was switzerland invaded in ww2

Paragraph 13 explicitly prohibited the federation from sustaining a standing army, and the cantons were allowed a maximum standing force of 300 each (not including the Landjger corps, a kind of police force). relentless guerrilla war against an invader. A) attack the forts, which would be time, supply and manpower-costly to no end. I believe these answers are based on factual accounts of Swiss actions. @Graham The National Redoubt was full of artillery, flak cannons, and machine guns. Finally the makings of a good answer. Operation Tannenbaum ("Fir Tree"), known earlier as Operation Grn ("Green"), was a planned but cancelled invasion of Switzerland and Liechtenstein by the Axis Powers during World War II. I would bet a three month blockade, and air campaign (on critical infrastructure) and the swiss would surrender. During the Cold War, Swiss authorities considered the construction of a Swiss nuclear bomb. Can the supreme court decision to abolish affirmative action be reversed at any time? Switzerland did not have "80,000 well trained and fully equipped soldiers". However Swiss air space was repeatedly violated, both by German and Allied aircraft. I've been to Switzerland and more in other parts of the Alps (Austria and Germany). Halder himself had studied the border areas, and concluded that the "Jura frontier offers no favorable base for an attack. However, financial problems with the defense budget prevented the substantial funds from being allocated, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 was seen as a valid alternative. WebPlay Call of War for FREE on PC or Mobile: https://callofwar.onelink.me/q5L6/8c02c4a5Receive an Amazing New Player Pack, only Switzerland was an ally of the Nazis when, in fact, this small neutral country At the end of the 1950s, reflecting both the threat of possible invasion by the Soviet Union and the realities of nuclear warfare, Swiss military doctrine changed to mobile defense that included missions for the air force outside of its territory, in order to defeat standoff attacks and nuclear threats, including the possibility of defensive employment of air-delivered nuclear weapons. B) endure the terrorism. Operation Tannenbaum called for German troops to invade from France, Germany and Austria, while the Italians invaded from the south. Final judgment: leave things as they are. Yet it is equally unfair to brand the Swiss as Nazi puppets. [10] Nevertheless, the army was shrunk again in 2004, to 220,000 men ("Armee XXI"), including the reserves. How can I differentiate between Jupiter and Venus in the sky? In the 1960s and 1970s, the armed forces were organised according to the "Armee 61" structure. @meriton From the very doc you cite: * The product range was extremely narrow: automatic 20 mm cannon and its components against earth targets, for air defense and the arming of aircraft and warships, 20 mm ammunition, clock igniters and parts thereof of the German type S / 30 for 8.8 cm Ammunition and larger, Dixi GPA detonators, in military optics in advance coincidence telemeter 80 cm and 150 cm. I think your assessment of nazi germany in the war is also somewhat overblown. Norway was vulnerable to Allied invasions, which would have denied critical resources to Nazi Germany. Hitler is criticized for starting wars with the USSR and the USA while the war with Britain was ongoing, but Hitler wasn't totally reckless. It has never joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the European Union, and only joined the United Nations in 2002. In World War II, Germany made some plans for the invasion of Switzerland, most notably Operation Tannenbaum, but these were never carried out. I can't parse the final paragraph. Or perhaps Switzerland was too useful as a middleman between Nazi Germany and the global economy. The religious conflicts were renewed in 1847, resulting in the Sonderbund War and leading to the formation of Switzerland as a federal state. militiamen were instructed to disregard any alleged "official" surrender as There is no need, at every opportunity, for others to invent, at every opportunity available, something new based on that persons imagination and (it would seem) their need to add, over 70 years after the horror ended, a new scene to a Hollywood film or television series. Switzerland was invaded by France in 1798 and later made a satellite of Napoleon Bonapartes empire, forcing it to compromise its neutrality. We must force the quick subjugation of Switzerland by using extremely superior forces. In the end the Swiss statagie worked. Why could they not simply occupy the Swiss plateau, then wait and let the Swiss soldiers starve to death in their mountain fortresses? Operation Tannenbaum - Wikipedia The Swiss Armed Forces deployed 31 soldiers to Afghanistan. Even though the Axis countries invaded a lot of countries during World War II, there were a number of other countries they didn't invade. The attack was so fast that the country did not have time to defend, so some people with military preparation defended themselves as guerrillas. While the mountainous terrain is an advantage militarily, it is a big problem when you can't trade with your neighbors. So if any reason leads Germany to threaten Switzerland, Germany would wait 1940. How Hitler Almost Invaded