As for the Vienna Conference, the establishment of Switzerland's neutral status was only a small agreement for the European powers to redraw the chaotic European territory after Napoleon's defeat. Although the Vienna Conference was condemned by historians for 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 in Europe for nearly a hundred years before World War I. ..
Returning to the issue of Switzerland's neutrality during World War II, more and more evidence shows that Switzerland is not a completely peaceful and beautiful neutral region as people imagine. In fact, Switzerland was not completely neutral in World War II. Although there are reports that Switzerland organized troops to resist Germany, more information shows that Switzerland actually helped Germany during World War II, not only economically, but also indirectly persecuted Jewish refugees.
The following is the relevant information
Switzerland is a small country in Central Europe, with a population of 7.04 million (more than 4 million during World War II) and a land area of 4 1.284 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 430,000 troops in a few days [1] and quickly entered the battle position, showing its strong defensive combat capability and determination. In addition, Nazi Germany gave up its plan to invade Switzerland because of the danger of fighting on two fronts. Actually, it is not. In this great struggle related to the fate of mankind, Switzerland did not remain truly neutral, but played an disgraceful role in helping others.
Why did Switzerland succumb to Hitler?
Historically, Switzerland was a small country under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire of Germany (German First Empire). 18 15 At the Vienna Conference, in order to restrain 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 "Swiss Germans" (64% of the Swiss population belongs to the German nation) [2]. The map drawn by Nazi Germany openly included it in the territory of "Great Germany". In response to this reactionary racist clamor, pro-Nazi associations have emerged in German-speaking Switzerland, in 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 once rampant, which caused great pressure on the Swiss authorities and threatened the independence and integrity of Swiss national sovereignty. In addition, Germany also threatened to cut off its coal exports to Switzerland.
With World War II just around the corner, the Swiss Parliament passed a resolution on August 30th, 1939, reiterating that it would strictly observe neutrality. 1940, the German high command made several plans to take Switzerland by surprise and quickly, which were collectively called "Operation Fir". Only after weighing the pros and cons of the invasion, Hitler finally failed to put it into practice [3].
1June 940, 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 staged the most disgraceful scene in their history.
What is the difficulty of Switzerland's neutrality in World War II?
1, giving blood transfusion to fascist countries economically.
Germany has always been Switzerland's largest trading partner. During World War II, Switzerland maintained economic, trade and financial relations with Germany. Shortly after the war broke out, Switzerland provided Germany with a loan of 65.438+0.5 billion Swiss francs, while Germany allowed Swiss goods to transit through Germany. Italy also benefits from its economic and trade relations with Switzerland. Switzerland also sold electricity to Germany, which kept the German factory in production until Germany was defeated in March 1945. The main watch factories in Switzerland also supply precision parts to Germany. The 40 mm antiaircraft gun provided by Zurich Military Factory is an important defensive weapon for Germany to deal with allied air strikes. [4]
2. During World War II, Switzerland kept the 15km long Santiago Tunnel (the longest road tunnel in the world) across the Alps open to Germany and Italy. Trains loaded with strategic materials continue to pass through Switzerland between the two countries [5].
3. Refusing to help persecuted Jews.
Before the outbreak of World War II, the Nazi regime generally did not prevent Jews from emigrating, but usually forced them to emigrate to other countries after depriving them of their property. Therefore, Switzerland became the first choice for many German Jews in exile. However, the Swiss authorities took countermeasures to stop their influx. It clearly stipulates that "Jews should not be regarded as political refugees". To this end, the authorities have taken measures to block before driving: implementing early visas to prevent refugees from entering the country; If allowed to enter the country, deport it as soon as possible; For illegal immigrants, the Swiss side took them to the border post and handed them over to the German side. During the war years, it was difficult to count the Jews who could not enter Switzerland and were expelled from Switzerland. 1938, the Swiss entry-exit department asked Germany to put a big "J" on the German Jewish passport. By the time of the official war, Switzerland had intercepted more than 654.38 million Jews at the border. Switzerland sometimes even handed these people over directly to the notorious SS [6]. To this end, German newspapers also criticized Switzerland's so-called "neutrality" after the war. German Weekly pointed out that Switzerland's "neutrality" only lacked formal cooperation with the Third Reich.
4. Swiss bank: stealing Jewish property and acting as a Nazi gold safe.
The performance of Swiss banks in World War II was also a lot of "tricky". It is reported that during World War II, German Jews who were persecuted to death by the Nazis opened more than 50,000 accounts in Swiss banks, with a capital value of 6 billion US dollars. 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 misappropriated by Swiss banks.
Switzerland was also the main place where Nazi Germany exchanged gold for hard currency Swiss francs. Swiss banks simply don't ask the origin of gold, and blindly earn a huge difference from it. It is said that 90% of the gold transactions of Nazi German Imperial Bank 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 obtained valuable foreign exchange, thus purchasing important materials for maintaining the war in the world market. The vice president of 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 for us to maintain its independence." [9]
The above historical facts show that Switzerland's behavior in World War II violated the principle of permanent neutrality.
After World War II, the Swiss federal government reflected on this history. 1April 3, 995 Swiss foreign minister Huang Fengying apologized for Switzerland's performance in World War II for the first time on behalf of the government. He said: "We cannot and will never deny that Switzerland participated in unspeakable barbarism during the war." "Although it is difficult for a small country surrounded by the Nazi and fascist world to survive, this should not make us forgive our serious dislocation and weakness at that time-I think we can't forgive our policy towards persecuted Jews at that time." At that time, he also issued a statement adopted by the Federal Council (that is, the Swiss government), saying that Switzerland lost to Nazi victims in World War II [10]. 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.