Originally posted by fallin:
This is not a thread about a possible war between this two countries
I'm very interested about the stark difference between Switzerland and the Netherlands during the Second World War. Both declared their neutrality during the conflict but one was invaded and occupied and the other remained near completely neutral for the duration. Can somebody explain and enlighten me in regards to this contrast?
I know the Netherlands was a part of German plans for an invasion of France. That I acknowledge is one factor but how about policies? Did the Swiss government enact any particular laws to ensure the effectiveness of their neutrality?
Firstly, you only have to look at the geographical difference between the two countries.Netherlands was an important port in Europe with link to both Scandinavia and Great Britian while Switzerland was a land lock country in Europe with no geographical importance for the Nazis. In fact, the occupation of the Netherland by the Nazis was essential due to the importance of ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp in order to suffocate the British in trade and secure shipping routes from Scandinavia which supplied important iron ores etc. In terms of the point of an invasion, the Netherlands is generally a flat country with no strong defences on it's border and had a pretty prehistoric land force with only one World War One flak gun and it's air force was pretty much made up by old Allied World War One plane. Thus, when invasion came, the German took all but two days to succumb the Dutch forces into surrender. For Switzerland, it's surronded by the Alps on it's border, the Swiss had already planned for the defences of Ãt's land by building forts and strongholds in the mountains. The doctrine for the Swiss forces became a deterrance force from a static defene force. In fact, if memories didn't fail me, there were as many as eight level of defences in the Swiss Alps border with Germany. The system of defence fortress was called the Reduit. A large militia force was also mustered by General Henri Gusain.The German probably realise that an invasion would have resulted in large number of casaulties for a country that would have gain zero advantage for the them. Additionally, the Germans would probably have realised that the Swiss as bankers would probably be able to help them lauder the money they made through the explusion and murder of the Jews.These were pretty much the economic concession they gave to the Nazis.
In World War Two, neutrality is pretty much a grey thing. Thailand although declared neutral assisted the Japanese in the invasion of Malaya and Singapore.Sweden actively traded with the Nazis in iron ore and other important resources that helped the Nazis in their war effort. Ireland as a neutral country actively assisted the Allies in the Normandy invasion and in shipping. In Switzerland, due to it's close proximity with Germany, like any other neighbours of Germany, they have a Nazi sympathise group which called for a union with Germany in 1938. However, it must be noted that it is now common knowledge that Swiss police actively assisted the SS and the Gestapo in regards to Jews or political enemy going over to Swiss border. In banking, the banks actively assisted and helped lauder Nazi loot and blood money, with some of it still in some of Switzerland's banks.
I hope this reply wil give u some inside to the interested but little known history of Switzerland and the Netherlands during World War Two