61340 Vorabseiten_e - Unabhängige Expertenkommission Schweiz

The phases of the war
Hitler hoped to be able to geographically limit the war commenced against
Poland on 1 September 1939 even though this would not satisfy his appetites.
However, England and France, whilst acting in a passive manner in all other
issues, immediately reacted with a declaration of war. Subsequently, a strange
«phoney war» («drôle de guerre») began after this «first» eastern campaign. The
initiative remained on the German side although this was far weaker than was
generally assumed. In April 1940, the Wehrmacht struck out in a northerly
direction and after the occupation of Denmark and the conquest of Norway, the
attack on France, Belgium and the Netherlands followed on 10 May 1940.
Contrary to all expectations, this battle against France, the main opponent, was
over after 41 days. After the armistice of 22 June 1940, the question arose as to
whether Great Britain, which had managed to evacuate its troops from the
Continent at the last minute, would continue the war more or less on its own.
The Royal Air Force subsequently managed to successfully hold its ground
against the Luftwaffe and the planned German invasion did not come about.
Some visionaries saw this to be the first sign of German weakness. 112
After the introduction of active military service and government of emergency
plenary powers in September 1939, Switzerland established a defensive
position and was waiting. For Switzerland, lulled into a false sense of security
by a supposed balance of power and prey to the delusion that the Western
powers were the superior party, the first six months of the war passed in
relative calm. In spring 1940, it was not certain whether the German advance
on France would also go through Switzerland. Italy’s entry into the war in
June 1940 created an additional danger zone at the southern border for years.
Switzerland’s world collapsed with the fall of France. The occupation of Paris
caused a great shockwave in Switzerland which was not so much characterised
by fear as by bewilderment and sadness. Pro-German circles now declared the
war to be over, in concordance with German propaganda, and called for the
army to be demobilised. In contrast, even Mr. Pilet-Golaz, the Swiss
President, maintained in his radio broadcast of 25 June 1940 which has gone
down in history as weak and conformist that «[...] our part of the world
remains in a state of alert». 113 On 25 July 1940, General Guisan made an
announcement on the Rütli, the legendary founding place of the old Swiss
Confederation, that military defence would continue in a post in the Alps
which had still to be created, the Reduit. The General intimated that the war
was not over for Switzerland and that the military spirit of defence was not
dead and buried. 114 However, from that time onwards the country was
completely encircled by the Axis powers. Eugen Bircher, a Swiss colonel,
probably made a correct assessment of the situation at the time when he said
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