Was Switzerland pressured either by Allies or Axis to take part in World War 2 at any time?Was Japan really part of the Axis?Were there any successful attempts by the Allies to “turn” groups of Axis soldiers?Why was Switzerland not attacked during the two World Wars?What led to American air superiority over the Axis in World War II“More Frenchmen bore arms for the Axis than for the Allies during the Second World War”?How did the Allies communicate during World War II?What is the origin of the “Bigot” clearance used by the Allies in World War II?Who advised FDR on foreign policy before and during WWII?Was WWII Systemic Drug Use by Axis and Allies Supported By Scholarship?

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Was Switzerland pressured either by Allies or Axis to take part in World War 2 at any time?

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Was Switzerland pressured either by Allies or Axis to take part in World War 2 at any time?


Was Japan really part of the Axis?Were there any successful attempts by the Allies to “turn” groups of Axis soldiers?Why was Switzerland not attacked during the two World Wars?What led to American air superiority over the Axis in World War II“More Frenchmen bore arms for the Axis than for the Allies during the Second World War”?How did the Allies communicate during World War II?What is the origin of the “Bigot” clearance used by the Allies in World War II?Who advised FDR on foreign policy before and during WWII?Was WWII Systemic Drug Use by Axis and Allies Supported By Scholarship?






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty
margin-bottom:0;

.everyonelovesstackoverflowposition:absolute;height:1px;width:1px;opacity:0;top:0;left:0;pointer-events:none;








5

















In the second world war, Switzerland mostly maintained it's neutrality and served as protecting power and mediated communications between the Axis and Allied powers.



A Wikipedia article Switzerland during the World Wars states that




Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the Allies and by the Axis.
Each side openly exerted pressure on Switzerland not to trade with the
other.




Above pressure seems to be mostly economic. But I am curious to know about diplomatic or political pressure exerted either or both Allies or Axis (Nazi Germany) on Switzerland.



Did any of the Allies or Axis powers try to exert a diplomatic or political pressure on Switzerland to take part in the war from their side or for providing military troops, resources etc?










share|improve this question




























  • @Mark C. Wallace - Thanks for a perfect edit :-)

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago


















5

















In the second world war, Switzerland mostly maintained it's neutrality and served as protecting power and mediated communications between the Axis and Allied powers.



A Wikipedia article Switzerland during the World Wars states that




Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the Allies and by the Axis.
Each side openly exerted pressure on Switzerland not to trade with the
other.




Above pressure seems to be mostly economic. But I am curious to know about diplomatic or political pressure exerted either or both Allies or Axis (Nazi Germany) on Switzerland.



Did any of the Allies or Axis powers try to exert a diplomatic or political pressure on Switzerland to take part in the war from their side or for providing military troops, resources etc?










share|improve this question




























  • @Mark C. Wallace - Thanks for a perfect edit :-)

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago














5












5








5


1






In the second world war, Switzerland mostly maintained it's neutrality and served as protecting power and mediated communications between the Axis and Allied powers.



A Wikipedia article Switzerland during the World Wars states that




Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the Allies and by the Axis.
Each side openly exerted pressure on Switzerland not to trade with the
other.




Above pressure seems to be mostly economic. But I am curious to know about diplomatic or political pressure exerted either or both Allies or Axis (Nazi Germany) on Switzerland.



Did any of the Allies or Axis powers try to exert a diplomatic or political pressure on Switzerland to take part in the war from their side or for providing military troops, resources etc?










share|improve this question

















In the second world war, Switzerland mostly maintained it's neutrality and served as protecting power and mediated communications between the Axis and Allied powers.



A Wikipedia article Switzerland during the World Wars states that




Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the Allies and by the Axis.
Each side openly exerted pressure on Switzerland not to trade with the
other.




Above pressure seems to be mostly economic. But I am curious to know about diplomatic or political pressure exerted either or both Allies or Axis (Nazi Germany) on Switzerland.



Did any of the Allies or Axis powers try to exert a diplomatic or political pressure on Switzerland to take part in the war from their side or for providing military troops, resources etc?







world-war-two switzerland






share|improve this question
















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 9 hours ago









Mark C. Wallace

24.7k9 gold badges76 silver badges121 bronze badges




24.7k9 gold badges76 silver badges121 bronze badges










asked 9 hours ago









SwiftPushkarSwiftPushkar

2031 silver badge10 bronze badges




2031 silver badge10 bronze badges















  • @Mark C. Wallace - Thanks for a perfect edit :-)

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago


















  • @Mark C. Wallace - Thanks for a perfect edit :-)

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago

















@Mark C. Wallace - Thanks for a perfect edit :-)

– SwiftPushkar
8 hours ago






@Mark C. Wallace - Thanks for a perfect edit :-)

– SwiftPushkar
8 hours ago











1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















13


















I'm most of the way through reading Nevil Wylie's Britain, Switzerland and the Second World War (Oxford University Press, 2003), and there do not seem to have been any attempts by either side to press Switzerland to take an active part in the war.



