Liebknecht
KARL, a German Socialist leader, born in Leipzig, in 1871. He was a son of William Liebknecht, the leader of the German Social Democratic Party. He was educated in the German He became prominent in the Socialist Party and was elected to the lower house universities and afterward studied law. of the Prussian Diet in 1908. Four years later he became a member of the Reichstag. At the outbreak of the war, and during its continuation, he opposed the war policy of Germany. Although he at once voted war credits, he soon refused to do so and was thrown into prison. He had previously suffered a term of imprisonment for the publication of an anti-militaristic pamphlet in 1907. In 1915 he was called to the colors and served in the Labor Battalion.
Whenever opportunity afforded, he undertook to obstruct the course of busi- Vol. V-Cyc-EE al a A of ap DIG inc a Ge lebl t dowr war. Pop on the Ke Croslan. T the 10th ce by the Dul of Liegni redericic under Scott, 1901 A LIECHTENSTEIN ness in the Reichstag. He was expelled from the Socialist Party in 1916 and was expelled from the Reichstag in the same year, following an attack on the Government's financial policy. A few weeks later he was seized on a charge of attempting high treason and was sentenced to four years penal servitude, expulsion from the army and loss of civil rights.
After the end of the war he became the leader of the Spartacist group of agitators which opposed the new government. He was arrested and together with Rosa Luxemburg was being conveyed to Berlin in an automobile when both were shot and killed Jan. 15, 1919.
LIECHTENSTEIN (lēht'en-stin), an independent principality of Europe, separated from Switzerland on the W. by the Rhine; on the E. it is bounded by Vorarlberg; area, 61 square miles. It is a mountainous district made up of the lordship of Vaduz and the countship of Schellenberg. The chief town, Liechtenstein, formerly called Vaduz, is 28 miles S. S. W. of Bregenz on Lake Constance.
The inhabitants carry on agriculture, rear cattle, and cultivate the vine. They are exempt from military duty. Liechtenstein, with several other small States, formed the 15th member of the German Confederation till its dissolution in 1866; but in the Plenum, or full Council of the Diet, it had a separate vote. The Prince of Liechtenstein possesses extensive estates in Austria, Prussia, and Saxony. The little State was, until the establishment of the Austrian Republic, a constitutional sovereignty, ruled by the prince and a legislative assembly. On Nov. 7, 1918, the Diet passed a resolution making Liechtenstein an independent State. Pop. about 11,000.
LIÈGE, a city of Belgium, capital of province of same name, 54 miles S. E. of Brussels, on the Meuse, at the influx of the Ourthe. It is an important stronghold, being surrounded by a circle of forts. The Meuse divides the city into the old town and the new town, the former on the left bank containing the citadel and principal public buildings, the latter numerous manufacturing establishments. The chief center is the Square d'Avroy, and the chief edifices. include the Churches of St. Jacques, St.
Paul, St. Croix, St. Barthélemy, St. Martin, St. Denis, Academie de Beaux Arts, Théâtre Royal, Palais de Justice, and town hall. Has university with 2,000 students and 20,000 volumes. Is center of rich coal district, some of the mines being under the city streets. Has large artillery works, and machine mills. Industries very varied, and the city is LIFEBOAT seat of active commerce. It was the first considerable town in the way of the Germans when they invaded Belgium in August, 1914. The first infantry attack was made on August 5, and the Germans were in the town on August 8, the forts around the town being later battered down by the big guns from the Austrian foundries at Skoda. The city remained in German hands till the end of the war. Pop. about 175,000.
LIEGNITZ, a town of Prussian Silesia, on the Katzbach, 38 miles W. by N. of Breslau. The town dates from the end of the 10th century. In 1163 it was chosen by the Dukes of Lower Silesia as their place of residence, and from 1241 to 1675 it was the capital of the principality of Liegnitz. Liegnitz came into the hands of Prussia in 1742. Here in 1760 Frederick the Great routed the Austrians under Laudon, and in 1813 Blücher defeated the French (Katzbach).
It is now a place of great and varied industrial activity; iron-foundries, and machine-shops, pianoforte-factories, and manufactures of woolens, cloth, hats, and gloves, with turnery, brick-making, and pottery, indicate the chief branches.
Pop. about 67,000.