Let’s Swallow Switzerland: Hitler’s Plans Against the Swiss Confederation

246 Pages·2002·57.69 MB·English

by  Klaus Urner

Swallo
Let's
Switzerland
Hitler's Plans against i
Swiss Confederation
Klaus Urner
FoRIW'OUn IV GFMRAI AllXANDI-K M.
I
Why was Switzerland spared a German
attack during World War II? Was its exis-
tence actually endangered at any time? In
"Let's Swallow Switzerland/' historian
Klaus Urner reveals new data uncovered
about the actual threats Switzerland faced
during the war. Extensive archival research
into the events at the Fuhrer's headquar-
ters discloses that Hitler, in cooperation
with Mussolini, initiated a surprise pincer
operation against Switzerland during the
final phase of the French campaign. On
June 24, 1940, Army Corps C received
orders to prepare for "Special Task Swit-
zerland." In early July, the 12th Army, with
nine divisions, was deployed near the
western border of Switzerland. Urner
proves that German operational plans
were not fictitious designs worked out by a
bored staff, as has been claimed, but in
fact were serious preparatory measures
for an attack.
The second half of this fascinating
expose provides a discussion of German
economic warfare against Switzerland,
revealing that Germany's goal was to con-
trol every interaction between Switzerland
and the Allies—such attempts continued
until the total occupation of France on
November 11, 1942.
Numerous original documents attesting
to Hitler's plans, hist photographs, and
a detailed bibliogt kike this book a
fundamental wc iderstanding
Switzerland's diffici ~ient during
World War
II.
Civic Center
940. 53 Urner
Urner, Klaus, 1942-
Let's swallow Switzerland!
Hitler's plans against
:
the Swiss Confederation
31111023046913
K>/0Z-
DATIEDUE
JAN 3 2008 $/oT
•
DEMCO.INC. 38-2931

Swallow
"Let's
n
Switzerland

Swallow
"Let's
Switzerland"
Hitler's Plans against
the Swiss Confederation
Klaus Urner
Translated by
Lotti N. Eichhorn
N
LEXINGTON BOOKS
Lanham • Boulder • New York • Oxford
LEXINGTON BOOKS
Published in the United StatesofAmerica
by Lexington Books
4720 BostonWay,Lanham,Maryland20706
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CumnorHill,OxfordOX2 9JJ,England
Copyright© 2002by Lexington Books
Allrights reserved. Nopartofthis publication may be reproduced,
stored in aretrieval system,ortransmitted in any formorby any
means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutthe priorpermission ofthe publisher.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication InformationAvailable
LibraryofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Urner,Klaus, 1942-
[Schweiz muss noch geschlucktwerden!. English]
Let's swallow Switzerland! : Hitler'splansagainstthe SwissConfederation/by Klaus Urner.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN0-7391-0255-9 (alk.paper)
3.1S.wWiotrzledrlWaanrd,—1M9i3l9i-ta1r9y45re—latSiwointsz—erlGaenrdm.an2.y.Ge4r.mNaenutyra—liMtiyli—taSrwyitrzeelraltiaonnds.—5.Switzerland.
Switzerland—Defenses. 6. Military planning—Germany—History—20th century. 7. Hitler.
-
Adolf, 1889-1945 Viewson Switzerland. I.Title.
D754.S9U76 2001
940.53'494-dc21 2ooio:w>
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
59 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements ol"American
National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence ofPaper tor Printed I ihiar\
Materials.ANSI/NISO Z.39.48-1992.
Contents
Foreword vn
Preface ix
Introduction: The Search for New Sources xiii
List ofAbbreviations xvii
Part I: Hitler's Plans against Switzerland: Summer 1940 1
1 Overlooked German Plans for Invading Switzerland 3
2 German Hostility toward the Swiss 15
3 Total Encirclement of Switzerland 25
A
4 Hitler's Orders ofJune 23, 1940: Surprise Occupation
ofSwitzerland ' 37
5 Evening ofJune 24, 1940: Angry Outburst in the
FUhrer's Headquarters 45
6 Readying the 12thArmy for "Special Task" Switzerland 53
7 Status ofSwiss Security before the Spring of 1941 63
Part II: German Economic Warfare to Close the Gap
between Geneva and St. Gingolph 75
8 Last Escape Hatch between Swftzerland and theAllies 77
9 After the Armistice 81
51 5
Contents
10 Loopholes in German Export Prohibitions 85
1 Extortion against Switzerland 93
12 Partial German Success Due to French and Swiss Concessions 99
13 Importance ofthe Gap until the Agreement ofJuly 18, 1941 105
14 Semilegal and Illegal Attempts to Break through
the Counterblockade 109
1 The "Little BorderTraffic": Hidden Door to the West 1 1
16 The Special Emigrant Railroad Car ofthe Swiss Alien Police 123
17 The Final Phase: Contacts with the Resistance and Final
Rescue Attempts 127
Documents 133
Bibliography 177
Index 191