Switzerland managed to stay neutral throughout two World Wars, but only by an ironic mixture of military strength and a good portion of luck. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities to digitize this series and make it available in the National Archives Catalog in the future. Since then, Switzerland has been recognized as a neutral country by various treaties and has maintained an efficient military. Finally, Switzerland, as it was completely surrounded by Nazi held territory, had no choice but to cooperate with German trade policies. Despite its pledge to be a sanctuary for marginalized groups, Switzerland imposed strict laws to regulate the influx of Jewish refugees. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! 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How To Open a Swiss Bank Account Swiss Etiquette: How to Be Polite in Switzerland 9 Reasons Why Switzerland Is the Best Country In the World Swiss Culture and Traditions (Cambridge U.P., 1976), 40. This made Hitler angry as he was wasting German equipment against a country that he wasnt meant to be fighting against. Why wasn't the Republic of Ireland invaded (by either side) in WW2? . Isolated sentry. The Spanish Civil War: How it all started and its aftermath. 4. What began as an examination of. Source: Wikipedia Commons. Reportedly, approximately 10,276,000 tons of coal was transported from Germany to Switzerland between 1939 and 1945. Throughout the duration of the war, multiple skirmishes on the Swiss-Italian border between a mix of German and Italian troops took place. Being in the mountains, it was hoped, might deter escape. Officially Switzerland maintains a policy of "Aggressive Neutrality" meaning that although it actively avoids taking part in conflicts, as evidenced by their air-force activities during WW2, it will defend its own interests with vigour. The whole production capacity of continental Europe, an area having more than 50 times the One thinks of the distinguished German man of letters, Walter Benjamin, who committed suicide in France after being denied haven in Spain in 1940. How vigorous? American internees were held months without trial and were overall denied due process under the Swiss legal system. They knew Swiss authorities worked to block internees escape attempts and interfere with the Legations officers meeting and communicating with internees. Dozens of countries, still recovering from the horrors of World War I, tried to remain neutral to avoid invasion and more bloodshed. But the costs were high: Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal and Spain, at certain points, deserved the unpleasant label -- to borrow the title from Donald Waters' book on Switzerland -- "Hitler's Secret Ally. The financial transactions involving Switzerland and the Third Reich's looted gold, and Swiss banks and the deposited assets of Jewish Holocaust victims, are treated elsewhere in this issue of Dimensions, and will not be discussed in this article, except to note that Swiss bankers accepted deposits from Nazi leaders of vast sums of both currency and gold. Swiss Federal Councillor [member of government] Max Petitpierre not willing to respect international rules like neutrality or the Geneva Conventions, They felt trapped in a broken-down chalet, lacking heat and hot water at times as well as adequate food. of the year 1997. 7. "30 Spain, then, contributed significantly to the German war effort, at least up to the autumn of 1942, when the Allies' military campaign in North Africa induced Franco to adopt a more cautious policy.31 However, economic relations between Spain and Germany continued until the end of the war. The 44 tons of German gold which the United States wanted Portugal to surrender at war's end (going so far, to compel agreement, as to freeze Portuguese assets in the U.S.) is a case in point.26. For example, Switzerland adopted "differentiated" neutrality in 1920, a decision which indicated a willingness to employ economic sanctions to communicate disapprobation of another nation; in 1938 the Swiss embraced "integral," or supposedly unconditional, neutrality. It should be stated that this deal violated Swiss laws. Explore the Best Universities to Study History Abroad, Karolina Olsson: The Woman Who Slept For 32 Years. the reproach of war prolongation from his first report would still be respected. Thomas Sancton, "A Painful History," Time (February 24, 1997), 41. Most were neutral at the beginning, but only a relatively few nations remained neutral to the end. How did Switzerland stay neutral during World War II? - Quora Answer (1 of 37): Reason 1: Switzerland (upper Yellow part) was sandwiched between the central powers of germany, Austria-Hungary and the allied powers of France and Italy. This enabled Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to expand power, Woolner explains, and create a buffer between the USSR and Germany. (This was the process for any military personnel landing or crossing into Switzerland while on missions, Axis or Allied.) In short, staying neutral in an ever-expanding war proved virtually impossible for these nations, he says. Since the Second World War, Switzerland has not engaged in direct combat on its soil. [2] Contact: aneculaeseicg@gmail.com, P-51 Mustang shot down in Switzerland. Thank-you. and especially on war prolongation. offended by important Swiss actors. Sanitary conditions did not exist. He had climbed over the Pyrenees despite heart problems "only to learn that Spain had closed the border the same day and that the border officials did not honor visas made out in Marseille. expected. The infamously neutral Swiss bank were beneficial to the Nazis. Though neutral Switzerland adhered to the mandatory international International Court of Justice But after 1943 the Swedish government, heeding Allied warnings about neutrals doing business with Germany, detached the country from the German "political and commercial web," and gradually established closer ties with the Allies.25 There is no doubt that for several years Sweden put its considerable economic resources at the disposal of the Reich; but its behavior in the latter stages of the war removed much of the stigma of collaboration. There lies in our national character a strong preference for realism over fantasy, for compromise rather than ideology. Switzerland: Neutral or Nazi Ally? - WW2 Special - YouTube of their stops along the way; duration at locations; who they were with; modes of transportation; and the names and addresses of anyone who aided them during the journey. Decisions and actions even of a single country were often inconsistent. Instead it remained an important island for trade, peace negotiations, espionage and refugees. What was Life in Switzerland REALLY like during WW2? - YouTube As noted above, the Swiss did provide sanctuary for some individuals fleeing the Nazis. In 1938 however, the Can they be submitted to the archives? Forms found in these files typically contain the following information about each crew member: name, rank, army service number, unit, and military occupation specialty. 