[democracy id=”77″]
Switzerland managed to stay neutral during World War II through a policy known as aggressive neutrality—and that, right there, is the key to understanding how a small country surrounded by Axis powers managed to avoid invasion.
They didn’t just sit back and hope for the best. Switzerland actively defended its borders and made sure that every nation knew they were prepared to fight if necessary. They built massive fortifications, placed explosives throughout their infrastructure, and maintained a strong military presence, ready to defend their neutrality at all costs.
Now, think about what it means to be a small, neutral country in the middle of a global conflict. Switzerland was surrounded by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Vichy France—countries that were at war with much of the world. Switzerland knew that relying on diplomatic neutrality alone wouldn’t be enough. So, they fortified their natural defenses, like the Alps, and built secret bunkers, hidden artillery, and even explosive charges in bridges and roads, ready to blow them up if an invasion was attempted. The Swiss made it clear: invading them would be costly, and it just wasn’t worth the effort.
During WWII, Switzerland mobilized over 430,000 troops within days of the war’s outbreak—an impressive number for a small nation. This mobilization was part of their strategy to show the Axis powers, particularly Nazi Germany, that they weren’t going to be an easy target. Swiss forces even shot down planes from both sides—Allied and Axis—when they violated Swiss airspace, proving that they were willing to defend their sovereignty with force if necessary.
Switzerland’s geography was also one of its greatest assets. The Alps provided a natural barrier that made invasion difficult. Swiss military strategy capitalized on this by creating what was known as the National Redoubt—a series of hidden fortifications in the mountains, stocked with supplies and artillery. The plan was simple: if the Axis forces ever tried to invade, the Swiss military and government would retreat to these fortified positions, making it nearly impossible for an invading army to gain control of the country without sustaining heavy losses.
But Switzerland didn’t just rely on military might. They also used diplomacy to their advantage. They continued to trade with both the Allies and the Axis powers, providing goods and services in exchange for being left alone. This trade, while controversial, was part of their broader strategy to make neutrality as beneficial to both sides as possible. Some speculate that even the accidental bombings of Swiss cities by Allied forces were intentional due to Switzerland’s trade with Nazi Germany.
In the end, Switzerland’s combination of military preparedness, geographic advantage, and strategic diplomacy allowed them to stay neutral throughout World War II. They showed the world that being neutral doesn’t mean being passive. In fact, their version of neutrality was anything but—it was a highly active, highly defensive stance that made the cost of invasion far too high for any of the warring powers to consider.
