As for the Vienna Conference, it was the European powers that re-divided the chaotic European territory after Napoleon's defeat, and the establishment of Switzerland's status as a neutral country was only a small agreement. Although the Vienna Conference was condemned by historians by suppressing the liberal and democratic ideas of the French Revolution and re-establishing a conservative system in Europe, the agreement reached at this conference maintained peace for Europe for nearly 1 years before World War I..
Returning to the issue of Switzerland's neutrality during World War II, more and more evidence shows that Switzerland was not a completely peaceful and beautiful neutral region as people imagined during World War II. In fact, Switzerland was not completely neutral in World War II. Although it is reported that Switzerland organized troops to resist Germany, more information shows that Switzerland actually helped Germany during World War II, not only helping Germany economically, but also indirectly persecuting Jewish refugees.
The following is the relevant information
Switzerland is a small country in Central Europe with a population of 7.4 million (more than 4 million during World War II) and a land area of 41,284 square kilometers. But in World War II, when Hitler's army ravaged the whole of Europe, it was still able to avoid the destruction of the war. Every time I study this history, many students will ask, "Why did Switzerland remain neutral in World War II?" According to some data, in the face of Hitler's threat, Switzerland mobilized 43, troops in a few days [1], and quickly entered the battle position, showing strong defensive capabilities and determination. In addition, Nazi Germany gave up its intention to invade Switzerland because of the danger of fighting on two fronts. Actually, it is not. In this great struggle which is related to the fate of mankind, Switzerland has not maintained its true neutrality, but has played an ignominious role by helping others.
why did Switzerland succumb to Hitler?
historically, Switzerland was once a small country under the rule of the holy Roman empire of Germany (the first Reich of Germany). At the Vienna Conference in 1815, in order to restrict France, the anti-French alliance adopted a statement on Switzerland's permanent neutrality, and Switzerland was identified as a permanent neutral country.
However, after Hitler came to power in 1933, Switzerland's neutrality and independence faced a severe test. According to Nazi Germany's publications, all people whose ancestors are Germans are Germans, even outside the borders of the "Third Reich". Therefore, they call the Swiss "Germans in Switzerland" (64% of the Swiss population belongs to the German nation) [2]. The map drawn by Nazi Germany openly included it in the territory of "Greater Germany". In response to this reactionary racist clamor, pro-Nazi associations have emerged in German-speaking Switzerland, among which the National Front and the Swiss National Socialist Party are two far-right organizations with strong power. The Swiss fascist forces supported by Hitler's regime were rampant for a while, which put great pressure on the Swiss authorities and threatened the independence and integrity of Swiss national sovereignty. In addition, Germany also threatened to cut off coal exports to Switzerland.
When World War II was imminent, the Swiss Parliament passed a resolution on August 3, 1939, reaffirming that it would strictly abide by neutrality. In 194, the German high command formulated several plans to quickly occupy Switzerland by surprise, which were collectively called "Fir Operation". Only after weighing the pros and cons of the invasion, Hitler finally failed to put it into practice [3].
in June p>194, half of France fell, and little Switzerland was suddenly surrounded by Germany and Italy as strong neighbors and their annexation or occupation areas. Facing the annexation ambition of German fascists, the Swiss authorities finally chose the road of submission and catering, and performed the most disgraceful scene in their history.
What's wrong with Switzerland's neutrality in World War II?
1. Transfusion to fascist countries economically.
Germany has always been Switzerland's largest trading partner. During World War II, Switzerland has always maintained economic, trade and financial relations with Germany. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, Switzerland provided Germany with a loan of 15 million Swiss francs, while Germany allowed Swiss goods to be re-exported through Germany. Italy has also benefited from its economic and trade relations with Switzerland. Switzerland also sold electricity to Germany, keeping the German factory in production until the defeat of Germany in March 1945. Switzerland's major watch factories also supply precision parts to Germany. The 4 mm anti-aircraft gun provided by the military factory in Zurich is an important defense weapon for Germany to deal with allied air strikes. [4]
2. During World War II, Switzerland kept the strategic 15-kilometer-long San Diego Tunnel (the longest road tunnel in the world) open to Germany and Italy. Trains loaded with strategic materials are constantly passing through Switzerland between the two countries [5].
3. Refuse to help persecuted Jews.
Before the outbreak of World War II, the Nazi regime generally did not prevent Jews from emigrating, but usually deprived them of their property and forced them to move to other countries. Therefore, Switzerland became the first choice for many German Jews to go into exile. However, the Swiss authorities took countermeasures to stop their influx. It clearly stipulated that "Jews should not be regarded as political refugees". To this end, the authorities adopted the measures of blocking before driving: implementing advance visas to stop refugees from entering the country; If allowed to enter the country, expel it as soon as possible; For refugees who entered the country illegally, the Swiss side took them to the border post and handed them over to the German side. During the war years, it was hard to count the Jews who could not enter and were expelled from Switzerland. In 1938, the Swiss entry-exit department asked Germany to put a big "J" on the passport of German Jews. By the time of the official war, Switzerland had intercepted more than 1, Jews at the border. Switzerland sometimes even directly handed these people over to the notorious SS [6]. To this end, German newspapers also criticized Switzerland's so-called "neutrality" after the war. Germany's Weekly pointed out that Switzerland's "neutrality" is only the lack of formal cooperation with the Third Reich.
4. Swiss bank: embezzled Jewish property and acted as a Nazi gold safe.
The performance of Swiss banks in World War II also had many problems. According to reports, during World War II, German Jews who were persecuted to death by the Nazis opened more than 5, accounts in Swiss banks, with funds worth $6 billion. So far, only $6 million has been returned to Jewish organizations or donated to some international humanitarian organizations through the Swiss government [7]. Some Swiss banks even refused to pay compensation on the grounds that Nazi concentration camps did not issue death certificates. All these funds were embezzled by Swiss banks.
Switzerland was also the main place where Nazi Germany traded gold in exchange for hard currency Swiss francs. Swiss banks simply don't ask about the origin of gold, and blindly earn huge price differences from it. It is said that 9% of the gold transactions in the Imperial Bank of Nazi Germany were conducted through Swiss banks [8]. A considerable part of the huge property plundered by the Nazis through the war was also deposited in Swiss banks. With the "help" of Swiss banks, Hitler got valuable foreign exchange, thus buying important materials to maintain the war in the world market. The vice president of the Nazi German Imperial Bank simply said bluntly: "It is of great political significance for Switzerland to allow free foreign exchange trading, which is a basic principle that we still keep it independent." [9]
The above historical facts show that Switzerland's behavior in World War II violated the principle of permanent neutrality.
After the Second World War, the Swiss federal government reflected on this history. On April 3, 1995, Swiss Foreign Minister Coty apologized for Switzerland's performance in World War II for the first time on behalf of the government. He said: "We can't and will never deny that Switzerland was involved in the barbaric acts that are difficult to express in words during the war." "Although it is very difficult for a small country surrounded by the Nazi and fascist world to survive, it should not make us forgive ourselves for our serious loss of position and weakness at that time-I think we can't forgive our policy towards persecuted Jews at that time in particular." At that time, he also issued a statement adopted by the Federal Council (that is, the Swiss government), saying that Switzerland had lost to Nazi victims in World War II [1]. Swiss politicians have the courage to face up to and admit the serious mistakes made by their government more than half a century ago and apologize for them. This position has won universal appreciation from the international community.