Swiss Confederation
government federal multi-party director public
ruler seven different presidents
area sixteen thousand square miles
population 4.2 million
military
650,000 men Air Force ninety six fighters and 120 observation craft
Switzerland had been in a pseudo save independent since the 14th century
Under the old Swiss Confederation. The nation gained de facto independence during the Swabia war in for $2.99
And for nearly 20 years was thought to be invincible in battle
the battle Mariana was the last petal for that thought though the French in Venetian forces managed to
Decisively defeat the Swiss forces and push them out of Milan puttin in the Swiss expansionism and offenses until modern-day
European countries recognized Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire and its neutrality during the Peace of Westphalia in 1648
The Grune authoritarianism in the country combined with a financial crisis in the wake of 30 Years War
led to the Swiss peasant war of
1653 in the background to this struggle the conflict between Catholic and processed Canton's persisted erupting in further violence in
1656 and in 1712
During the French Revolution the Canton's were overall banned and the central garmo was introduced the Congress of Vienna
Re-established the Swit state's independence and their territory grew with the admission of the Kansas of ballet nuke
Dal and Geneva the revolutions of the 1840s sus official and put into a month-long civil war
While this war produced few casualties the Canton's and the people themselves saw the need to have official state
which was proclaimed on September the 12th of
1848 when old or one broke out
Switzerland sent nearly 200 thousand men to the French border as they viewed the French as the most likely to violate their neutrality
Smaller contingents were sent to the German and Italian border as well
Nearly three-fourths of the Swiss population were supportive of the Central Powers and many of them were of German descent
The remaining fourth were mainly French with a small amount of Italians as well. Although Switzerland was spared to write involvement in the war
the economic warfare and insufficient preparations for the situation of long lasting mobilization
resulted in tremendous economic and social impact imports of vital foodstuffs and fuel collapse
especially in the second half of the war the combination of all of these factors resulted in increasing working class protests from about
1916 onward that was dramatically related to the partial radicalization of the Swiss labor movement in
1918 social and political tensions results in demonstrations
Like work stoppages and general strike at the national level in
The mid 1930s the Swiss cabinet correctly predicted that another European war would erupt and the political opposition
mostly went away as Switzerland started to rearm they reformed the military gave their soldiers better equipment and
Institute boot camps for three months of training for all men at military age
this was also a threat from the League of Nations in the same year to stay true to the tradition of
Neutrality or over the course of the war detailed invasion plans were drawn up by the German military command such as operation Tama Brahm
But Schwartzel Linda was never attacked
It's what I was able to remain independent through companies your military deterrence
Economic concessions and good fortune as larger events during the war delayed invasion a tenth place
What's one small Nazi Party to affect an auction sale ash loss with Germany failed miserably
Prior to World War two Switzerland had relied heavily on trade with Germany
It was an industrialized country with virtually no raw materials experiencing the same economic depression
That was felt throughout both Europe and America when World War two commenced Switzerland was worth at any non cooperation
Will lead to a cease and vital trade as it was completely surrounded by Nazi controlled countries the Swiss had two choices
cooperate with Nazi trade policies our fight against them during the war years ten point three million tons of coal was
Transported from German to Switzerland and provide a 41 percent of Switzerland's energy requirement
the one thing Switzerland provides the Nazis in return
Was access to the railway that ran through Switzerland and connected Italy in Germany in the event of an invasion
the suicide me plan to destroy vital tunnels and bridges and
Mobilizing the railway for years and making transportation between it in Germany nearly impossible
to uphold their neutral stance
Switzerland's garment laid down restrictions and what could be transported over the railway?
The Swiss would only allow sealed boxes past her without checking their contents in exchange for raw materials and trade
Officially the Swiss banned a transportation of people or troops or war goods over the railway
But the extent on which this was upheld is very questionable
This was press did vigorously criticize the Third Reich often in furious leadership in
Turn Berlin denounced Switzerland as a medieval remnant ends people renegade Germans
the Swiss military strategy was changed from one of static defense at the borders to
Strategic of organized long-term attrition and withdrawal to strong well-stocked positions high in the outhouse known as the Russian
National redoubt this strategy was essentially wanted to pterence the idea was to cause huge losses to German forces and render the casa vegan
Too high for whatever benefit
They could have have gotten during an evasion the Swiss Army would cede control of the economic
Heartland the population centers for retain control crucial rail links and passes in the National redoubt
Switzerland was very valuable to the Nazis as a neutral country Germany made
75% of the goal to foreign currency exchanges through Switzerland
The gold came from national banks the German had plundered in their conquest
If you'd like to learn about another neutral nation on Switzerland's borders - click here for the episode about links in Stein
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