- This topic has 5 voices and 9 replies.
-
Posts
-
A neutral country, yes; but that alone should not have stopped Hitler from invading. Was there another, better reason why he didn't invade?
Hopefully this will not upset too many folks but Wikipedia (my usual fast and dirty first approximation) indicates that quick mobilization combined with economic considrations were at first saving graces. Later the turn of larger events left them as a low priority for invasion.
Switzerland was not invaded for the purely practical reason that it was at times useful to have neutral ground where representatives of the combatant countries could meet. I know this sounds odd but it is also true. The Nazi's, American's, British, Russians, and just about everybody floated around Switzerland during the war spying on and occasionally talking to each other. It was actually a pretty useful place.Wally, Sorry to say it, but even universal military service would not have kept the Swiss free if the Nazi's had really wanted to conquer it. It was more useful unoccupied than occupied. Wikipedia is dead wrong in this instance.
I agree with your proposition… even during WWII there was a more civilized level of statesmanship (on all sides) than today. History provides another idea though; the Swiss had traditionally been allowed their neutrality since the Congress of Vienna. Add in that Geneva was the base for the International Red Cross; no, the Swiss wouldn't have stopped the Germans but would have been a pain in the process.
Switzerland bankrolled the Nazis didn't it? Isn't that why so many holocaust families are trying to get their money returned to them?
The Swiss bank for everybody and have for a long time. They don't ask questions about where the money came from. That is the origin of the current dispute between the US and UBS. I personally dont think the Swiss should back down. Maybe the US should look at at some of its confiscatory tax policies instead. I have thought about getting a Swiss bank account to avoid taxes, at least until the current blow-up started, guess I will have to go to the Cayman's now. ;DTheir neutrality was and is a plus for everybody because it allows contacts between belligerents that would otherwise be impossible. Swiss neutrality was instrumental in peace efforts during WWI as well when the Austrian Emperor tried to find out if the allies were willing to conclude a separate peace with him.
The Swiss bank for everybody and have for a long time. They don't ask questions about where the money came from.
That Swiss banks offer more protection against government intrusion is reflected by the fact that people ranging from the slightly shady to the most hardened of criminals request that others send money to their Swiss bank accounts…at least on TV and movies ;D . But really, I think that the whole idea of Swiss privacy in their banks is interesting….does this date to WWII neutrality, or did it predate it? I find it interesting that Switzerland has been able to avoid much international pressure to open up its banking system, whereas other smaller countries would probably cave to international pressure.
It dates back a couple hundred years to when the Swiss provided secret banking to members of the French nobility. Historical origins of Swiss bank secrecy The Swiss arent the only ones to do it, there are several other places around the world that do the same thing, the Swiss are just the best and most well known.
I would opine that in addition to all the other reasons mentioned we also have to consider geography andSwiss preparations for war. All adult hale males had had military training and their weapons were excellent–mostly German–and the troops were familiar with the territory. All the passes were ready tobe blown up making armoured thrusts difficult in the extreme. Switzerland is mountains and with fewexceptions attackers are at a distinct disadvantage–it is all uphill! Think of the Turks in Montenegro, the Americans in Italy in WWII and the Italians on the Austrian front in WWI. The Germans made many mistakes in WWII. The invasion of Switzerland was not one of them.
