September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
Nestled in the central Alps, the nation of Switzerland has been stereotyped as the aloof sideliner of Europe. Its strict adherence to neutrality, especially during the Second World War, has garnered a unique reputation. However, Switzerland has a special history, one that helps explain the cautious course they navigated to survive the coming storm.
Switzerland’s Federal Constitution, created in 1848, is one of the oldest modern republics in the world. Despite its advanced political system, Switzerland’s geographical position once left it sandwiched between empires. The rise of fascism found Switzerland caught between the ambitions of Mussolini’s Italy to the south and Hitler’s Germany to the north. Even so, the Swiss held firm, declaring their neutrality in March 1938, thanks to a long-standing tradition of active neutrality.
Fascist elements remained weak in Swiss society during this period, much weaker than in other European countries. A combination of national spirit and Swiss cultural norms helped sustain Switzerland’s commitment to independence. As tensions deepened throughout Europe, Switzerland saw the need to reduce its reliance on food imports.
Alarmed by the developments from German expansion in 1938, the Swiss government raised the age limit for compulsory military service to 60, drawing from a pool of roughly 4.3 million citizens. By the outbreak of war, most mobilized citizens were trained marksmen, thanks to the widespread gun ownership among the Swiss population. President Philip Etter once remarked,
The Swiss will never part with his gun, symbol and protection of his freedom and independence.
In effect, the Swiss Army was a citizen’s army based on universal military training, service in the reserves, and the keeping of arms and ammunition at home. Spearheading the Swiss military was General Henri Guisan, elected commander-in-chief on August 30, 1939. General Guisan quickly became popular thanks to his extensive mobilization efforts and defensive preparations aimed at protecting the country at all costs.
Two days after Germany’s fateful invasion of Poland, the number of mobilized Swiss citizens totaled 435,000, with an extra 1,000 volunteer sharpshooters bolstering these numbers. Throughout September, the Swiss remained diligent in their preparations.
Defensive Structures included:
Bridges were mined and road obstacles set in place. President Etter declared,
If war extends to our country, it will find us ready: men, women, soldiers, civilians, old and young, all of whom swear to give their life to their country, preferring death rather than slavery.
In early October, as the fall of Poland was completed, General Guisan intensified planning for an expected invasion. These plans included contingencies for various possible scenarios:
Guisan issued Operation Order Number Two, describing critical positions in the north that were to be held up to the last cartridge. By November and December, Swiss efforts to reshape the nation into a fortified mountain redoubt continued.
The Germans were aware of these developments. High command estimated it would take the Wehrmacht 40 days to cross Switzerland, requiring a ratio of five Germans to one Swiss soldier to achieve it. This near-total contrast to Germany’s blitzkrieg theory showed the Swiss preference for a defensive strategy designed to bog down enemy forces in slow, brutal engagements.
During the phony war period from September 1939 to May 1940, the Western Front remained tense. However, for Switzerland, things were only ramping up. Swiss anti-air batteries opened fire on both French and German warplanes that strayed over their borders. The Battle of France, beginning May 10, 1940, was Switzerland’s first major test of resolve.
On the first day of Germany’s invasion into France, Swiss anti-air guns and fighters engaged both German and French aircraft crossing into Swiss airspace. Twenty-seven German bombs landed in northern Switzerland, damaging a railway. As the Battle of France raged, Luftwaffe incursions into Swiss airspace became more common.
Notable Aerial Engagements:
The German airplanes carried orders to lure Swiss fighters into battle and shoot down as many as possible. After the fall of France on June 10, Switzerland found itself surrounded in Europe. General Guisan’s rallying efforts bolstered Swiss morale, which had wavered briefly.
With food and ammunition stockpiled, Guisan’s National Redoubt plan was set in motion. This plan would see the bulk of the army abandon the Swiss plateau, taking up positions in the fortified mountain ranges to resist invaders for months.
Key Aspects of the Redoubt Plan:
Another strategy involved acquiescing to some Axis demands. Switzerland submitted to Berlin’s demands for free commercial transit and access to Swiss financial services. Contracts were placed for German and Italian military supplies to transit through Swiss borders, albeit with charges imposed by Switzerland.
Swiss air defenses faced incursions from the British Royal Air Force, which mistakenly hit Swiss targets thinking them German. On June 12th, British bombs near Geneva resulted in five Swiss deaths and 50 injuries, further highlighting the complexities of maintaining neutrality.
As Switzerland shored up defenses through troop concentrations and air patrols, another key part of their strategy came in espionage. Swiss intelligence established a reliable spy network across Europe to notify them of important developments. One notable agency, The Bureau Ha, used the Viking Line spy network to tap directly into Adolf Hitler’s headquarters.
Starting in 1941, Switzerland took on an increasingly diplomatic role, representing the interests of countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany. However, the Swiss government refused to recognize Axis conquests and continued to host occupied nations’ embassies in Bern, despite Nazi press attacks.
The invasion of Vichy France in 1942 further isolated Switzerland. Until 1943, all Jewish refugees fleeing Vichy were refused entry and escorted back. The Swiss government claimed these draconian immigration laws were to prevent subversive agents from entering the country and to protect Swiss jobs from being taken by refugees.
Immigration Policies:
Nevertheless, these policies were unpopular among many Swiss. Despite the restrictive laws, many refugees, including women and children, successfully crossed the border and found shelter in Swiss camps, and by May 1945, Switzerland held over 115,000 refugees.
By 1943, the Swiss found themselves dealing with both Allied and Axis movements. Allied intelligence networks, such as the Office of Strategic Services established in Bern, actively gathered information about the Nazis and helped resistance cells. Concurrently, rumors of Fortress Europe, a planned fortified German defense around its core territories, alarmed the Swiss.
Key Turning Points:
Relations with Axis powers declined, and relations with the Allies became strained as well. Prior to Operation Overlord in 1944, continuous Allied bombardment of German-occupied zones saw further intrusions into Swiss airspace, including accidental bombardments of Swiss targets.
Swiss press shifted from a friendly tone towards Britain to strong denunciations due to the high civilian casualties from RAF mistakes. The United States Air Force wasn’t innocent either, with multiple B-17 and B-24 bombers causing civilian casualties in Switzerland during their operations.
Notable Incidents:
As the Allies advanced into Nazi Germany, Switzerland aimed to maintain the integrity of its borders, preventing the Allied armies from using their territory as strategic shortcuts into the Reich.
By the war’s end in 1945, Switzerland had invested heavily in its defenses, accruing a national debt of 9 billion Swiss Francs. Yet, with intact infrastructure, Switzerland experienced a rapid economic upswing.
Post-War Contributions:
While Switzerland’s armed neutrality has faced criticism, it was arguably the best strategy for remaining independent from German rule.
Through comprehensive military preparations, intelligence operations, and carefully balanced diplomacy, Switzerland managed to navigate the harrowing landscape of World War II, maintaining an independent and well-defended state amidst global turmoil.
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