Switzerland. In 2003, for the first time since 1815, Switzerland deployed troops on foreign soil. @Bregalad They do planes (beyond trainers), tanks, heavy guns, bombs? If you want to know how that typically turns out, remember the Vietnam war. by Michael Peck. This is why the Nazis DID NOT INVADE Switzerland in World War 2! Totally new to this site, and not an historian. Swiss soldiers were noted for their combat skill and ferocious attacks in the phalanx, or deep column formation using pike and halberd. WebDuring World War I, Switzerland remained a neutral state. Does a constant Radon-Nikodym derivative imply the measures are multiples of each other? Switzerland emerged from World War II unconquered but not untarnished. As a last resort, the army would make these routes useless to the Axis by destroying key bridges and tunnels. And in all these situations, or when trade couldn't happen directly between Germany and Portugal for example, it was Switzerland who played the role of intermediate: Germans payed Swiss with the gold they stole from occupied countries (including jews), and Swiss payed Portugueses either in Franc or with gold. To face the threat of invasion Switzerland increased defence spending, extended the training of recruits and built defence works. This first appeared several years ago. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? The thesis of this tabloid-level book is that It only takes a minute to sign up. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. and were vindicated. In 1656, tensions between Protestants and Catholics re-emerged and led to the outbreak of the First War of Villmergen. Nazi Germany had defeated Francereputed to have the finest army in Europein just six weeks. This is the so called "National Redoubt" strategy. Unrestricted Transit to Italy would be the only the only positive aspect of an occupation. This is a terrible answer - every factual claim it makes is incorrect. In summary, neither side doubted that a German invasion would be successful if a sufficient proportion of Germany's military might were allocated to that task. So why didnt Nazi Germany invade Switzerland? There were many practical reasons why Switzerland was not occupied of which none of the first answer of @AmorphouBob apply Some of these reasons WebWorld War I and neutrality. And then we come to your "real" question (IMHO), which is not the invasion, but the occupation. Also, the Swiss arms factories were in the Mittelland (like in Oerlikon) and would be vulnerable to both invasion and bombing. So the question you really should have asked was "How Hard Would it Have Been for the Axis to Invade and conquer Switzerland During World War II?". It is indeed rather striking that Germany's incursion into Italian territory (in the Alps and Adriatic) begins only after Italy's signing of the September 1943 Armistice with the Allied Forces. How was Switzerland able to stay neutral during WWI and WWII? I believe one of the reasons behind this inaction to be Switzerland's geographical, historical, cultural, national, and strategic ties to one of Germany's most trusted allies during the Second World War, namely Fascist Italy. By 1490, German mercenaries had become proficient in Swiss military tactics and were available for hire at a lower cost. ", That is why the Nazis despised Switzerland. Nazis overran the country. Truth be told, these things didn't stop Hitler from invading Austria. million. An insane and unsustainable ideology drove all decision making, which was the essence of their downfall. Not impossible, but costly and difficult, to the point of being a net-negative. As the allies bombed the German Industrial base especially ball-bearings at huge cost of air crews and planes; Switzerland's industrial base was augmenting Germany's manufacturing capacity. This triggered a series of reforms, and in 1995, the number of troops was reduced to 400,000 ("Armee 95"). That left their defenses outflanked when the Germans occupied France. Your question is interesting, and a lot of points were highlighted by other contributors. [7] Meanwhile, the Air Force also began to prepare ad hoc airbases in the mountains, with sections of highway strengthened to act as runways and hangars carved out of the mountains. Italy could help, and after the Anchluss, the Axis have three directions from which to attack Switzerland: North, East and South. I'll try to find the name of the doc tonight, it was a good watch. Only in Switzerland was the entire populace armed and prepared to wage a It is often said "Switzerland wasn't invaded because it was neutral." Where do they get the steel? FRONTLINE reports from Iraq on the miscalculations and mistakes behind the brutal rise of ISIS. One reason might be that Hitler considered the Swiss to be sort of German (though that didnt stop him from grabbing Austria). Concentrated surprise penetration from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance toward the center of the country with strong and fast outer wings, stated the plan. And that is where another of your questions comes in: why would the German and Italian armies need to attack those strongholds in the mountains? How do I fill in these missing keys with empty strings to get a complete Dataset? As with Sweden, Swiss neutrality was an armed neutrality (in the fifteenth