![]() In Zürich two very different anti-war groups would bring lasting changes to the world, the Bolsheviks and the Dadaists. Bern, Zürich, and Geneva became centers of debate and discussion. Plaque on Lenin's house at Spiegelgasse 14 in Zürichĭuring the fighting, Switzerland became a haven for many politicians, artists, pacifists, and thinkers. Selection of photos from the Swiss Federal Archives Instead they could fire down the pass, as Swiss territory was around the peak. The three nations made an agreement not to fire over Swiss territory which jutted out between Austria (to the north) and Italy (to the south). During the war, fierce battles were fought in the ice and snow of the area, with gun fire crossing into Swiss areas at times. Switzerland had an outpost and a hotel (which was destroyed after being used by the Austrians) on the peak. Because of widespread workers' strikes, at the end of the war, the Swiss army had shrunk to only 12'500 men.ĭuring the war, belligerents crossed the Swiss borders about 1'000 times, with some of these incidents occurring around the Dreisprachen Piz or Three Languages Peak (near the Stelvio Pass the languages being Italian, Romansh and German). When this attack failed to occur the army began to shrink again. This number increased during the winter of 1916–17 to over 100'000 as a result of a proposed French attack that would have crossed over to Switzerland. By November 1916, the Swiss had only 38'000 men in the army. After September 1914, some soldiers were released to return to their farms and to vital industries. Once it became clear that the Allies and the Central Powers would respect Swiss neutrality, the number of troops deployed began to drop. This remained unchanged until May 1915 when Italy entered the war on the Entente side, at which point troops were deployed to the Unterengadin valley, Val Müstair, and along the southern border. By August 11th, Wille had deployed much of the army along the Jura border with France, with smaller units deployed along the eastern and southern borders. Replica of a balloon observer of the Swiss Army in World War I Wille, Ulrich (1848-1925), print preserved by the ETH LibraryĪfter the declarations of war in late July 1914, on AugSwitzerland mobilized its army by August 7 the newly appointed general Ulrich Wille had about 220'000 men under his command. For the same reasons, Switzerland became a haven for refugees and revolutionaries.įollowing the organisation of the army in 1907 and military expansion in 1911, the Swiss Army consisted of about 250'000 men with an additional 200'000 in supporting roles. However, because Switzerland was centrally located, neutral, and generally undamaged, the war allowed the growth of the Swiss banking industry. ![]() While the German-speaking majority in Switzerland generally favored the Central Powers, the French- and, later, Italian-speaking populations sided with the Entente Powers, which would cause conflict in 1918.ĭuring the war Switzerland was blockaded by the Allies and therefore suffered some difficulties and some challenges. Of lesser concern was the Italian border, but troops were also stationed in the Unterengadin region of Graubünden. However, with two of the Central Powers ( Germany and Austria-Hungary) and two of the Entente Powers ( France and Italy) all sharing borders and populations with Switzerland, neutrality proved difficult.ĭuring the War, all Swiss troops were deployed in the Jura along the French border over concern that the trench war might spill into Switzerland. Switzerland maintained a state of armed neutrality during the First World War. Switzerland (yellow) found itself surrounded by members of opposing alliances Swiss officers' barracks in the Umbrail Pass during World War I - Swiss Federal Archives
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