Episode – 1962 : Swiss Neutrality
Podcast Transcript
There are several rules that should be followed when going to war:
Germany should never fight wars against the entire world
Don’t invade Russia in the Winter.
Never fight a land war in Asia.
There is also one other rule that should be added to that list: Don’t count on Switzerland as an ally.
For over two centuries, Switzerland has remained staunchly neutral, even when wars were being fought just over its borders.
Learn more about Swiss neutrality and what that means on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
Before delving into the history of why the Swiss maintain a policy of strict neutrality, it is important to understand what “neutral” means for countries.
In the realm of foreign policy, neutrality has a specific meaning. For this episode, we will use the guidelines laid out by the Swiss in the 1907 Hague Convention.
Neutrality means that a country will refrain from engaging in any war other than for its own defense, will be equal in treatment towards all belligerent parties during times of war by supplying the same amounts of exports to all sides, will not supply mercenary troops for any conflict, and finally, that it will not allow any other states to use its territory.
This neutrality policy applies only to external, international conflicts. It does not include United Nations military operations or decisions made by the community of nations to ensure peace.
With this definition of neutrality, we can now address why this policy was adopted in the first place.
Switzerland was not always neutral; neutrality was not officially adopted until 1815. However, there are many instances of the country holding similar policies prior to the official proclamation.
The first example of Swiss neutrality dates back to 1515. Prior to 1515, the Swiss Confederacy was expansionist, and the country was renowned for its exceptional mercenaries, a subject I covered in a previous episode.
1515 saw the Old Swiss Confederacy defeated by the French in the Battle of Marignano. This defeat changed Swiss foreign policy for centuries and caused the Swiss to abandon their policy of foreign expansion.
This idea was further reaffirmed in 1648.
In 1648, the Treaty of Westphalia granted Switzerland independence from the Holy Roman Empire. Though the country had limited autonomy for over a century, this officially granted Switzerland the ability to control its own borders. One of the first actions they took with this was to prevent any country’s army from passing through Swiss territory, an idea that has carried over to the present day.
Swiss Neutrality became a firm policy following the Napoleonic Wars.
Switzerland was invaded by Napoleon in 1798 to hold control over the Alpine Passes. The invasion revealed Switzerland’s weak government and resulted in the Swiss becoming a French puppet state known as the Helvetic Republic.
The period of the Helvetic Republic was short-lived. Napoleon signed the Act of Mediation in 1803, which essentially stated that France would protect Swiss Neutrality and independence. Despite this promise, France did not do this, forcing Switzerland into a defensive treaty with France through the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
1815 marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the beginning of a rebuilding period for the rest of Europe, including Switzerland. During the rebuilding process, Switzerland enshrined the policy of neutrality in its Constitution and ensured that it was enshrined in the Treaty of Paris, signed at the end of the war.
The policy of neutrality for Switzerland was popular amongst the other European powers as well. This is because they felt that Switzerland could serve as a valuable buffer zone between France and Austria, helping protect peace across the continent.
However, it is overly simplistic to think that the European powers forced Switzerland to be neutral. Neutrality was an active choice the Swiss made for themselves following centuries of practice.
The most infamous moments of Swiss neutrality occurred during the two World Wars. While the countries around Switzerland were suffering in trenches, fighting in bloody massacres, and butchering millions, Switzerland remained uninvolved.
This is especially impressive given Switzerland’s location on the continent.
During the First World War, Switzerland focused on defense. This strategy was especially important given their position, as they served as a buffer zone between the allies and the Central Powers.
The Swiss mobilized a quarter of a million troops to stand guard at the border in preparation for a potential invasion. This fear was not unfounded, as other neutral countries were invaded during the war, including Belgium and Luxembourg.
Fortunately for the Swiss, their geography provides many natural advantages that help maintain their security. To start, it is super difficult to even enter Switzerland, given its mountainous borders, making border crossings possible at only a few spots.
Mountains cover 70% of the country, with the Alps protecting the Southeastern border and the Jura Mountains protecting the Northwestern border. In many parts of the country that aren’t protected by mountains, waterways also serve as natural barriers.
Switzerland may also be neutral, but it is not pacifist. It has a highly organized militia to pursue a strategy of deterrence, or, in other words, “attacking us would be a miserable experience, so go elsewhere.”
This strategy worked, as Imperial Germany considered invading France through Switzerland but later changed their focus to Belgium, following the Schlieffen Plan. The strategy of deterrence, combined with their neutral stance, kept Switzerland out of the First World War while their neighbors tore each other apart.
After World War I ended, the interwar period began. This era was defined by the formation of the League of Nations, which aimed to foster peace and cooperation to prevent future wars.
Switzerland was recognized by the League of Nations as neutral. All countries respected this claim, even if not everyone liked it.
Because of neutrality, Switzerland hosted the League’s meetings and was exempt from any military duties.
Despite not having any military obligations, the country’s policy of “absolute neutrality” was changed by the League of Nations. As part of the league, the Swiss were forced to abandon their “absolute neutrality” and adopt a policy of “differential neutrality.”The distinction between absolute neutrality and differential neutrality is subtle. Absolute neutrality requires neutrality in intent and effect, whereas differential neutrality requires neutrality in intent, even if effects differ.
