Figure 1.--Switzerland by the time of World War I had a long tradition of neutrality. The Swiss military was decidedly pro-German, largely necaue a strong majority ofthe population was ethnic German. Neutrality did not prevent the children from playing war as we see here. The child in the middle may kook like a girl, but is provanly a boy. Notive he is wearing knee pants under his smock. And notice all there was strong sympathy for the Germans nd French, you do not see the children brndishing German or French flags. Clik on the image to see the full photograph.

Switzerland by the time of World War I had a long tradition of neutrality. The Swiss military was decidedly pro-German, largely necaue a strong majority ofthe population was ethnic German. The Swiss passed military intelligence to the Germans. The country, however, remained neutral throughout World War I (1914-18). The War had, however, a significant impact on Swiss society and the economy. Existing tensions in Swiss society were exacerbated. Swiss neutrality was an armed neutrality. Many of the men mobilized for active military service were workers. These conscripts recieved very low wages. As a result their families suffered and often when they returned home they found that their employers had replaced them. This created considerable resentment among workers. Switzerland's population is mostly German with a large French minority. These two communities generally favored their ethnic/linuistic counterparts. Existing divisions between the two communities hardened. The French community was outraged at the Government's pro-German bias. The Swiss foreign minister had to resign when the press reported that he was trying to negotiate a peace settlement between Germany and the revolutionary regime in Russia that replaced the Tsar (1917). The cost of supporting a substantial military force on the border was a burden to the economy as were refugees from the beligerant countries. Discontented workers were radicalized by the Russian socialist revolutionaries (Lenin, Trotsky and Zinoviev) who had received asylum in Switzerland. Workers were also incouraged by the news of the successful Revolution in Russia. A general strike fueled by worker resentment occurred at the end of the War (November 11). The Federal Council finally deployed the army and the strike failed (November 13). The Government rejected the workers demands. Political changes resulted from fear of another general strike. The workers had demanded proportional representation. A system of majority voting effectively excluded the pro-worker Socialist Party from real influence. This was finally adopted by a 1919 referendum. As a result of greater worker influence, the Swiss Government began to adopt important welfare programs as well as a 48 hour working week.

Neutrality Tradition

The Swiss Confederation just before the launching of the Protestt Reformation in Germany, decided on a policy of neutrality (1515). This commitment was made again during the devestating Thirty Years' War (1647). Swiss men with intense religious sentiment served privately as mercenaries in the Italian Wars and ubsequebt wars. The Condeferation, however, officially mauntained its neutrality. This was the foundation of a tradition of neutrality that continued throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. It would be a reason that the International Red Cross was founded in Switerland.

German Orientation

Switzerland by the time of World War I had a long tradition of neutrality. The Swiss military was decidedly pro-German, largely necaue a strong majority ofthe population was ethnic German. The Swiss passed military intelligence to the Germans. The country, however, remained officially neutral throughout World War I (1914-18). Switzerland's population is mostly German with a large French and Smaller Italian minority. These communities generally favored their ethnic/linuistic counterparts. Existing divisions between the two communities hardened.

Armed Neutrality

The War had, however, a significant impact on Swiss society and the economy. Existing tensions in Swiss society were exacerbated. Swiss neutrality was an armed neutrality. German had begun the War by invading neutral Belgium (August 1914). It was not at ll clear that either the Germans or the allies would respect Swiss neurrality. Switzerland immediately mobilized its army. Newly appointed general Ulrich Wille in only a few days had a force of 220,000. He deployed much of the army along the Jura Mountain border with France. After the Miracle on the Marne (September 1914). A deadly trench systm begam to snake across northern France from the Swiss border to the sea. As it became clear, that the trench defenses were essentally inpenitrable, the danger arose that either the Germans or Allies would try ad end run through Switerland. So the Juea was the primary location that the Swiss army was deployed. A minor deploymnt was made in the Unterengadin valley when Italy entered the War (May 1915). When both the Central Powers and the Allies showed every intention of respecting Swiss neutrality, the Swiss began to demobilize. Very quickly, military authorities began releasing conscripts to their farms and industrial jobs clssified as vital (Ocrober 1914).