The Swiss would have been extremely un-receptive to any such suggestions, given that neutrality had been the guiding principle of their international relations for centuries. Joining the Allied side when they were surrounded by the Axis powers would have been obviously suicidal. Most of the Swiss population were quite unsympathetic towards Nazism, which regarded them as properly part of Germany, while they felt they were Swiss, which is different. The Wehrmacht made plans to invade Switzerland, in Operation Tannenbaum, but never put them into action.



The Swiss would not have that much to contribute to either side. The Swiss military is carefully designed for defending Switzerland, and not threatening its neighbours, which would greatly limit its usefulness in a continental-scale war.



Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral, although both sides wanted a kind of neutrality biased towards their interests. Both sides used Switzerland for espionage, and for secret contacts with the other side. The Allies used Switzerland's Protecting Power services, since large numbers of their servicemen were prisoners in a Europe running low on food, and as a refuge for escaping prisoners. Both sides bought machine tools, electrical equipment, and precision mechanical and optical instruments from the Swiss, although that trade was greatly restricted for the Allies once France was fully occupied in late 1942. The Germans imported dairy products, electricity, and various other manufactured goods, and made use of Switzerland's rail system for supplies to Italy. Both sides made use of Swiss financial services, especially buying and selling gold. Swiss co-operation with Germany was reduced considerably in the final year of the war, especially once Allied troops reached Swiss borders.



Switzerland didn't have any major natural resources that could attract an invader and weren't already being exploited efficiently. Contracting out military R&D to a neutral country wasn't an idea that would have been used at the time, and it would have been "un-neutral conduct," which the Swiss always tried hard to avoid any appearance of, while avoiding being invaded.



Dealing with those pressures this was the primary task of Swiss politicians during the war, which they managed adequately, if not perfectly.






share|improve this answer




























  • Yes , a fine and informative answer . Can you please explain this "Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral" a bit more.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago











  • I mean what about exploiting Switzerland natural resources or to employ it's manpower in inventing new technologies etc. Swiss are very fine at mechanical works.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago






  • 1





    @SwiftPushkar: Added.

    – John Dallman
    7 hours ago











  • Yes , Thanks for the answer.

    – SwiftPushkar
    5 hours ago












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1 Answer
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active

oldest

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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

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active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









13


















I'm most of the way through reading Nevil Wylie's Britain, Switzerland and the Second World War (Oxford University Press, 2003), and there do not seem to have been any attempts by either side to press Switzerland to take an active part in the war.



The Swiss would have been extremely un-receptive to any such suggestions, given that neutrality had been the guiding principle of their international relations for centuries. Joining the Allied side when they were surrounded by the Axis powers would have been obviously suicidal. Most of the Swiss population were quite unsympathetic towards Nazism, which regarded them as properly part of Germany, while they felt they were Swiss, which is different. The Wehrmacht made plans to invade Switzerland, in Operation Tannenbaum, but never put them into action.



The Swiss would not have that much to contribute to either side. The Swiss military is carefully designed for defending Switzerland, and not threatening its neighbours, which would greatly limit its usefulness in a continental-scale war.



Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral, although both sides wanted a kind of neutrality biased towards their interests. Both sides used Switzerland for espionage, and for secret contacts with the other side. The Allies used Switzerland's Protecting Power services, since large numbers of their servicemen were prisoners in a Europe running low on food, and as a refuge for escaping prisoners. Both sides bought machine tools, electrical equipment, and precision mechanical and optical instruments from the Swiss, although that trade was greatly restricted for the Allies once France was fully occupied in late 1942. The Germans imported dairy products, electricity, and various other manufactured goods, and made use of Switzerland's rail system for supplies to Italy. Both sides made use of Swiss financial services, especially buying and selling gold. Swiss co-operation with Germany was reduced considerably in the final year of the war, especially once Allied troops reached Swiss borders.



Switzerland didn't have any major natural resources that could attract an invader and weren't already being exploited efficiently. Contracting out military R&D to a neutral country wasn't an idea that would have been used at the time, and it would have been "un-neutral conduct," which the Swiss always tried hard to avoid any appearance of, while avoiding being invaded.



