Figure 1.--
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Figure 1.-- |
Switzerland was another country not conquered by the NAZIs. It was in fact the only country which bordered on Germany that the NAZIs did not annex or invade. After the fall of France, however, the Swiss were certainly vulnerable to the NAZIs and possible German invasion. There is no doubt that had the NAZIs prevailed in the War that Switzerland would have been subgegated. The Swiss never turned over their Jews to the NAZIs. The Swiss did, however, participate in the Hlocaust in a number of ways. They did turn over thousands of Jews fleeing the NAZIs that sought refuge in Switzerland and closed their border to thousands more. The Swiss can argue with some validity that they had to placate the NAZIs because of the danger of a German invasion. This possibility began to decline, however, by 1942 after the MAZI disasters in Russia. Some othere threatened neutrals (Spain and Sweden) did stand up to the NAZIs as well as Finland which fought with them for 3 years. The Swiss also accepted about $5 billion (2002 value) in NAZI gold which as early a 1942 they knew to be looted or victim gold. This continued into 1945, even after the Swiss were provided information from the Allies. These fund were used by the NAZIs to purchase critical war materials from other neutral countries. Swiss banks kept Jewish accounts out of the hands of the NAZIs, they also refused to provide the assetts to survivors after the War. [Gumble] Americans will be confused because in America banks are required to turn inactive accounts over to state governments. Inactive bank accounts in Europe, however, generally become the property of the banks. Thus there was a major vested interested on the part of the Swis banks to make it difficult for survivors and their descendents to access these accounts. Swiss companies in Germany also used slave laborers. [Eizenstat]
Little is know about Jews in what is modern Switzerland during the Roman era. A Jew is presence is not known until the late medievakl er. Records exiss of Jews in Basle (1213). It is believed thsat Jewish merchants from France and Germany traveled along river trade routes to Bern, Zurich, Geneva, St Gallen, Lucerne, Vevey, Neuchâtel, Fribourg and other cities. Thus Jews are known before the Swiss Confederation was founded (1291). Authorities banished the Jews (15th cetury). Jews managed, however, obtained protection and the right to live in two villages in the Aargau canton (Lengnau and Oberendingen). The Surb Valley Jews were Switzerland's primary Jewosh community. The Swiss in the 1874 Constitution granted equal rights to all religious communities. Article 49 recognizes that the freedom of conscience and belief is inviolable. The Jews in the Surb Valley migrated to the larger Swiss cities. Jews from Alsace, Germany and Eastern Europe emigrated to Switzerland during the 19th and early 20th centyry. The 1920 census indicated a Jewish populsation of 21,000 people and that populatin is little changed today. Switzerland refused to hand ver its Jews to the NAZIs in World War II, but did turn over mny non-Swiss Jews attempting to fkleet the NAZIs. After the War, many Swiss banks refused to honor insurance policies and bank deposits owed Holocaust survivors. Ruth Dreifuss was elected president of the Swiss Confederation.
Switzerland like the Netherlands was committed to neutrality. Unlike the Netherlands they were able to maintain their neutrality. Historians have asked why Switzeland suceeded. The central reason is probably that they had a creditable military force. The Swiss were prepared to fight and by withdrawing into their Alpine national redoubt could have put up a substantial resistance. The Panzers would have been lkess effective than on the flat terraine of Poland France, and Russia. There is no doubt that the NAZIs would have succeeded, but it would have been at considerable cost. There is also no doubt that if they had prevailed in the War that Switzerland would have disappeared. Switzerland has a large German population, part of which was pro-NAZI. NAZI forbarance also reflected the fact that Switzerland was useful to the NAZI war effort. Swiss raw materials and industrial production could be imported. In addition, the Swiss played a role in finanzing the German war effort. Gold looted from the occupied countries could be used in Switzerland. Switzerland was another country not conquered by the NAZIs. It was in fact the only country which bordered on Germany that the NAZIs did not annex or invade. After the fall of France the Swiss were certainly vulnerable to the NAZIs and possible German invasion. Many observers believe that Swiss cooperation with the NAZIs continued long after the fortunes of war changed and the danger of NAZI invasion passed. There is no doubt that had the NAZIs prevailed in the War that Switzerland would have been subgegated. Unlike Sweden, the Swiss returned Jewish refugees who managed to reach Switzeland to the Germans. This continued even after D-Day.
The Swiss never turned over their Jews to the NAZIs.
The Swiss did, however, participate in the Holocaust in a number of ways.
The Swiss did turn over thousands of Jews fleeing the NAZIs that sought refuge in Switzerland and closed their border to thousands more. The Swiss can argue with some validity that they had to placate the NAZIs because of the danger of a German invasion. This possibility began to decline, however, by 1942 after the MAZI disasters in Russia. Some othere threatened neutrals (Spain and Sweden) did stand up to the NAZIs as well as Finland which fought with them for 3 years.
The Swiss also accepted about $5 billion (2002 value) in NAZI gold which as early a 1942 they knew to be looted or victim gold. This continued into 1945, even after the Swiss were provided information from the Allies. These fund were used by the NAZIs to purchase critical war materials from other neutral countries.
Swiss banks kept Jewish accounts out of the hands of the NAZIs, they also refused to provide the assetts to survivors after the War. [Gumble] Americans will be confused because in America banks are required to turn inactive accounts over to state governments. Inactive bank accounts in Europe, however, generally become the property of the banks. Thus there was a major vested interested on the part of the Swis banks to make it difficult for survivors and their descendents to access these accounts.
Swiss companies in Germany also used slave laborers. [Eizenstat]
There were not a lot of books published in Hebrew in Europe during World War II. We note a small 46-page volume Orah V’simcha for beginning readers. It is a Hebrew textbook for children published in Basel during 1944, presumably for Swiss Jewish children learning Hebrew. It was written by Chaim Mandelbaum. It includes many illustrations by Klonymous Rothschild. We are unable to read the text. The illustrations seem unrelated to the War or Holocaust. It includes a cardboard playing board, within a unique envelope on the binding verso. In addition: Before the title page, an original photograph of four unidentified Jewish girls. We are not sure just who they are. There is also a dedication “ Gift to the Immigrant-Kids from Stella Schepss?”. I am not sure just what Stella Schepss was. The Swiss turned over many refugees, including children to the NAZIs. Some refugees managed to hide. Perhaps copies of this little book were provided children who who succeeded in fleeing from the NAZIs and hiding in Switzerland.
Swedish and Swiss diplomats set us safe houses in Budapest. The effort here was led by Raoul Wallenberg and Carl Lutz. Diplomats at these safe houses would take in Jews who had nationality documents issued by foreign countries, even spuprious documents. One inside the Jews were safe from deportment. A Salvadorian diplomat probably saved about 30,000 Jews by issuing certificates to Jews with no connection to his country. The Swiss themselves did not issue obviously fictious documents, but Lutz accepted the Salvadoran and other spurious documentation. The Swiss safe house was known as the Glass House because it was set up in an old glass factory. Eichmann was furious about these efforts, but was constrained because the NAZI Government was desperate to maintain relations with Sweden and Switzerland.
Eizenstat, Stuart. Imperfect Justice.
Gumble, Peter.
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