2022 History of Yesterday | All Rights Reserved. We want to protest against this place. It should also be stated that these laws were frequently ignored by Swiss citizens -- by corrupt art dealers, to be sure, but also by others. The records in declassification legacy project NND 883555 are the narrative notes, handwritten and typed, for Appendix C of Escape and Evacuation (E&E) reports or case files. Many internees found their guides and contacts independently. tasteless cover showing a Swiss flag of which the white cross had been replaced by Some might argue that Switzerland aided Nazi Germany, while others would state that the Swiss simply had no other choice in order to maintain control over their country. A second camp was located in the town of Thun. The Life and Legacy of an American Heroine. It wasnt until the mid 1960s that the world began to question Switzerlands role in World War II. After reaching France, many were transported by C-47 aircraft to London, to the Eighth Army Air Force Headquarters. Some Swiss, especially those in the Italian-speaking cantons, leaned toward Fascist Italy; while within the French zone, a movement called Helvtisme, which some have compared to L'Action francaise, appealed to some Swiss intellectuals. 11. Switzerland, a small and beautiful country situated within the Alps has been in a state of perpetual neutrality since the major European powers decided so during the 1815 Congress of Vienna which concluded the Napoleonic Wars. Swiss neutrality - Wikipedia 36 Stat. Moreover, Allen Dulles and his colleagues in the Office of Strategic Services could not have operated as effectively as they did in Switzerland without the support of many Swiss nationals. Although the Swiss were quite lenient towards the Allies in terms of them breaching Swiss airspace, it will all change with one mistake performed by an American B-24 bomber pilot on 1 April 1944 when the town of Schaffhausen was mistaken as Ludwigshafen am Rhein, an important German town over 200km away. The authors wrote, Acts of humanity and even heroism rose above the harshness or insensitivity of wartime refugee policies and reflected well on their governments and peoples., The report concluded that the neutral countries were able to maintain their status because of their distinctive history, geography, previous relationships with wartime belligerents and, with Sweden and Switzerland, historical traditions of neutrality. Great article! Firstly, due to the rapid mobilization of the citizen army at the outbreak of the war in 1939, Switzerland became a difficult target. When Stuart Eizenstat published his book Imperfect Justice (with a 10. The living conditions at Wauwilermoos were deplorable. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-historyofyesterday_com-medrectangle-3-0-asloaded{max-width:300px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'historyofyesterday_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofyesterday_com-medrectangle-3-0'); It is surprising that Switzerland would attack what many saw as the liberating force of Europe. population of Switzerland was under German control until 1944. This content was . Recap from the National Declassification Centers Public Forum, Case Files of American Airmen Interned In Neutral or Allied Countries, 194344, Escape and Evasion files at the National Archives, World War II Escape and Evasion Reports are now available online, Case Files of Interned American Airmen , 1943 1944, Card List of American Airmen Interned In Neutral or Allied Countries, 1943 1946, National archives and records administration. Gring received Rembrandt's Portrait of an Old Man with a Beard and two sixteenth-century Flemish tapestries in exchange for 28 impressionist and postimpressionist works, 16 of which came from Paul Rosenberg's plundered collection. However, it is the way in which the Swiss bank dealt with the large amount of gold, collected from Holocaust victims, after the war, which has been deemed immoral. Dwight Mears admins fb group, American Internees in WWII Switzerland. According to international law, there are varying kinds of neutrality. How DID Switzerland Manage to Remain Neutral During WWII? Evidently, the Swiss wanted to stay on good terms with Nazi Germany. Being surrounded by three of the most powerful military powers on the planet, many would think that aligning yourself with someone would be a prerequisite to keeping your independence. The Generalissimo demanded colonies in French-held northwest Africa as payment for such a commitment. No heat in winter quarters, inadequate and spoiled rations, food poisoning with no medical care left him emaciated and with gastrointestinal problems the rest of his life, and frequent violent nightmares. The great powers of Europe wanted to ensure that Switzerland would not be influenced by any one power, and neutrality was guaranteed. