1942: Switzerland

In 1942, Switzerland's policies were designed for Switzerland, but they served the world. Her continued neutrality was beyond price. Her services to the well-being of the war-wrecked on both sides preserved something fine. As Germany occupied all of France, Switzerland's uniqueness increased; and with the weakening of Italy, a possible channel for a second front, her troubles grew.

Germany's pressure upon her increased with the months. In late 1941, the Reich was reported about to demand that Switzerland expel British nationals (in retaliation for the expulsion of Axis nationals from Syria, Iraq and Iran). They actually forced a blackout on the Swiss to avoid their guiding Allied planes. In January 1942, Goebbels attacked the Swiss for their 'lack of appreciation' for their nation's security, and tried to rally them against Bolshevism. Claiming that the country was out of line with the 'New Europe,' Germany bludgeoned Swiss firms, resorted to bribery especially with the press. In January 1942 it was reported from Stockholm that a Nazi recruiting camp in Switzerland had caused 2,000 German-born men and youths of German parentage to enlist with Germany from the Zurich section alone, though many had Swiss mothers; the enlistees feared that their refusal would result in harm to their families. It was further reported that boys of fourteen or over of German parentage were ordered to register.

In May 1942, Germany was reported to have demanded seventy-five locomotives from Switzerland, threatening to cut off supplies of coal if denied them. All exports are under German control, and in turn Switzerland must get her coal from Germany, her iron, steel and oil with Axis permission. By 1942, Switzerland had piled up a credit balance of about 1,000,000,000 Swiss francs, which was in plain terms a loan to Germany without any hope of repayment except by means of German victory (which would be a defeat in reality for Switzerland). And the 'loan' was constantly being increased.

A feeling is voiced by a correspondent that the tendency of some highly respected Swiss leaders to play a game of 'Real Politik' is the nation's greatest danger. They would yield an inch here, an inch there for 'practical considerations,' side-stepping fundamental issues. The British, too, have added to Switzerland's trials. In March 1942, Great Britain announced an Allied decision to prohibit the export from the Continent of goods which contained over 5 per cent of enemy-produced materials. This blow compelled the Swiss to dispatch a special commission to London.

Switzerland ended 1941 with a national deficit of 60,000,000 francs. In the special account for national defense, there had been spent 1,317,000,000 francs of which only 475,000,000 was covered by special taxation. The national debt totalled on Dec. 31, 1941, 3,661,000,000 francs, an increase for the year of nearly 900,000,000 francs. It was estimated that by the end of 1942, Switzerland will have spent (presumably since 1939) almost 5,000,000,000 francs in special war costs; of this, despite a 10 per cent federal income tax and a special war profits tax, only about one fifth will have been covered.

Her Government and her people, who celebrated in 1940 their 650th anniversary, intend to maintain the inviolability of their land. They have an army of 700,000. It can be mobilized in 48 hours, going on active service meaning merely going home, changing one's clothes and picking up the rifle. They will make adjustments and concessions but, said President Ernest Wetter, 'there is a limit.' The people refuse to know anything but the freedom they have had for six centuries. The workers are almost 100 per cent anti-Nazi; the Church leaders are vocal in their opposition to domination.

The hardships brought by the war seem not to phase them. They have coal for one room per house; less butter than in Germany; three meatless days a week; milk and cheese, rationed; chocolate, scarce. Coffee, tea, grains are rationed; leather and textiles can be bought only against coupons, a year's allotment being 1 suit of clothes and 1 pair of shoes. In 1942, the Government was proceeding with a reorganization of agriculture and hoped they could be self-sustaining in food by 1943.