Arms Transfers, Neutrality and Britain’s Role in the Cold War: Anglo-Swiss Relations 1945-1958

423 Pages·2013·5.99 MB·English

by  Marco Wyss

Arms Transfers, Neutrality and Britain’s Role
in the Cold War
History of Warfare
Editors
Kelly DeVries
Loyola University Maryland
John France
University of Wales Swansea
Michael S. Neiberg
United States Army War College Pennsylvania
Frederick Schneid
High Point University North Carolina
VOLUME 79
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/hw
Arms Transfers, Neutrality
and Britain’s Role in the Cold War
Anglo-Swiss Relations 1945–1958
By
Marco Wyss
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2013
Cover illustration: Swiss DH-100 Vampires Flying, Date Unknown.
© Stiftung Museum und Historisches Material der Luftwaffe, Dübendorf
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wyss, Marco.
 Arms transfers, neutrality and Britain’s role in the Cold War : Anglo-Swiss relations, 1945-1958 /
by Marco Wyss.
  p. cm. -- (History of warfare ; v. 79)
 Includes bibliographical references and index.
 ISBN 978-90-04-23441-3 (hardback : acid-free paper) -- ISBN 978-90-04-23443-7 (e-book)
1. Great Britain--Foreign relations--Switzerland. 2. Switzerland--Foreign relations--Great Britain.
3. Arms transfers--Great Britain. 4. Arms transfers--Switzerland. 5. Cold War. I. Title.
 DA47.9.S8W97 2012
 327.41049409’045--dc23
2012028847
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ISSN 1385-7827
ISBN 978 90 04 23441 3 (hardback)
ISBN 978 90 04 23443 7 (e-book)
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To Lisa,
who made this possible through her continuous and loving support

CONTENTS
List of Tables, Figures and Photographs .............................................................xi
Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................xiii
Abbreviations ............................................................................................................xv
Introduction ................................................................................................................1
 1. Anglo-Swiss Relations ....................................................................................4
 2. Arms and Technology Transfers ..................................................................7
 3. Neutrality .......................................................................................................15
 4. Britain’s Role ..................................................................................................27
 5. Method and Sources ...................................................................................31
PART ONE
MUTUAL ATTRACTION 1945–1949
 1. A World in Motion ...........................................................................................41
  1.1. Switzerland: Suspect but Healthy .......................................................42
  1.2. Great Britain: Overstretched, Bankrupt, but Influential ...............47
2. Anglo-Swiss Relations 1945–1949 ..............................................................51
 2.1. Self-Interested British Advocacy for Switzerland ............................51
 2.2. Economic Interdependence ..................................................................57
 2.3. The Field-Marshal in the Alps ...............................................................60
3. Vampires ‘off the Shelf’ ....................................................................................71
 3.1. Establishing the Armament Link .........................................................71
 3.2. The Technology Gap ................................................................................75
 3.3. Swiss Missions to Britain ........................................................................78
 3.4. British Aircraft against Home Production .........................................86
 3.5. An Unfinished Business? ........................................................................88
 3.6. Dénouement ..............................................................................................91
4. ‘Homemade’ Vampires? ...................................................................................97
 4.1. Mutual Interests ........................................................................................97
 4.2. Independence? ........................................................................................100
viii contents
 4.3. Gold and Tourism ...................................................................................105
 4.4. Supply Priorities and US Intervention ..............................................110
Intermediate Conclusion I .................................................................................115
PART TWO
STORMY HONEYMOON 1949–1953
5. A Divided and Unstable World ...................................................................123
 5.1. Switzerland: The Western Neutral .....................................................125
 5.2. Great Britain: Clinging to Grandeur ..................................................133
6. Anglo-Swiss Relations 1949–1953 ............................................................139
 6.1. Different Perceptions but Common Interests ................................139
 6.2. Continuous Economic Adjustments .................................................147
 6.3. A Tamed British Lion .............................................................................154
 6.4. Swiss Defence Cooperation despite British Criticism ..................160
7. Engines and Venoms ......................................................................................175
 7.1. Dependence? ...........................................................................................175
 7.2. Towards Self-Reliance ...........................................................................182
 7.3. Business versus Security .......................................................................192
8. Centurion I .......................................................................................................207
 8.1. The First British “No” .............................................................................207
 8.2. Centurions Made in Switzerland? .....................................................218
 8.3. Project Ross ..............................................................................................228
 8.4. Role Reversal ............................................................................................233
Intermediate Conclusion II ................................................................................245
PART THREE
MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE 1953–1958
9. A World in Tension .........................................................................................255
  9.1. Switzerland: The Recognised Neutral ...............................................258
  9.2. Great Britain: The Fading Power ........................................................265
contents ix
10. Anglo-Swiss Relations 1953–1958 ..........................................................273
     10.1. Cordial Opportunism .......................................................................273
     10.2. Modus Vivendi ....................................................................................277
     10.3. Silent Security Partnership ..............................................................280
11. Centurion II ....................................................................................................291
     11.1. Centurion versus Patton ..................................................................291
     11.2. The Enemy Within ............................................................................299
     11.3. The Rieser Affair.................................................................................306
12. Hunter .............................................................................................................315
     12.1. Interim Solution .................................................................................315
     12.2. Temptations ........................................................................................321
     12.3. Aircraft Competition ........................................................................331
     12.4. Doctrinal Doubts ...............................................................................339
Conclusion ..............................................................................................................349
Appendices .............................................................................................................363
         1. Organisational Charts .............................................................................363
         2. Exchange Rates .........................................................................................364
         3. Photographs ..............................................................................................365
Bibliography ...........................................................................................................371
Index .........................................................................................................................393