The LEGENDARY Swiss “neutrality” 
The legendary Swiss “neutrality” was established by the Treaty of Paris in 1815. The League of Nations officially recognized Switzerland's neutrality on February 13, 1920. Can we say that #Switzerland 🇨🇭 has not been involved in military conflicts since that time? NO.🧵⤵️
WWII. When the Wehrmacht invaded France in 1940, the Swiss air border was violated by 🇫🇷 & 🇩🇪 aircrafts. Swiss planes pushed German fighters out, shot down bombers and were not even afraid to attack a group of 36 Nazi fighter planes.
Switzerland successfully protected its "neutral" airspace, despite the provocations of Nazis & their attempts to take revenge. In 1940, the German government twice sent a note of protest to 🇨🇭 and openly threatened 🇨🇭because of those “airspace incidents”.
Hitler expresses personal concern about these flying adventures. The Führer was especially upset by the fact that German planes were being destroyed by equipment built in Germany.🙃
In July 1940, Germany adopted the plan of military operation "Tannenbaum" [the capture of Switzerland within 2-3 days]⚡. Based on the balance of forces, it was obvious that in a classic battle the Swiss would not be able to resist the Wehrmacht for long enough.
In these conditions, the commander of the Swiss army, General Henri Guisa, proposed the concept of defence, which was called "SCHWEIZER REDUIT" – the creation of a situation in which the occupation of 🇨🇭 would appear to the enemy as a very expensive and even meaningless matter.
For this purpose, the line of defense was moved in advance to the mountains, where numerous fortifications were hastily built, barracks and warehouses were located in tunnels.
During WWII 🇨🇭 was obviously more useful to Nazy Germany as a partner than as an enemy. A cooperation agreement was signed between 🇨🇭and Germany in August 1940. Despite the declared policy of NEUTRALITY, Switzerland cooperated with Nazi Germany both economically and militarily:
– German and Italian military goods were transported by Swiss railways;
– Switzerland sent several medical missions to the German-Soviet front and treated German wounded in hospitals;
– Switzerland granted Germany a long-term loan in the amount of 150M Swiss francs;
...⤵️
– Switzerland sent several medical missions to the German-Soviet front and treated German wounded in hospitals;
– Switzerland granted Germany a long-term loan in the amount of 150M Swiss francs;
...⤵️
– Nazi assets were stored in Swiss banks;
– Sales of gold and other precious metals to Germany in exchange for Reichsmarks.
From 1939 to 1944, the export of goods from 🇨🇭to Germany significantly exceeded the export figures to the allied countries (in particular to the USA).
– Sales of gold and other precious metals to Germany in exchange for Reichsmarks.
From 1939 to 1944, the export of goods from 🇨🇭to Germany significantly exceeded the export figures to the allied countries (in particular to the USA).
Switzerland's WWII arms sales between 1940 and 1944: The weapons included anti-aircraft systems, cannons, military precision instruments and ammunition and were made by the Swiss Oerlikon-Buhrle, Tavaro, Hispano-Suiza and Dixi (📌 reported by prof. Cerutti of Geneva University).
Shortly after the August 1940 cooperation agreement with Switzerland, the Nazi German army was redirected to participate in operations in Norway, in the Balkans, as well as against the Soviet Union.
Switzerland was also presented with the following claims: Keeping the assets of the victims of genocide and not returning them to their descendants (the so-called "Jewish gold") and the fact that Switzerland's policy contributed to the continuation of the war...
What can we take from history? Neutrality is a cynical bullshit. Neutrality means convenient money-making, political and business pragmatism. #Switzerland
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