The Eye of the Hurricane
By Ian Schlaepfer
Switzerland’s role as a neutral nation proved an anomaly, especially considering its geographic location in the center of mainland Europe. In the face of Nazi aggression, Switzerland deterred the threat of attack with its formidably trained military and its important economic status, since it maintained its trade with Germany. Switzerland’s struggle against fascism stemmed from its fundamental disagreement with the Nazi ideology.
With a total land mass of 41,284 square kilometers, Switzerland is one of Europe’s smaller countries. Although landlocked and mountainous, several large lakes form natural borders. As a country, it supports several nations of people, and four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansch (Facts About Switzerland).
Since politicians tended to gravitate toward the concepts of order, law, and centralized authority, only socialists originally opposed Adolf Hitler’s ideas in the 1920s. However, after 1934, the racist Nazi agenda became apparent through their routine persecution of minorities. In light of the Swiss tradition of federal structure and democracy, the two viewpoints were irreconcilable. As a result, Swiss radio became the only German-speaking platform to criticize the Nazi regime, although the criticisms were limited because of Switzerland’s reliance upon external trade with countries under Nazi-occupation. Between the free press and political satirists, the negative attitude the Swiss populace took toward the Nazi party solidified. In fact, many Germans and Austrians who chafed under Nazi rule immigrated to Switzerland. Citizens demonstrated their support and celebration of Switzerland’s national independence by constructing monuments and holding a national exhibition in1939 ( Switzerland’s Role in World War II). Because of Switzerland’s unified resolution to resist other forms of government, they were forced to rely on foreign relations and military vigilance to survive.
In addition to its small size, the country boasted a lack of raw materials. With a dense population and a deficit in food production, Switzerland needed to trade with its neighbors to feed its population. Before the war, tourism, transportation services, and banking provided profits for the government to afford necessities for its citizens.
“During World War II imports fell from 30% of the net national product (average value at the end of the 1920s and again during the 1950s) to 9%, exports from 25% to 9% and tourism to almost zero (Switzerland’s Role in World War II).”
In 1939, the Swiss Parliament tripled the regions designated for agriculture, increasing Switzerland’s degree of self-sufficiency. To aid survival, the government rationed the daily use and the purchase per month of many food items and other goods, from clothing to chocolate. To reduce the country’s reliance upon imports, substitutions became mandatory. For example, farmers burned wood in special devices to power their tractors, while citizens rode bicycles with cork tires.
Flanked by occupied Austria and France and with Italy, an Axis power, to its south, Switzerland remained surrounded by German control for most of World War II. As a result, Switzerland could not engage in trade without somehow benefiting the Third Reich. Germany became Switzerland’s primary trading partner for several reasons. The two countries share cultural similarities, since the Swiss population primarily speaks German. More importantly, under Hitler’s rule Germany experienced an industrial boom in contrast to the economic recession that spread over the rest of Europe. Because of this difference, Germany was the logical choice for Switzerland to profit from trade.
“In July of 1940 Germany and Switzerland signed one of many trade agreements. But Switzerland did so under the threat of invasion and of a continuance of the economic sanctions that had already been initiated” (Chapter 1).
Swiss factories produced machine tools and precision parts for Germany, who also used the Swiss banking system, hydroelectric power, and a stretch of its railroad in return for coal and tin (Neutrality Bibliography) (Chapter 1). The Allies were reluctant to send any supplies to Switzerland, for fear the Axis would intercept them (Chapter 1).
Since Hitler had plans to put all German-speaking countries under his rule, Switzerland regarded German invasion as an immediate threat.
“From 1933 to 1939, while many other countries remained idle and passive, Switzerland raised money for defense spending” (Chapter 1).
To prevent attack, the Swiss utilized a strategy of deterrence: military readiness to make Germany view conquest as too costly to be undertaken. The Swiss mobilized 20% of their employed population, guarding their borders with 430,000 soldiers, Europe’s highest per capita of trained riflemen (Switzerland’s Role in World War II) (Target Switzerland). Realizing their dated military technology put them at a disadvantage, the Swiss commander-in-chief developed the “Reduit Concept” in 1940. Under this plan, the Swiss Army would retreat into the Alps, securing the most favorable defensive position in the advent of an attack, where they would employ guerilla warfare tactics ( Switzerland’s Role in World War II). In addition, the Swiss Army mined railroads, bridges, tunnels, and major roadways with the intention to sever the connection to Germany’s ally, Italy in case of an invasion ( Switzerland’s Role in World War II). The Swiss installed machine gun nests and put obstacles on roads near the border to slow Panzers. In resolute demonstration of their neutral status, the Swiss vigilantly protected their airspace, firing on foreign aircraft (Chapter 1).
Through a concept they called “spiritual defense,” the Swiss population galvanized themselves against Nazi propaganda. Even if controlled by Germany, Switzerland would require large numbers of armed forces to prevent the uprisings of a restless and angry populace. By keeping troops in Switzerland to ensure control, Germany would face uprisings elsewhere within the Nazi empire. Considering all these factors, invading Switzerland would prove very expensive to Nazi Germany, while giving them little gain ( Switzerland’s Role in World War II).
Ultimately, armed neutrality served Switzerland well during World War II, since Germany never invaded ( Switzerland’s Role in World War II). Through military deterrence, extensive trade, and rationing, Switzerland survived the Nazi threat while maintaining its autonomy.
Works Cited:
Facts About Switzerland - http://ch.c-d.org/ch/info.html
Switzerland ’s Role in World War II - http://history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch/switzerland-second-world-war-ii.html
Neutrality Bibliography - http://archives.gov/research_room/holocaust_era_assets/bibliographies/neutrality.html
Target Switzerland - http://diodon349.com/Attack_on_America/target.html
Chapter 1 - http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/d/r/dra3/swiss1.htm