century, Swiss mercenaries were the most feared in Europe). While the comment about japanese navy is correct. The emphasis is what I interpret as your "real" question (since there is a lot of confusion here) and will answer it. The Swiss survived World War II unconquered, but Germany once planned out an invasion of the country. Ok, since I think I finally got your real question (as I see it): I'm simply asking if the defense of Switzerland during WW2 was overrated. Adolf Hitler's plans for a surprise attack and occupation of Switzerland, which were due to take place at the start Since World War II, Switzerland has taken a more active role in international affairs by aiding with humanitarian initiatives, but it remains fiercely neutral with regard to military affairs. So basically even Hitler could see no reason to invade Switzerland during World War TWo when it would have a diversion of military resources from fighting more powerful and immediately threatening enemies. All remaining plans for building nuclear weapons were dropped by 1988.[9]. 1944: The advance in Italy would lead Switzerland to be an opportunity for the Allies: so maybe the Axis will not take the risk to have a front in the back of Kesselring's troops in Italy. The Swiss Guard has its origins in 1506 when Pope Julius II hired them as "bodyguards"; however the group of soldiers was large enough to be considered an army. * 20mm cannon? ISIS' growing foothold in Afghanistan is captured on film. would be too costly because every man was armed and trained to shoot. Since then, Switzerland is one of the only country in the world (with Austria maybe) where 99% of the rail network is electrified. In 1920, meanwhile, the newly formed League of Nations officially recognized Swiss neutrality and established its headquarters in Geneva. A succession of interventions by the Habsburgs led to the battles of Morgarten (1315) and Sempach (1386), resulting in independence for the confederacy. Image: Wikipedia. enemy propaganda and, if necessary, to fight individually. Plus, their ammunition stocks would be limited, while the Axis could bring as much supplies as they want to. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), https://www.history.com/news/why-is-switzerland-a-neutral-country. After that: wait and see how things envolved. But there was no chance of that happening in 1940-41. [4] Switzerland in World War II | World War II Database But note that "conquer" and "suppress all guerrillas" aren't the same thing. You don't need to conquer the whole country; only the main cities and the fields are desirable. Get HISTORYs most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week. @Bregalad that is why i included an air campaign to knock out any critical infrastructure. The whole point of the Swiss military strategy, as I understand it, is to give up the land, but make it too costly for any invader to keep it. What factors were Hitler's / Germany's motivations for WW2? No country is impossible to invade. Andorra could invade the USA. The question you should have asked was "Was Switzerland Impossible to Conquer du Any of those alternatives are valid. It would be somehow a way to secure the southern flank of the Sedan Breakthrough. There is a political aspect to this. Too little actual useful answer (even the listed reasons are dubious - foreign currency wasn't a problem in any other country they occupied, and what does British newspapers to do with it? They could simply retaliate on the village or region, thus causing the rebels to think twice before deciding to do something. It was explained that in this time, no country in the world wanted to be paid in mark for trade, and Germany desperately needed some raw materials for its war effort. Or Britain with her Navy, RAF and Channel? You don't need to occupy the whole territory; there is no need for that. For a nation of just four million people, the Swiss could have mustered an army as large as 850,000 strong. rev2023.6.29.43520. How can I delete in Vim all text from current cursor position line to end of file without using End key? There is a limited number of roads open all year, and of course the Swiss known them very well. This meant that a Robert Siegel. Most Swiss strongly opposed Nazism. The most important buildings of the Reduit were the fortifications of Sargans, St. Maurice (Valais) and the Gotthard region. The Swisss government established various fortifications in the mountainous regions to hold out against hypothetical invaders. They only arrived there after winning the war. Had Germany invaded Switzerland between the conquest of France in July 1940 and the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, Switzerland would have been alone. A more significant challenge to Swiss neutrality came during World War II, when the country found itself encircled by the Axis powers. They did not believe they wwould protect everyting, nor loose everything. There was no easy ideological justification for annexing Switzerland. Hitler described Switzerland as a pimple on the face of Europe and both its geographical location and culture would seem like a clear target for the Nazis. Switzerland would have been harder to conquer per unit of territory or per unit of poplulation than many other European countries were. I'll try to answer based only