61340 Vorabseiten_e - Unabhängige Expertenkommission Schweiz

the state and legislation was also known as «liberal corporatism.» The Second
World War and the government by emergency plenary powers (Vollmachtenregime)
accelerated this development and the transition to a negotiated
democracy dominated by associations. In this context it is evident that the
multi-party or concordance principle had the effect of not only strengthening
national integration, but also of obscuring responsibilities.
Compulsory military service belonged to the republican principle of
citizenship; however, this was only realised in effect between 1874 when
military training became centralised and 1907 when the new law on military
organisation came into force. 23 Compulsory military service was also an actual
right from a historical perspective, namely the right of men to carry weapons
and to defend itself on a collective basis, the latter corresponding to the right
to participate in political decision-making. During the 19 th century the army
was an important element of national integration and was also a place of
education where civilian skills (from the discipline required to work in a factory
to basic personal hygiene) were taught. At the beginning of the 20 th century a
new, authoritarian leadership style was introduced which included the Prussianinspired
training drill. At the same time there was an increasing move towards
maintaining internal order which was aimed against striking workers. This
experience caused a growing anti-militarism among left-wing supporters which
intensified during the First World War and which only gave way to a positive
view of an armed national defence in the middle of the 1930s with the
perception of the threat from National Socialism. 24
At the start of the war in 1939, the question as to who should be elected General
of the Swiss Army became very important. The Swiss defence structure only
provided and continues to provide for the appointment of a General, i.e., a
Supreme Commander, in cases of extreme threat or in the event of mobilisation.
When both chambers of the Federal Assembly voted Henri Guisan as General
on 31 August 1939, they in fact decided against Ulrich Wille, an officer from
the traditionally pro-German officers’ environment in Zurich.
Until long after 1945, the perception of threat and the concept of political
security remained embedded in an image of war from the 19 th century. No
lessons were learned in this respect during the First World War. These outdated
images were reinforced again during the Second World War and were of significant
importance during the entire post-war period. 25 Based on information for
1941, the stipulations of the Swiss militia system meant that if around 430,000
men were mobilised, 10% of the population and more than 20% of the gainfully
employed would be summoned for military defence purposes. At the peak of the
mobilisation in June 1940, almost one-third of the men capable of gainful
employment were under arms. The companies and labour markets therefore felt
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