This was required because Switzerland had to join the League’s economic sanctions in the name of peace, which would have violated absolute neutrality.
The Swiss followed this policy until 1938, when they reverted to their previous “absolute neutrality” when continuing economic sanctions threatened its security, especially as tensions were rising in Europe.
This brings us into World War II.
During the Second World War, Switzerland was in a precarious position. The country was completely surrounded by the Axis powers following the fall of France, and was a direct neighbor to the aggressively expansionist Nazi Germany.
As it later turned out, this was an actual concern. Hitler had created a plan called Operation Tannenbaum, a proposed invasion of Switzerland that was never implemented. I covered Operation Tannenbaum in a previous episode.
When the Second World War began, Switzerland moved immediately to full mobilization and reorganized its military under General Henri Guisan.
Recognizing that their plains and major cities were indefensible against a modern mechanized invasion, Swiss planners concentrated on deterrence: the country maintained a large, well-trained citizen-militia, kept aircraft ready for rapid interception, and established a posture of armed neutrality that made clear they would resist any violation of their borders.
They also implemented a scorched-earth policy for critical infrastructure, wiring bridges, tunnels, and rail lines for demolition so that any invading force would be denied quick transit across the country.
At the core of Switzerland’s strategy was the National Redoubt, a vast, hardened defensive zone in the central Alps. The Redoubt consisted of fortified mountain passes, hidden artillery emplacements, underground barracks, and stockpiled provisions that could sustain tens of thousands of troops for months.
In the event of an invasion, the Swiss army would retreat into this alpine fortress, from which it could control essential north–south transit routes that Germany and Italy relied on for logistics. By turning the heart of the country into a nearly impregnable stronghold, the Swiss intended to impose prohibitive costs on any invader while preserving a core of national resistance.
This defensive posture was reinforced by economic and diplomatic maneuvering that aimed to avoid provoking Germany while signaling an unshakable willingness to fight.
Swiss air defenses fired on both German and Allied aircraft that violated their airspace, and the army conducted continuous training and fortification work throughout the war.
Though surrounded by Axis territory for much of the conflict, Switzerland’s credible military preparedness, the difficulty of its terrain, and the high opportunity cost of occupying it convinced German planners that invading the country would be an unnecessary and expensive distraction.
Controversially, during the War, Switzerland continued to trade with the Nazis, as its policy of neutrality required it to trade with countries equally, regardless of their position in the war.
This meant that Switzerland was exporting many resources that the Nazis used in the war effort, such as machinery, tools, and chemicals.
One of Switzerland’s most serious issues was its acceptance of Nazi gold, some of which had been looted from occupied nations and even from victims of the Holocaust.
Swiss banks bought this gold in exchange for hard currency and materials, allowing Germany to finance its war effort despite international sanctions.
Although the Swiss argued they had no way to verify the gold’s origins during the war, postwar investigations showed that the suspicious circumstances surrounding the gold were widely understood.
Switzerland also became a conduit for other assets that the Nazis confiscated, including securities, artwork, and personal valuables that individuals attempted to hide in Swiss vaults.
Strict banking secrecy laws made it easy for stolen or coerced deposits to disappear into anonymous accounts, complicating restitution after 1945. This secrecy, while legal under Swiss law, shielded looted property and obstructed heirs’ attempts to recover what had been taken from them.
Following the end of the World Wars, Switzerland continued its policy of neutrality and became a symbol of neutrality in international affairs.
The country hosts numerous international organizations, which have granted Switzerland the title of “humanitarian capital of the world.”
Switzerland’s continued neutrality has been attributed to several factors.
The first is armed deterrence.
The strategy of deterrence only works if Switzerland maintains its military. Switzerland has a large army even during times of peace. Every male between the ages of 18 and 34 is required to undergo military training and serve in the reserves. During service and reserve duty, soldiers keep their issued equipment, including rifles, at home so they can report immediately if called up.
Additionally, as previously mentioned, Switzerland uses its geography to its advantage. The country is prepared to “self-sabotage” itself at a moment’s notice. During the Cold War, Switzerland prepared all access points into the country to be destroyed by pressing a button. This allows for Switzerland to seal its borders and prepare should an invasion come.
As part of their defense, Switzerland has also built numerous camouflaged bunkers, traps, and fortifications to help protect its population after destroying the entry points. They are so prepared that the bunkers built can protect and house the entire country plus 10%. Currently, most of these have been turned into public spaces, but could be converted should the situation arise.
Swiss culture also encourages skills that align with the military. Sports like shooting are popular and encouraged. Because of this, there is a widespread understanding and proficiency in firearms.
Another part of their neutrality strategy is through economics.
As previously mentioned, Switzerland maintains trade with countries regardless of their position, and it trades at the same volume on both sides. It also has secure banking systems and doesn’t have extradition treaties with most countries for financial crimes.
By maintaining its position as an international center of trade and finance, the rest of the world has an incentive to preserve Swiss neutrality.
Switzerland’s neutrality has been an active choice. By maintaining a high level of defense and some exceptional geography, Switzerland has been able to keep itself out of wars for over 200 years.This episode can be found at: https://everything-everywhere.com/swiss-neutrality/