Were the Swiss complicit in Nazi war atrocities?
There are factuals and myths involved in the Swiss role in Nazi war atrocities. First of all, the great majority of Swiss people unquestionably hoped the Allies would win the war. But the Allies did not threaten invasion while the Nazis did. This is true also in the case of Sweden, another neutral country. Please bear that in mind as we go along. Switzerland is a very conservative country. Women didn’t get the vote in national elections until 1971. Pet proposals by leftists, such as abolition of universal military service regularly get trounced in referenda. When WW2 began, the Swiss feared the Germans exclusively. When France fell and Italy joined Germany, Switzerland was quite unexpectedly thrown back on its own military resources. The Swiss had only three military assets: (1) their Alpine terrain, (2) the Gotthard and Simplon tunnels and (3) the SWISS SOLDIER’S HISTORIC BLOODY MINDEDNESS. Making the most of the Swiss penchant to fight to the death meant firing up the population’s ma