Worker Unrest

Many of the men mobilized for active military service were workers. These conscripts recieved very low wages. As a result their families suffered and often when they returned home they found that their employers had replaced them. This created considerable resentment among workers. Discontented workers were radicalized by the Russian socialist revolutionaries (Lenin, Trotsky and Zinoviev) who had received asylum in Switzerland. Workers were also incouraged by the news of the successful Revolution in Russia. A general strike fueled by worker resentment occurred at the end of the War (November 11). The Federal Council finally deployed the army and the strike failed (November 13). The Government rejected the workers demands. Political changes resulted from fear of another general strike. The workers had demanded proportional representation. A system of majority voting effectively excluded the pro-worker Socialist Party from real influence. This was finally adopted by a 1919 referendum. As a result of greater worker influence, the Swiss Government began to adopt important welfare programs as well as a 48 hour working week.

Economy

The cost of supporting a substantial military force on the border was a burden to the economy as were refugees from the beligerant countries. Switzerland was blockaded by the Allies during the War, fearing that raw materials imported by the Swiss would leak into Germny and Austria. This created difficulties for Swiss manufacturers. Many manufacturers lost their foreign markets for tradiional products. New markets opened up for war related products, especially in Germany. The major problem became obtaining raw material and the ability of Germany to pay. The important Swiss tourist industry collapsed during the War. For a time the border was closed. Compared to other countries, however, Switzerland emerged fairly unscathed. Switerland was basically self sufficent in food production. And there was virtually no war damage or loss of life. One positive impact was the growth of the Swiss banking industry as people in belligerant countries attmpted to safeguard assetts abroad.

Grimm–Hoffmann Affair

The French community was outraged at the Government's pro-German bias. The Swiss foreign minister had to resign when the press reported that he was trying to negotiate a peace settlement between Germany and the revolutionary regime in Russia that replaced the Tsar (1917).

Lenin and the Bolsheviks: Finland Station

Switzerland became a haven for revolutionaries and refugees. And this would become by far the most important aspect of Switerland's World War I experince. The Bolsheviks, a minority faction of the Russian socialists, began to look to Lenin as a leader. The Tsarist Okrana had driven many who objected to autocratic rule into exile. This included both both groups committed to violent ovethrow and those who advocated moderate legal changes. Lenin after a decade of exile in Siberia went to Western Europe to continue his revolutionary activities (1900). He would return to Russia during the Revolution tht almost destroyd the Tsarist regime (1905). At the outbreak of the War, Lenin was an exile in Austria. He was when the large Social Democratic parties that had become an imprtant factor in European politics (and still strongly Marxist) supported their respective countries' decision to go to War. Lenin saw this as the peasants and workers fighting bourgeoisie battle against each other. He saw the War as an 'imperialist war'. He wanted to turn it into a civil war between the classes--which he would eventially do in Russia. As a result of the War, he had to leave beligerant Austria for refuh neutral Switzerland (1914). He remained politically active in the European socialist movement from Switzerland. Swiss democratic reforms allowed free speech and press freedom. He took full advntage of this, but it never dawned upon Lenin that sych freedom was valuable or an assett to human society. With the Revolution in Russia (February 1917) and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, Lenin wanted to return to Russia. There was at first no way to get there. It would be the Germans that provided the means. The Russian Provisionl Government that replaced the Tsar decided to continue the War. The Germans in hope of destabilizing the Provisional Government decided to gamble and transporting Lenin and a small group of his revolutionary supporters to Russia. They provided a sealed train that carried Lenin with gold to finance his work through Germany and Sweden, emerging at the Finland Station in St. Petersburg/Petrogard (April 1917). Lenin began to reshape Bolshevik strategy and the course of Russian history.

Prisoners of War

The Allies and Central Powers took large numbers of prisoner-of-war (POWs) during the 4 years of war. Unlike World War II and earlier wars, the beligerant powers made some effort to humnely care for them, although detriorating conditions in the Central Powers and Russia created difficulties. The major violator proved to be the Ottoman Empire/Turkey. Austrian treatment of Serbian POWs was also an issue. Switerland because of its neutrality and geographic location played a major role in helping the POWs. The Intrnational Red Cross (IRC) was located in Geneva and played a major role in assisting the POWs. They established a POW data base so family could know that the individuals were allive. The Swiss during the war accepted 68,000 wounded British, French and German POWs so they could recover in mountain resorts and sanatoria. They were transferred from POW camps that were illequipped and supplied to care for them. They continued to be cared for by the Swiss for the remainder of the War. This transfer was agreed to by each of beligerant powers on the Western Front and organised by the IRC. [BBC]

Sources

BBC. "Switzerland's forgotten role in saving World War One lives," bbc.com. (May 30, 2016).

Created: 12:23 PM 7/19/2017
Last updated: 12:23 PM 7/19/2017