apparent dismantling of the Welfare State, the economic problems of Germany, and the introduction of the inflationary Euro. Overall, the movement is, or was until recently, of minor importance. The slogan "Adee Düütschland. Mr gont!" (bye, bye Germany we're going) is occasionally heard.

The movement is paradoxically fueled by the decline of the Alemannic language in Southwestern Germany, which is currently threatened by the Standard German language. Stronger ties with Switzerland is seen by the Alemannic minority as the only way to preserve its cultural and ethnic integrity.

Swiss point of view

In Switzerland, the Alemannic separatism is only known as a southern German peculiarity, if it is known at all. There is a unanimous rejection of it, since Switzerland is not an Alemannic state, but a quatrilingual state. Therefore, Alemannic separatism is a thread to Switzerland as it is. Furthermore, the Swiss Germans define themselves in opposition to Germany, no matter whether it's Alemannic Germany or not.