I'm just getting into WW2 games and reading and I was wondering.
How did Switzerland manage to stay neutral during both world wars?
I imagine they had an agreement with Germany and Italy.
If that is so I'm surprised it was honoured. Or did they have something more up their sleeves?
Ian
switzerland
Moderators: dnichols, GHQ, Mk 1
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Luca
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The same could be asked to the Swedes.
During a conflict, You always need a neutral place where to make contact with different peoples, seeking information, alliances, resourses. Add to this that Switzerland was strategically un-usefull, just a rock in the mid of Europe, when every body knew that the war would be (and was) fought and won on the Eastern front and North-Western europe. And, by the way, the Germans got enough of what they needed both from Switzerland and Swede just with commercial relations.
Some weeks ago the Swiss repritented they're history text book for primary schools. Thay Had some querrels and dispute, both from the Jews regarding the famouse gold and financial help given to germany, and from the Vets that guarded the borders for more than 5 years. The book gave a graysh explication of the Country's role and position during WW2, saying nothing more that Switzerland did just what have to did in such circumstances: survive. And than forget as quickly as possible.
Is not nice staying betwen two peoples that are yelling each to another, Did You have ever tried?
During a conflict, You always need a neutral place where to make contact with different peoples, seeking information, alliances, resourses. Add to this that Switzerland was strategically un-usefull, just a rock in the mid of Europe, when every body knew that the war would be (and was) fought and won on the Eastern front and North-Western europe. And, by the way, the Germans got enough of what they needed both from Switzerland and Swede just with commercial relations.
Some weeks ago the Swiss repritented they're history text book for primary schools. Thay Had some querrels and dispute, both from the Jews regarding the famouse gold and financial help given to germany, and from the Vets that guarded the borders for more than 5 years. The book gave a graysh explication of the Country's role and position during WW2, saying nothing more that Switzerland did just what have to did in such circumstances: survive. And than forget as quickly as possible.
Is not nice staying betwen two peoples that are yelling each to another, Did You have ever tried?
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Mk 1
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Money had much to do with it. But not how much the Swiss had amassed. Rather, it was that the Swiss were the bankers for all of Europe. Just about every prominent person, whether national leader or industrialist, had his money in Switzerland. Attacking and damaging Swiss cities risked personal fortunes and national treasuries.
Also, most of Switzerland is very good defensive terrain. Lots of high mountains and narrow passes (or tunnels!). Add to that a very active national defense, and you have a poor return on investment for any attack. The cost of invading would have been very high, and the prospect of gain from the action rather low.
So no one bothered.
Not that there were no clashes. There were. Mostly by air forces on various sides. But the Swiss were staunch in defense, and no one wanted to actually prosecute a war against them. So most incursion/ reprisal cycles settled down after short spats.
Or so I understand it.
Also, most of Switzerland is very good defensive terrain. Lots of high mountains and narrow passes (or tunnels!). Add to that a very active national defense, and you have a poor return on investment for any attack. The cost of invading would have been very high, and the prospect of gain from the action rather low.
So no one bothered.
Not that there were no clashes. There were. Mostly by air forces on various sides. But the Swiss were staunch in defense, and no one wanted to actually prosecute a war against them. So most incursion/ reprisal cycles settled down after short spats.
Or so I understand it.
-Mark 1
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
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Bull`s eye
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Switzerland, the country of chocolate ? Peaceful, only fresh air and snowy mountains ?
The truth, Switzerland was the MAIN and MOST IMPORTANT " banker " of the third reich, weapon deals and much more
It handed over most of the jewish refugees to the SS, which means : death in the gas chambers. The customs officers had the " J " stamp of the nazis, to mark any passport of arriving jewish refugees without this brand. So they had been accomplices of nazi holocaust.
And stil there are lots of former jewish accounts with some million $$, and swiss bankers are very unwillingly to " solve the problem ".
They are finance abettors of nearly every dictator in the world, i think, that shouldn´t be forgotten.
The truth, Switzerland was the MAIN and MOST IMPORTANT " banker " of the third reich, weapon deals and much more
It handed over most of the jewish refugees to the SS, which means : death in the gas chambers. The customs officers had the " J " stamp of the nazis, to mark any passport of arriving jewish refugees without this brand. So they had been accomplices of nazi holocaust.
And stil there are lots of former jewish accounts with some million $$, and swiss bankers are very unwillingly to " solve the problem ".
They are finance abettors of nearly every dictator in the world, i think, that shouldn´t be forgotten.
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Xveers
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With regard to lost money held by holocaust victims...
The issue lies with Swiss banking regs, and the nature of identification in the 30's to 50's.
The first point is that getting access to your Swiss account is easy, if you have the bank book or are on the authorized list of people able to access it. Now, assuming that you're not on the list and don't have the bank book, they have to positively ID (to the level of roughly an FBI background check IE really, really intense) you as being a sole or most legitimate heir to the account. This is done via birth records, marriage certificates, and other legal documentation. In more modern times, a DNA test can be preformed to conclusively prove identity and familial relation.
The problem here is that those relatives of the holocaust didn't have anything like that. The records were destroyed quite thuroughly in the war, as were personal documentation and other such. With a lack of DNA samples, it is very hard to verify any kind of familial relation. And Swiss banking laws are VERY strict. That's partially why people have their accounts there in the first place. The Swiss feel (with some justification) that any attempt to have funds released on less than full authentic grounds would lead to a slippery slope where their prized ** CENSORED ** retentiveness with accounts would be stripped away. In today's world, that's about the only thing they have going with their accounts.
The issue lies with Swiss banking regs, and the nature of identification in the 30's to 50's.
The first point is that getting access to your Swiss account is easy, if you have the bank book or are on the authorized list of people able to access it. Now, assuming that you're not on the list and don't have the bank book, they have to positively ID (to the level of roughly an FBI background check IE really, really intense) you as being a sole or most legitimate heir to the account. This is done via birth records, marriage certificates, and other legal documentation. In more modern times, a DNA test can be preformed to conclusively prove identity and familial relation.
The problem here is that those relatives of the holocaust didn't have anything like that. The records were destroyed quite thuroughly in the war, as were personal documentation and other such. With a lack of DNA samples, it is very hard to verify any kind of familial relation. And Swiss banking laws are VERY strict. That's partially why people have their accounts there in the first place. The Swiss feel (with some justification) that any attempt to have funds released on less than full authentic grounds would lead to a slippery slope where their prized ** CENSORED ** retentiveness with accounts would be stripped away. In today's world, that's about the only thing they have going with their accounts.