Figure 1.--Swiss Jew Eva Bass before the War was a nightclub singer in Paris. She was in Italy when the war broke out. When Mussolini proclaimed anti-Semetic regulations she and her children were arrested. As the Allies moved north in Italy, she risked a 60-km trek with her children Yolanda and Joachim to escape deportment. Joachim seen here behind his mother was so sick that he had to be carried part of the way through the combat zone to reach the British lines. She was selected for a special American refugee program. The American transport ship 'Henry Gibbins' brought Eva and her children to Amerca. They ended up here in the American refugee camp at Fort Ontario, New York. This was an effort supported by Mrs. Roosevellt, but restricted by the State Department. ,

The Swiss by the time of World War II had a long history of offering sanctuary to religious and political refugees. The largest such group which found refuge in Switzerland were the French Huguenots (16th and 17th centuries). A diverse range of liberals, socialists and anarchists sought refuge in Switzerland from all over Europe (19th century). Many liberals found refuge in Switzerland after the failed liberal revolutions (1848-49). The repressive anti-Semeric policies of NAZI Germany before World War II created a fefugee problem unlike any that Switzerland had ever fsced before. The number of refugees was enormoos, both Jews and political refuges. And this only increased after the War begun, especially after the fall of France and Switzeland found itself surounded by Axis powers and NAZI-controlled Vichy. The Swiss with a population of 4 million people had only a limited ability to accomomodate refugees. There are costs to sheltering refugeess and food became a major problem during the War. The Swiss did take in refugees, both Jews and anti-MAZI intelectuals. The Swiss took in about 2,000 German refugees through 1937. The character of NAZI persecultions changed in 1938 with both the Anchluss (March 1938) and Kristallnachy (November 1938). Jews desperately tried to escape and Switzerland bordered on both Germany and Austria. The Swiss report having 10,000 refugees by the time the War broke out (September 1939). By the end of the War the Swiss has over 55,000 refugees in addition to over 103,000 sodiers, mostly Allied Polish and French soldiers seeking refuge from the German armies invading France (June 1940). There were also smaller numbers of Allied airmen as well as German troops. Many of the French soldiers returned to Vichy (southern) France (1940-41) and liberated Frane (1944-45). As a result, by the end of the War, the number of interned soldiers had declined to about 60,000 men. The Swiss also has a program to give children from neighboring countries a few weeks or months of convalescence where they received good food and fresh air. Nearly 60,000 children particupated in the program. Refugees also used Switzerland aa a transit point to escape the NAZIs. More than 66,000 refugees reached safety through Switzerland. [Chronik, p. 544.] The Swiss did turn over thousands of Jews fleeing the NAZIs that sought refuge in Switzerland and closed their border to thousands more. Estimates range from about 20,000-25,000 people. The Swiss can argue with some validity that they had to placate the NAZIs because of the danger of a German invasion. And in fairness, American critics seldom point out that as a percentage of population, the Swiss took in more refugees than the Americans. But it is also true that when the Swiss turned back Jews at the border or repatriated Jews to the NAZIs and Vichy authorities, they did so with the full knowledge or a very good idea of what there fate would be. The possibility of a NAZI invasion began to decline, however, by 1942 after the MAZI disasters in Russia. And the number of Jews tuned over to the NAZIs were not so large that they threatened the Swiss food supply. The really klarge number oif Jews in the East had no way of reaching Switzerland. Some othere threatened neutrals (Spain and Sweden) did stand up to the NAZIs as well as Finland which fought with them for 3 years. I'm not sure when the Swiss changed their policy toward repatriating Jewish refugees. We note a German boy, Peter Feigl who esccaped from German occupied France (May 1944). He was lucky enough to have been baptised and was taken in by a business associate of hid father.

Tradition of Refugees

The Swiss by the time of World War II had a long history of offering sanctuary to religious and political refugees. The largest such group which found refuge in Switzerland were the French Huguenots (16th and 17th centuries). A diverse range of liberals, socialists and anarchists sought refuge in Switzerland from all over Europe (19th century). Many liberals found refuge in Switzerland after the failed liberal revolutions (1848-49). But not onlt liberals found refuge in Switzerland. During World War I, Russian revolutionary Nicoli Lennin found refuge in Switzerland. These refugees for the most part entered Switzerland as individuals or in small groups. Many came to Switzeland in part because they had personal or cultural ties to the country. This was certainly the case of the Huguenots. Jean Calvin, the great Reformation leader reformator in French-speakiing western Switzerland became the first French religious refugee and was taken in by Geneva.