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. Play Call of War for FREE on PC or Mobile: https://callofwar.onelink.me/q5L6/8c02c4a5Receive an Amazing New Player Pack, only available for the next 30 day. Associated Press wire, "Report: Sweden Accepted More Nazi Gold Than Previously Known" (January 21, 1997). He was hidden in Woodss apartment for four days while Woods made arrangements for him to travel from Zurich to Lausanne by train, and then Geneva by taxi and finally to France. Switzerland), it is evident that Why Was Switzerland Neutral During The World Wars? - Culture Trip 14. Airmen who landed or crashed near Dubendorf had suffered damage to their aircraft during bombing raids in Germany and France; their aircraft lost fuel and could not make it back to France. These aircraft were used by the Swiss Airforce to shoot down enemyaircraft. Karolina Olsson, who was in coma between 1876 and 1908, one of the longest periods ever. But rules must be obeyed by everybody or they cease to be respected altogether. How did the Swiss remain neutral in World War I and II? Lost 30 pounds. It must be stressed that in Switzerland -- and in the other neutral continental countries -- there were many who opposed the Third Reich and acted in a humane -- even self-sacrificing -- manner. The immorality of Swiss trade policies with respect to Germany can, perhaps, best be seen in the way the two nations collaborated together to traffic in works of art. They serve as an acknowledgment of the tolerance and understanding that have long been part of the fabric of Swiss society. He blocked correspondence and even stole aid and support items sent from the International Red Cross. See Steinberg, Why Switzerland?, 38. They all faced similar pressures from both the Allied and Axis power, but their responses varied considerably. Why Switzerland wasn't invaded | WW2 - YouTube How the Neutral Countries in World War II Weren't So Neutral This was evidently not the notion of neutrality and so As a result, between 1943 and 1945, nine Allied aircraft were shot down either by flak or Swiss fighters leading to the death of over 30 Allied airmen. From 1941 to 1945, Wauwilermoos prison camp was run by Commandant Andr Bguin, a Swiss Nazi supporter who led the Neufchatal right-wing and pro-Nazi political group Union Nationale before being kicked out for fraud. 3. The Spanish, then, were much like the Swiss when it came to assisting refugees: while they attempted to discourage those seeking asylum, in the end they did save a number of lives. Most crew members were eventually interned in neutral countries (Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey), but some personnel evaded capture or internment and returned to Allied military control. They were interned, with some sent to punishment camps, in Switzerland between March and September 1944 and through 1945. These materials included tungsten from Portugal and Spain; ball-bearings and iron ore from Sweden; and chromite ore from Turkey all critical to the German war effort. On a scant one or two pages, they noted the route taken back to American custody; the general dates, locations (towns, homes, hotels, cafes, etc.) What I found was a small collection (181 pages) of narratives from 107 airmen recounting their experiences landing in Switzerland during World War II. For a critical treatment of the Swiss and the International Red Cross in Budapest, see Arieh Ben-Tov, Facing the Holocaust in Budapest: The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Jews in Hungary (Geneva: Henry Dunant Institute, 1988). Neutrality was often more complex than simply avoiding choosing sides. Swiss authorities failed to notify the Legation and were dismissive of General Legges complaints and protests for information about the administration and care of American airmen interned in Adelboden and Davos-Platz. Resigns; He urged 'War' Over Holocaust-Fund Dispute," the New York Times (January 28, 1997). The Kunstmuseum Basel, for example, took advantage of the favorable deals engendered by the Nazis' sale of state-owned modern art. Border control After the Nazis gained power in Germany, many racial minorities attempted to flee to avoid persecution. The quantities of war material used in World War II by Germany as well as by the Allies were The country has been committed to its policy of neutrality so much that it still refuses to join the EU or NATO to this day. rules during World War 2, while the warfaring nations violated even these The locations were barred to the general population and provided group or mass accommodations. 16. manufacturers of war material exploited in fact every loophole 17 Lebenslufe und Todesurteile, 1942-1944 (Stuttgart: Huber, 1980). 36. 40. Hague convention concerning David Sanger, "Swiss Envoy to U.S. Enlisted men were sent to Adelboden, which Americans named Camp Maloney for the first American airman who died in Switzerland during World War II. Switzerland, a neighboring but impartial nation seemed a clear destination choice. Links Switzerland's Neutrality Did Switzerland prolong World War II? Switzerland - Exploring Neutrality, Zauberformel Formula, Immigration It can thus be argued that Switzerland was not truly neutral during World War II. He spent 15 days in prison, under solitary confinement, during which he reported being allowed out of cell only 2 hrs on 8th day and 2 hrs on 14 day.. 15. 33 Rousseau, Consolidated Interrogation Report No. Switzerland's reputation as a neutral safe-haven during World War 11 has been badly tarnished by recent revelations about its wartime transactions with Germany. It survived as a proudly independent democracy despite having both Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy surrounding its borders. General Francisco Franco of Spain was another leader whose ideological sympathies with National Socialism led him to the brink of a close alliance with the Reich. Switzerland became a neutral country in 1815 after the Napoleonic Wars. In the course of review work for the PAIR project, it is rare to come across records that capture the personal experience. it was however undiplomatic." Servicemen caught breaking rules (e.g., attempting escape from internment, excessive drinking, missed curfews) were sent to jail, or Wauwilermoos prison camp in Luzern, one of three military prison camps in Switzerland holding persons pending trial. ), Because Salazar incorporated many facets of fascism into his government -- including corporatist social and economic policies, the debasement of democracy and parliament, an extensive secret police, and a ban on strikes -- he was viewed favorably by Hitler and Mussolini, as well as by Spain's General Franco.
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