Andorra, Luxembourg, San Marino, Liechenstien in WW2

[Animal]

Do have any info on the unit organization of the Municipality of San Marino during the war?

Or Andorra's security force.

[Animal]

Below is a member of the San Marino security force 1944. Not a big unit but it wasn't a big place.
A picture of a Liechtenstein policeman is on my website myweb.tiscali.co.uk/uniformsotw/, enjoy.

Here's the Liechtenstein police. It looks almost exactly like an army officer's uniform of the period, particualrly a Czechoslovak officer's.

[Lornito Uriarte Mahinay Jr.]

Animal, about Andorra's Defense Force?

[Bessar]

I have seen formal photographs on the web of the entire Andorran uniformed police at ten-year intervals. In 1930 there were seven men posing, and in 1940 eleven. I will try to find the site when I get back from my trip. if anyone is interested.

[Sean RR]

I've got nothing on the organisation of the San Marino force, the book was in Italian and unfortunately I am 'language-challenged' when you get past 'gidday'. I do have an Andorran policeman but am at work at the moment so hopefully I'll remember to post it later.

[Sean RR]

Andorran policeman, their only official 'defensive' force, circa late 1939

[The_Enigma]

All ways wondered what happened to some of these countries during the war, pretty intresting thread

[ironranger]

"LINEA GOTICA" defensive german threshold passed thru San Marino during late 1944-45. The battle for Coriano heights thus happened just under Mount Titano, the main rock of San Marino. Actually a Gurkha Cemetery, visible from the main road, still reminds to the people reaching San Marino from Rimini what flood of blood happened in Coriano.

San Marino had a colorful WW2 history. I knew an infantry officer from Istria (Italy RSI) who was at San Marino in these times. He called them "goof-balls." Sometime between the RSI/German arrival, and the withdrawal later on, a ludicrous event took place. The Italians and Germans showed up in a mixed formation and had to get to the top of that city. The mayor? of San Marino came to deal with the fascists. The German commander said to let them through, but was told they would fight. But they were veterans and laughed at this like it was a joke! The Germans radioed one bomber and it flew over the city. He told them next time it flew over the city, and they wouldn't have to ask again to go through! Well, there was no fight that day.

[Kelvin]

During WWII, German occupied San Marino, Andorra and Monaco

[Hans S]

Are you sure about Andorra? I thought it was never occupied by the Germans.

Cheers

Hans

[Lornito Uriarte Mahinay Jr.]

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

Andorra remained officially neutral for the duration of World War II. At the beginning of the war, a small detachment of French troops was stationed in the country which was left over from the Spanish Civil War, but these forces were withdrawn in 1940. When France fell, Philippe Pétain of the Vichy regime was declared the new French Co-prince. After the German invasion of Vichy France in 1942, a German military force moved to the Andorran border near Pas de la Casa but did not cross. In response, a Spanish force was established at La Seu d'Urgell, but it too remained outside Andorran territory. In 1944, Charles de Gaulle established a new provisional government, and assumed the position of French Co-Prince. He ordered French forces to occupy Andorra as a "preventative measure" to secure order. Throughout the war, Andorra was used as a smuggling route between Spain and Vichy France, and an escape route for people fleeing German-occupied areas.

[Gregorus]

I have a question or soldiers Luxemburg Corps des Gendarmes et Volontaires presented any resistance to Germany in 1940 the year?

[Hans S]

I have a question or soldiers Luxemburg Corps des Gendarmes et Volontaires presented any resistance to Germany in 1940 the year?

No,

http://www.nat-military-museum.lu/pages ... mbourg.php
http://www.nat-military-museum.lu/pages ... rmy.php#4A

I've heard a story about how a customs (?) officer halted the first German tank crossing a bridge and read a decleration in front of an astonished German officer. The declaration was about that now you are violating international law by invading a neutral country - it's supposed to have been written by the governement or by the Grand Duchess. The German officer was polite enough to listen to declaration and then said more or less 'Fine, could you please move aside now' which the customs officer wisely did. Probably not true but still.

Cheers

Hans

[Animal]

A member of San Marino's militia, circa 1936. Kinda snazzy but hardly fit for modern combat.

[oblongz]

Hello,

does anyone know when the San Marino Army Militia uniform changed from the grey tunic/blue trousers to the blue uniform?

Ken.