on the military concept. Why he never invaded is reflected in timing and reward more than an aversion to doing battle with the Swiss army or on Swiss terrain. Probably, but I doubt you'd get that much more info, because the information on the topic just isn't there and the main point all depends on the hypothetical retreated swiss army actually terrorizing to the last man, which is debateable, This is not true though. GDPR: Can a city request deletion of all personal data that uses a certain domain for logins? Hitler in 1940 described Switzerland as a "pimple on the face of Europe", as he developed his plans to invade. But no other answer is considering weapons. Indeed, after World War II, the Swiss claimed that the only thing keeping Hitler from invading was their nation-in-arms. https://www.swissinfo.ch/blueprint/servlet/eng/war-time-german-secret-service-spied-chinks-in-swiss-armour/1474146. And anyway, wouldn't this guerrilla warfare calm down after a few years, when people become accustomed to German and Italian rules? Nazi Germany had defeated Francereputed to have the finest army in Europein just six weeks. Paragraph 19 of the revised constitution of 1874 extended the definition of the federal army to every able-bodied citizen, swelling the size of the army at least in theory from below 150,000 to more than 700,000, with population growth during the 20th century rising further to some 1.5 million, one of the largest armed force per capita. 'Butcher of the Swiss.'". World War II | Switzerland Tourism World War II | Switzerland Tourism Some of them have been reopened as museums and can be visited. @Bregalad Between 1939 and 1945 Germany exported 10,267,000 tons of coal to Switzerland. While Switzerland was indeed not self sufficient when WWII began, they radically transformed their agricultural sector as part of the. True, the Swiss can argue that the thought of conquering their their nation-in-arms deterred the Germans. The Axis would have faced formidable opposition. There are hidden bunkers and guns everywhere, just look at these hidden bunkers for examples. In the same period Switzerland sold electric power to Germany equivalent to 6,077,000 tons of coal. So you would have to run continuous patrols in a difficult terrain that your enemy knows like the back of his hand. [12] However, the referendum failed with over 73% of the electorate voting against it, showing the strong support for conscription in Switzerland. While the Swiss had built fortifications, they naturally concentrated them on the border with Germany and Austria, rather than with France. Switzerland was invaded by France in 1798 and later made a satellite of The Germans were certain they could. For instance, their 1940 plans for Operation Tannenbaum estimated that a force of 300,000 to 500,000 men wou Why would a god stop using an avatar's body? The Swiss Air Force had over 100 bf109s and a similar number of other planes by the end of 1940. Or the United States with an entire Ocean and vast population? Switzerland wasn't threatening to attack Germany and it was surrounded by Axis powers so it couldn't export anything to help the Allies against the will of the Axis, and the Swiss government usually tried to be as neutral as possible, and to seem to other states to be neutral. This incident long damaged the army's reputation, leading to persistent calls for its abolition among left-wing politicians. The only way I can see an invasion happening is if Germany decided to go thru the Maginot line with Switzerland instead of Belgium, which would strategically be a bad idea as Belgium's terrain is much more flat than the Alps. . The Second World War was one of the most destructive wars in history. Especially Switzerland was 100% prepared (and planned) to loose its cities and wage a guerilla war from the Alpine bunkers. Zrich, Bern, Genf? Switzerland would have confronted Germany with what was essentially a popular militia, lacking tanks, artillery and aircraft. A few only examples: Switzerland provided the Nazis access to bank accounts and "safe" deposits of Jews and others. In March 1939 propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('nationalinterest_content_12'); }); The fact that Swiss civilians were equipped with rifles and did target practise does. Why were the Istein and Schliengen enclaves transferred from Switzerland to Baden? 1941: The perfect year on a tactical point of view: attack from all sides, with the same fights as against Yougoslavia or in Greece, with panzerdivisions having a good dotation in infantry and artilery, and a massive support from the Luftwaffe. Largely mountainous Switzerland, where German tanks would have been useless, would have been a tough nut for blitzkrieg to crack. Because it did not happened, formally this is not part of history. Why was Switzerland not attacked during the two World Wars? @Graham no they were not simple civilians, but trained servicemen, after the initial training, had to serve. They had civilians with light rifles. Switzerland would have been hard (but possible) to invade, but almost impossible to occupy. Revanchism, stealing raw materials, and racial hatreds. True, the Swiss can argue that the thought of conquering their their nation-in-arms deterred the Germans.

Juxtapose Pronunciation, Las Vegas Comedy Shows, Articles W