Why noone invades switzerland

[glassman]

This was sent to me in an E-mail. Thought it was worth sharing.

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/754.html 

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Switzerland, not Sweden. And their being armed is far from the only reason. I could go into it, but it would not be THR material.

 

[glassman]

My mistake. I changed it in the heading but couldn't change it in the thread title.

 

[blitzen]

Lots of folks being armed is all well and good, but not having been in a war for around 500 years or so, to me, means that their prowess is often overrated. I visited Switzerland for a couple months and it seems that maybe the gun culture thing is a bit overstated also. Maybe I was just in the wrong spot.

 

[oneounceload]

Their geography just MIGHT have something to do with it as well...............

 

[bobmcd]

The 500 year thing is a myth. There were battles in the French Revolution / Napoleonic Wars that were fought in Switzerland.

Battle of Zurich

 

[RobertRogers]

One never really knows - it could be a cake walk depending upon how the populace views the invader. For example, during WWII parts of the Ukraine in the Soviet Union welcomed the invading Germans - and were eager to join the Germans in the push toward conquest of their own country. Who is to say this could not happen to Switzerland?

But I do agree, an armed population is a great deterrent to anyone thinking of invading an area. With all the gun owners in the USA, could you imagine the problem that would impose on an occupying force, especially one that is aggressive toward the people?

 

[Mandolin]

^^^ You'd welcome the Germans too if you had been under Stalin's rule for 10 or 15 years.

 

[danez71]

But I do agree, an armed population is a great deterrent to anyone thinking of invading an area. With all the gun owners in the USA, could you imagine the problem that would impose on an occupying force, especially one that is aggressive toward the people?

I'm NOT being political here.....
Its easy to imagine... in fact, you dont even have to imagine it. Look at Iraq and Afganistan.

 

[neededausername]

I've heard they have all their main arteries of entry/exit such as mountain passes and bridges wired with explosives. Could just be an urban legend, but it would make sense. The vanguard of your force is getting in but they aren't leaving.

 

[mljdeckard]

Um, kind of. As others have inferred, there are other reasons. It has been proven a couple of times that it's just easier to go around it.

And yeah, no one wants to invade the country that banks everyone's money. (Oh yeah, I said it.)

 

[WardenWolf]

The Swiss actually do have a lot of national pride. I strongly doubt their citizens would cooperate with an invader. That, coupled with the terrain, coupled with their ability to seriously screw up the financial assets of anyone who would mess with them, means they're best left alone. Hitler left Switzerland alone, although he would have eventually come back for them if he had managed to consolidate his power.

 

[ShadyScott999]

Could be they don't have much to offer an invader.

 

[rbohm]

legend has it that a visiting general to switzerland was impressed with the marksmanship displayed by the swiss people, and asked his swiss counterpart, "how many people could you put in the field on short notice?" the swiss general said one million people. the other general asked what would happen if i brought an army of five million soldiers? the swiss general replied, "my people would shoot their five shots and go home".

 

[kenno]

Some facts

John McPhee wrote a telling piece of non-fiction called "La Place de la Concorde Suisse" McPhee followed a Section de Renseignements on it's yearly manuver and discovered that every school has an underground bunker for students and soldiers. Every bridge is mined. There are bunkers, hospitals, supply depots and airbases inside the Swiss alps. The Swiss Nat. Guard keeps over 265,000 weapons at home and can be mustered in 48 hours. Every fit male serves in the Armed Forces and is in the Nat Guard untill age 65.

 

[Zundfolge]

I'm not trying to diminish the prowess of the Swiss rifleman, but the main reason Hitler never invaded is because they declared their neutrality and weren't a threat to the Reich so they were to be left alone. Eventually had the Germans won against the Allys they would have taken Switzerland quite easily.

 

[Jim K]

Maybe, but "...quite easily"??? Maybe not.

While I was in Italy, an event occurred that I don't think made the papers here. One day there was a huge blast out of a Swiss mountain, and a steel door 5x20 meters and a meter thick was blown five miles across a valley and bounced off another mountain side.

A rather young Swiss army lieutenant was detailed to brief the domestic and foreign press. One reporter asked, in English, "Was that one of your secret arms depots?" "Not any more", the lieutenant replied.

Jim

 

[kenno]

A sad, but some how humorus, event

 

[Oyeboten]

There was no Communism/Bolshevism trying to take over Switzerland.

The primary aim of Geman 'invasions' was to eliminate Communist and bolshevic factions, and, prevent Communism/Bolshevism from destroying Europe.

Hence, they were largely welcomed eveywhere people or segments of people favored the aim, whether or not their governments did.

Switzerland posed no threat to Europe, and, would not have been a Military or Political objective for Germany.

The Ukraine were a seperate People, and not 'russians', and they had not liked being domonated by communism/bolshevism.

 

[vaupet]

The Swiss aren't invaded because:
1. there are no natural resources available
2. all the BG dictators and politics of the world need at least one spot to put their money incase they have to make a run for it.

That said, the Swiss do have a tradition of centuries as excellent soldiers (mercenaries). Even the pope is garded by Swiss.

 

[Radium]

sry but i laughed at the second comment, yeah sweden isnt that hard to invade they just fold over and become wifes to the nazies ok back to topic

 

[Hammer-52]

Chocolate is the reason!

Okay, just kidding but they do have great chocolate.

vaupet said:
"There was no Communism/Bolshevism trying to take over Switzerland.

The primary aim of German 'invasions' was to eliminate Communist and Bolshevik factions, and, prevent Communism/Bolshevism from destroying Europe."

Actually, the Swiss did have "Bolshevist" and others of their ilk during that period like many Western Nations. And I do not believe The Netherlands or Belgium were planning on attacking Hitler's Germany nor were heavy into Bolshevism. Hitler wanted to reestablish the German Empire.

Now that being said I have a good friend (Swiss) who's daughter will being married this summer to a Swiss gentleman who is a pastry chef (asked to be on the Swiss Pastry Competition Team) AND is a highly ranked shooter. So you must respect a country where a highly regarded pastry chef is also a highly regarded shooter . BTW: Both the daughter and son-in-law shoot.

Switzerland is a beautiful country but I would not want to fight a war where they practice shooting by shooting across valleys--I've seen the ranges.

 

[NMGonzo]

Do you shoot your safe often?

 

[Hammer-52]

Huh????

 

[Mandolin]

Even the pope is garded by Swiss

Only becuase they got the contract 500 years ago and havn't done much since. I seriously hope there's a real guard force, since guys with Midevil tech are slightly useless.