Regugee Crisis

The repressive anti-Semeric policies of NAZI Germany before World War II created a fefugee problem unlike any that Switzerland had ever faced before. The number of refugees was enormous, both Jews and political refuges. The Envian Confrence hreld in France failed to resolve the problem because no counry expressed a willingness to take in large numbers of Jewish refugees (1938). We note one Austrian Jewish family that was able to get in to Switzerland after the Anscluss--the Popper family. Dr. Popper had lived in Switzerland for a time. The refugeee problem only increased after the War begun (September 1939), especially after the fall of France (June 1940). Switzeland found itself entirely surounded by Axis powers and NAZI-controlled Vichy.

Swiss Capacity

The Swiss with a population of 4 million people had only a limited ability to accomomodate refugees. There are costs to sheltering refugeess and food became a major problem during the War.

Refugees Accepted

The Swiss did take in refugees, both Jews and anti-MAZI intelectuals. The Swiss took in about 2,000 German refugees through 1937. The character of NAZI persecultions changed in 1938 with both the Anchluss (March 1938) and Kristallnachy (November 1938). Jews desperately tried to escape and Switzerland bordered on both Germany and Austria. The Swiss report having 10,000 refugees by the time the War broke out (September 1939). By the end of the War the Swiss has over 55,000 mostly Jewish refugees. We note a German boy, Peter Feigl who esccaped from German occupied France (May 1944). He was lucky enough to have been baptised and was taken in by a business associate of his father.

Military Internees

The Swiss also took in over 103,000 soldiers. This is permitted under internatioinal law as long as the slodiers are diamed and no longer permited to engage in beligerant activities. Most of the internees were Allied (Polish and French) soldiers seeking refuge from the German armies invading France (June 1940). There were also smaller numbers of Allied airmen as well as German deserters. Many of the French soldiers returned to Vichy (southern) France (1940-41) and liberated Frane (1944-45). As a result, by the end of the War, the number of interned soldiers had declined to about 60,000 men.

Child Convalesents

The Swiss also has a program to give children from neighboring countries a few weeks or months of convalescence where they received good food and fresh air. Nearly 60,000 children particupated in the program.

Transit Point

Refugees also used Switzerland aa a transit point to escape the NAZIs. More than 66,000 refugees reached safety through Switzerland. [Chronik, p. 544.]

German J Stamps

The Anschluss and Kristallmacht sharply increased the number of German annd then Austrian Jews attempting to escape the Reich. NAZI authorities began stamping the passports of Jews with a red J (1938). It is not entirely clear whose idea this was. Some reports suggests that it waa a decesion reached after discussions between Swiss and German authorities (October 1938), The Swiss apprently wanted to be able to idfentify the Jews so as to restrict vthe numbers entering the county. The Swiss Government has acknowledged that Swiss officials were involved (Msrch 8, 1995). [Antwort]

Refugees Rejected

The Swiss turned over thousands of refugee Jews fleeing the NAZIs and seeking safety in Switzerland and closed their border to thousands more. Estimates range from about 20,000-25,000 people. The Swiss can argue with some validity that they had to placate the NAZIs because of the danger of a German invasion. And in fairness, American critics seldom point out that as a percentage of population, the Swiss took in more refugees than the Americans. But it is also true that when the Swiss turned back Jews at the border or repatriated Jews to the NAZIs and Vichy authorities, they did so with the full knowledge or a very good idea of what there fate would be. The possibility of a NAZI invasion began to decline, however, by 1942 after the MAZI disasters in Russia. And the number of Jews tuned over to the NAZIs were not so large that they threatened the Swiss food supply. The really large number of Jews in the East had no way of reaching Switzerland. Some othere threatened neutrals (Spain and Sweden) did stand up to the NAZIs as well as Finland which fought with them for 3 years. It is difficult to assess just to what extent that anti-Semitism was afasctor in the Swiss refugee policy, but there isd no doubt that it was a factor. I'm not sure when the Swiss changed their policy toward repatriating Jewish refugees.

Swiss Politics

Swiss attitudes varied on the refugee question. Swiss policies were determined by the government, both the political ministers and the civil service. A right wing majority in the parliament stongly upported a legalisdtic approsch of th hard line government. The Swiss people had aange of views. Some were sympsathetic ton theJews. Other held deep-seated anti-Semetiv attitudes. There was also the fear of aerman invasion. There was also considerable concern about food shortahes. The Government had to ration food duting the War.

Swiss Humanitarian Efforts

While the Government refused entry to thiusands of refugees, msany Swiss people on a individual bases attempted to assist the refugees. The Christlicher Friedensdienst (Christian Peace Service) raised money for them. There were also petition drives supporting the refugees. Some helped refugees to cross the border illegally to avoid the authorities. Some of these Swiis people who defied the law were arrested and given jail ternms. The Swiss Parliament abd courts beginning in 1990 have recersed the convictions.

Sources

Antwort des Bundesrates auf die parlamentarische Anfrage 98.3447 von Ständerat Maximilian Reimann vom 7. 10. 1998).

Created: 12:52 AM 2/20/2010
Last updated: 8:47 PM 4/30/2011