Dealing with those pressures this was the primary task of Swiss politicians during the war, which they managed adequately, if not perfectly.






share|improve this answer




























  • Yes , a fine and informative answer . Can you please explain this "Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral" a bit more.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago











  • I mean what about exploiting Switzerland natural resources or to employ it's manpower in inventing new technologies etc. Swiss are very fine at mechanical works.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago






  • 1





    @SwiftPushkar: Added.

    – John Dallman
    7 hours ago











  • Yes , Thanks for the answer.

    – SwiftPushkar
    5 hours ago















13


















I'm most of the way through reading Nevil Wylie's Britain, Switzerland and the Second World War (Oxford University Press, 2003), and there do not seem to have been any attempts by either side to press Switzerland to take an active part in the war.



The Swiss would have been extremely un-receptive to any such suggestions, given that neutrality had been the guiding principle of their international relations for centuries. Joining the Allied side when they were surrounded by the Axis powers would have been obviously suicidal. Most of the Swiss population were quite unsympathetic towards Nazism, which regarded them as properly part of Germany, while they felt they were Swiss, which is different. The Wehrmacht made plans to invade Switzerland, in Operation Tannenbaum, but never put them into action.



The Swiss would not have that much to contribute to either side. The Swiss military is carefully designed for defending Switzerland, and not threatening its neighbours, which would greatly limit its usefulness in a continental-scale war.



Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral, although both sides wanted a kind of neutrality biased towards their interests. Both sides used Switzerland for espionage, and for secret contacts with the other side. The Allies used Switzerland's Protecting Power services, since large numbers of their servicemen were prisoners in a Europe running low on food, and as a refuge for escaping prisoners. Both sides bought machine tools, electrical equipment, and precision mechanical and optical instruments from the Swiss, although that trade was greatly restricted for the Allies once France was fully occupied in late 1942. The Germans imported dairy products, electricity, and various other manufactured goods, and made use of Switzerland's rail system for supplies to Italy. Both sides made use of Swiss financial services, especially buying and selling gold. Swiss co-operation with Germany was reduced considerably in the final year of the war, especially once Allied troops reached Swiss borders.



Switzerland didn't have any major natural resources that could attract an invader and weren't already being exploited efficiently. Contracting out military R&D to a neutral country wasn't an idea that would have been used at the time, and it would have been "un-neutral conduct," which the Swiss always tried hard to avoid any appearance of, while avoiding being invaded.



Dealing with those pressures this was the primary task of Swiss politicians during the war, which they managed adequately, if not perfectly.






share|improve this answer




























  • Yes , a fine and informative answer . Can you please explain this "Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral" a bit more.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago











  • I mean what about exploiting Switzerland natural resources or to employ it's manpower in inventing new technologies etc. Swiss are very fine at mechanical works.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago






  • 1





    @SwiftPushkar: Added.

    – John Dallman
    7 hours ago











  • Yes , Thanks for the answer.

    – SwiftPushkar
    5 hours ago













13














13










13









I'm most of the way through reading Nevil Wylie's Britain, Switzerland and the Second World War (Oxford University Press, 2003), and there do not seem to have been any attempts by either side to press Switzerland to take an active part in the war.



The Swiss would have been extremely un-receptive to any such suggestions, given that neutrality had been the guiding principle of their international relations for centuries. Joining the Allied side when they were surrounded by the Axis powers would have been obviously suicidal. Most of the Swiss population were quite unsympathetic towards Nazism, which regarded them as properly part of Germany, while they felt they were Swiss, which is different. The Wehrmacht made plans to invade Switzerland, in Operation Tannenbaum, but never put them into action.



The Swiss would not have that much to contribute to either side. The Swiss military is carefully designed for defending Switzerland, and not threatening its neighbours, which would greatly limit its usefulness in a continental-scale war.



Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral, although both sides wanted a kind of neutrality biased towards their interests. Both sides used Switzerland for espionage, and for secret contacts with the other side. The Allies used Switzerland's Protecting Power services, since large numbers of their servicemen were prisoners in a Europe running low on food, and as a refuge for escaping prisoners. Both sides bought machine tools, electrical equipment, and precision mechanical and optical instruments from the Swiss, although that trade was greatly restricted for the Allies once France was fully occupied in late 1942. The Germans imported dairy products, electricity, and various other manufactured goods, and made use of Switzerland's rail system for supplies to Italy. Both sides made use of Swiss financial services, especially buying and selling gold. Swiss co-operation with Germany was reduced considerably in the final year of the war, especially once Allied troops reached Swiss borders.



