Read full story on why Hitler invaded Switzerland?

Adolf Hitler announced in February 1937 the chancellor Edmund Schulthess that in any situation "respect the inviolability and neutrality of Switzerland.

" This declaration, which includes Christian Leitz in
his book on the neutral states in World War II, remained even shortly before the invasion of Poland, where he reaffirmed that "Switzerland would have nothing to fear.

" The question then becomes clear why Hitler respected a country located in the heart of Europe? It was not a peripheral power such as Turkey or Spain, and supposed one of the jewels of world capitalism through its bankers. Moreover, the 30 measures in Germany led to persecute Jewish fortunes in Switzerland, as Richard Z. Chesnoff studied in his vehement work.

Now, throughout World War II Hitler's views they varied, and came to establish very precise plans to clear invasion "that pimple in Europe" as defined in late Fuehrer himself, who also considered an "aberration 'in the German volk. It all began shortly after the fall of France

Cut Christmas tree

Leitz 1941 contains a conversation between Hitler and Mussolini and Ciano where it has its real opinion on the Swiss state. For the Führer:

"Switzerland has the political system and the most unpleasant and miserable people. The Swiss are mortal enemies of the new Germany (...) To the question of whether Switzerland Duce is really an anachronism, if he had a future, Foreign Minister of the Reich -Ribbentrop- smiled and told the Duce that would to discuss this with the Führer "

The date is not casual: the invasion plans in Switzerland dating from a year earlier. It's called "Operation Tannenbaum" (Operation Christmas tree), which was initiated on 25 June 1940.

 The conquest and annexation of France, defeated easily, Swiss left the country completely surrounded. And, as happened with the invasion of Napoleon, control the Rhine equivalent to leaving the west side, the more physically fragile, at the mercy of an external invasion. A simultaneous attack in the west and south have caused the "panic" of the Swiss. 

The Nazi high command came to planning 21 German divisions against only 13 Swiss. Soon the divisions dropped from 21 to 11, but planning was thorough. Blatter Henri Guisan increased the defense as a result, especially in the south, between St. Maurice and St. Gotthard Pass.

For the Swiss army Hitler posed no rival, and his soldiers called "toy" in the controversial and contested book of conversations with HR Trevor-Roper. Despite this, the Swiss army prepared several divisions in the so-called "national Réduit" a devised throughout the nineteenth century in order to avoid repetition of the Napoleonic invasion defense system. We seek also locate the town north where the mountainous physical borders were virtually impassable.

The circumstances were ahead of this operation: the November 11, 1940 a phone call Captain Worgtzky ended this operation. 

In the words of this "this operation is no longer relevant since been overtaken by events." Russia's invasion of waiting for next spring and German resources, according to Stephen Halbrook, "were not infinite.

" A later plan, presented in October of that year, also sought to take advantage of the open side of the French border, but was forgotten. Swiss panic led to country, according to a document historian Willi Gautschi, aerial protection of the British RAF sought. 

Throughout the year 41 and cooled the situation just became a trade war. The Swiss gave optical equipment and machinery of war to the Nazis, while kept intact its trade with the Allies. This triggered a diplomatic tension, but the need for these products prevent any punitive action from both sides.

It will be in 43 when Hitler look again revive the invasion plans. At the end of this year he planned an invasion Herman Böhme twelve and three mountain divisions. This time seeking an invasion from the north and capture intact industries. The Allied invasion of Italy, later this year, made impossible any action against Switzerland, who survived as one of the few countries in which the Nazis did not put their boots.

East Germany and the bank in Europe

Switzerland has always been seen by the Nazi hierarchy as part of the German trunk, despite its multi-ethnic composition.

 It was embodied in a concept of special annexation of the country, Zusammenwachsen ("amalgamation"), with the German Third Reich. In fact, in 1942 Heinrich Himmler tried to create a branch of the SS under this provision and Flemish or Walloon following divisions: "SS Schweiz». Himmler himself never conceived a puppet state, but rather a province of the Third Reich, in the style of planning Nazis with part of Poland dominated by German settlers. 

This would also problem with states whose linguistic communities contained in the Swiss country. This was the case in Italy or France of Petain. Hence the interest of Mussolini in the canton of Ticino, the Italian irredentism and would lead to that discussion with Hitler in the year 41.

In that sense, everyone was interested in Switzerland, but were still more interested in its economic power. According to Klaus Umer, any intervention in Switzerland would have shielded the Bank for International Settlements in Basel.

 For Walker Funk, Economic Minister of the Third Reich, "this must be especially protected and sheltered." This budget, undeniable interest binds the industry we have cited. Leitz is totally accurate and cites an extension of 66 million Swiss francs in 1938 to no less than 375 million in 1942 exports of military products. The allies in trade with Switzerland never exceeded 20 million.

The Swiss industry was a major contribution, in short, that allowed to maintain the war, and much of the electricity in southern Germany. The Fuehrer himself, in a conversation that includes Leitz said clearly that "in case of conflict with Switzerland should not take it to the end, and better would be a compromise."

A country between two worlds

Switzerland never ceased trading with both sides and despite the tension in 41 his position was well protected. Both the immune system and the need for all countries of the They shut their industries. Ironically, Wehrmacht soldiers sang this song in the years of war which spoke of a coming conquest of Switzerland:

We took dessert

Then we'll go for the world

And Bring us to Roosevelt '

And that image of a porcupine with its quills as a metaphor for the mountains, well worth for his role in a war where their bankers and industrialists were creditors of all. They were his real William Tell.