61340 Vorabseiten_e - Unabhängige Expertenkommission Schweiz

eak off relations with Great Britain. Federal Councillor Minger for instance
showed far-sightedness when he declared that the war could go on for a long
time yet, and that Switzerland should not think of «begging Germany for
mercy». 18 In the years that followed, both calculations proved right: it was
possible to maintain, albeit minimal, trade with the Allied powers; at the same
time, however, a strategy of understanding directed towards the Axis predominated.
In the period after June 1940, various suggestions were also put
forward to send a top-notch «reconnaissance mission» of business representatives
to Berlin. These initiatives – originating both from the General and from
circles friendly towards Germany – expressed a mood which also existed within
the major exporting companies, that a concentration of Swiss efforts on the
«large European economic area» under German rule was appropriate. In the
summer of 1940, Germany sent out clear signals in this regard which were
received positively by some Swiss business circles. The Interessengemeinschaft der
Basler Chemischen Industrie (body representing the interests of the Basel
chemical industry) declared at the end of August 1940 that it was imperative
to act quickly and that
«first and foremost we must commence trade policy activity in these continental
areas where new economic structures, based on quite different
principles are emerging as a consequence of the course of the war to date,
and try to influence them in time to protect our position.» 19
Bally and its relations with the Axis powers
In some companies, the alignment with Nazi Germany involved a radical
reorientation. The fact that this did not take place until summer 1940, and
in response to pressure from the authorities, can be seen clearly from the
example of the Bally Schuhfabriken AG in Schönenwerd. At the end of
September 1939, its management discussed the risk arising from the «black
lists published by Britain», and came to the conclusion that «all deliveries
for Bally Wiener Schuh A.G. in Vienna must be suspended, as this company
must be treated in the same way as a German company». 20 On 11 October
1939 however, a management member noted that «Bern» would «disapprove
[...], if we suspend our deliveries to Germany». It should «not be
forgotten that we could be legally obliged to supply our German customers,
and that we would not be acting neutrally if we supplied the entente states
without restriction on the one side whilst holding back German consignments
on the other». 21
However, this «neutrality policy» argument (used, as it were, to justify the
Swiss in supplying all the warring parties) was not enough to convince the
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