Hubert Schmetz (1862-1930) was Mayor of Neutral Moresnet, a small neutral territory, from 20 June 1885 until 15 March 1915.[1]
Hubert Schmetz | |
|---|---|
| 5th Mayor of Neutral Moresnet | |
| In office 20 June 1885 – 15 March 1915 | |
| Preceded by | Oskar Anton Bilharz |
| Succeeded by | Wilhelm Kyll |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hubert Schmetz 1862 |
| Died | 1930 |
Life
editSchmetz became mayor of Neutral Moresnet on 20 June 1885, succeeding Oskar Anton Bilharz to become the territory's fifth mayor. As mayor, Bilharz served as the territory's head of state, alongside two commissioners, one each from the Kingdom of Prussia and Belgium.
During his term, Germany invaded Belgium on 4 August 1914, initially leaving Neutral Moresnet as "an oasis in a desert of destruction".[2] A total of 147 Neutral Moresnet citizens were killed, though it is unclear whether they were killed inside the territory or in fighting outside its borders.
As a result of the occupation, Schmetz was removed from his post on 15 March 1915 and Germany appointed Wilhelm Kyll to succeed him. Neutral Moresnet was formally annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia on 27 June 1915, although the annexation never received international recognition.
With a term of nearly 30 years, Schmetz was Neutral Moresnet's second-longest-serving mayor, having served more than a quarter of the territory's existence.
References
edit- ^ "Belgium".
- ^ Musgrave, George Clarke (1918). "The Belgian Prelude". Under Four Flags for France. New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 8. hdl:2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t8qb9xr4b. LCCN 18003816. OCLC 1157994. OL 7209571M.
As a proof of German preparation, war had come automatically at 7 a.m., August 3 [1914]. At 23 o'clock (Belgian time) the outposts on the main roads holding Pepinster, Battice, Herve and smaller hamlets, were heavily engaged and finally forced back to the fortified lines of [Liège]. The pretty towns defended near the frontier were soon flaming ruins, the quaint neutral territory of Moresnet rising as an oasis in a desert of destruction.
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