Switzerland didn't have any major natural resources that could attract an invader and weren't already being exploited efficiently. Contracting out military R&D to a neutral country wasn't an idea that would have been used at the time, and it would have been "un-neutral conduct," which the Swiss always tried hard to avoid any appearance of, while avoiding being invaded.



Dealing with those pressures this was the primary task of Swiss politicians during the war, which they managed adequately, if not perfectly.






share|improve this answer
















I'm most of the way through reading Nevil Wylie's Britain, Switzerland and the Second World War (Oxford University Press, 2003), and there do not seem to have been any attempts by either side to press Switzerland to take an active part in the war.



The Swiss would have been extremely un-receptive to any such suggestions, given that neutrality had been the guiding principle of their international relations for centuries. Joining the Allied side when they were surrounded by the Axis powers would have been obviously suicidal. Most of the Swiss population were quite unsympathetic towards Nazism, which regarded them as properly part of Germany, while they felt they were Swiss, which is different. The Wehrmacht made plans to invade Switzerland, in Operation Tannenbaum, but never put them into action.



The Swiss would not have that much to contribute to either side. The Swiss military is carefully designed for defending Switzerland, and not threatening its neighbours, which would greatly limit its usefulness in a continental-scale war.



Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral, although both sides wanted a kind of neutrality biased towards their interests. Both sides used Switzerland for espionage, and for secret contacts with the other side. The Allies used Switzerland's Protecting Power services, since large numbers of their servicemen were prisoners in a Europe running low on food, and as a refuge for escaping prisoners. Both sides bought machine tools, electrical equipment, and precision mechanical and optical instruments from the Swiss, although that trade was greatly restricted for the Allies once France was fully occupied in late 1942. The Germans imported dairy products, electricity, and various other manufactured goods, and made use of Switzerland's rail system for supplies to Italy. Both sides made use of Swiss financial services, especially buying and selling gold. Swiss co-operation with Germany was reduced considerably in the final year of the war, especially once Allied troops reached Swiss borders.



Switzerland didn't have any major natural resources that could attract an invader and weren't already being exploited efficiently. Contracting out military R&D to a neutral country wasn't an idea that would have been used at the time, and it would have been "un-neutral conduct," which the Swiss always tried hard to avoid any appearance of, while avoiding being invaded.



Dealing with those pressures this was the primary task of Swiss politicians during the war, which they managed adequately, if not perfectly.







share|improve this answer















share|improve this answer




share|improve this answer








edited 7 hours ago

























answered 8 hours ago









John DallmanJohn Dallman

20.1k3 gold badges73 silver badges94 bronze badges




20.1k3 gold badges73 silver badges94 bronze badges















  • Yes , a fine and informative answer . Can you please explain this "Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral" a bit more.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago











  • I mean what about exploiting Switzerland natural resources or to employ it's manpower in inventing new technologies etc. Swiss are very fine at mechanical works.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago






  • 1





    @SwiftPushkar: Added.

    – John Dallman
    7 hours ago











  • Yes , Thanks for the answer.

    – SwiftPushkar
    5 hours ago

















  • Yes , a fine and informative answer . Can you please explain this "Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral" a bit more.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago











  • I mean what about exploiting Switzerland natural resources or to employ it's manpower in inventing new technologies etc. Swiss are very fine at mechanical works.

    – SwiftPushkar
    8 hours ago






  • 1





    @SwiftPushkar: Added.

    – John Dallman
    7 hours ago











  • Yes , Thanks for the answer.

    – SwiftPushkar
    5 hours ago
















Yes , a fine and informative answer . Can you please explain this "Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral" a bit more.

– SwiftPushkar
8 hours ago





Yes , a fine and informative answer . Can you please explain this "Both sides had more to gain from Switzerland remaining neutral" a bit more.

– SwiftPushkar
8 hours ago













I mean what about exploiting Switzerland natural resources or to employ it's manpower in inventing new technologies etc. Swiss are very fine at mechanical works.

– SwiftPushkar
8 hours ago





I mean what about exploiting Switzerland natural resources or to employ it's manpower in inventing new technologies etc. Swiss are very fine at mechanical works.

– SwiftPushkar
8 hours ago




1




1





@SwiftPushkar: Added.

– John Dallman
7 hours ago





@SwiftPushkar: Added.

– John Dallman
7 hours ago













Yes , Thanks for the answer.

– SwiftPushkar
5 hours ago





Yes , Thanks for the answer.

– SwiftPushkar
5 hours ago


















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