Switzerland Militia

[XNavyNuke]

The Germans planned, plotted and attempted to come up with take-over plans. They finally tried to infiltrate Switzerland with Nazi candidates. There was Operation Christmas Tree, but it was abandoned.

The important thing to remember here, and many won't like this, Switzerland is very Conservative but far from Libertarian. Their people have excellent Liberties, but also conscription. They actively take steps to maintain their culture, and their Conservative bicameral, direct representation system is probably far superior to most systems. It is impossible to accumulate power in their form of government, however a Libertarian would theoretically hate it.

Distance: Stuttgart to Zurich: 100 miles; favorable geography: Mountain range
Distance: Stuttgart to New York: 5500 miles; favorable geography: Atlantic Ocean
Distance: Sasebo to Seattle: 5300 miles; favorable geography: Pacific Ocean

I'll take the intervening oceans over a few cliffs. The U.S. doesn't need a conscripted military even if it does come with a "free" government-provided weapon. Give me two oceans and a country with 5% good old boys who own their own rifles. I'll keep my few remaining liberties, thank you!

XNN

[Mach]

As far as the Hitler thing, I read a comment somewhere else (probably YT), that made a good possible point, that they didn't attack Switzerland because....... Switzerland was a country that Hitler was running money through, so, it was serving it's purpose just fine for him, an "outside" bank.

[eduardo89]

As far as the Hitler thing, I read a comment somewhere else (probably YT), that made a good possible point, that they didn't attack Switzerland because....... Switzerland was a country that Hitler was running money through, so, it was serving it's purpose just fine for him, an "outside" bank.

There would have been no strategic reason to invade Switzerland. The Swiss have been neutral in every European conflict going back over a thousand years, it would have cost a lot of blood and treasure and wouldn't have helped the Germans at all in the war effort.

[RickBelmont]

The Germans really wanted Switzerland. It has the utmost geographic importance, tactically and strategically. The Germans thought they would go after after winning other fronts by surrounding it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tannenbaum

Also, Mussolini wanted the Italian speaking southern part of Switzerland.

It was impossible for Switzerland to surrender, as power resided in every Swiss male. The Swiss government told the public that if the Germans invaded and there was any rumors of a surrender that it would just be German propaganda.

[jdmyprez_deo_vindice]

How would you like your government to give you a gun for life..... and all of the ammo for the largest shooting festival in the world every year, over 200,000 people in attendance...... pro-gun socialism?

It's hard to comprehend a government that wants to arm you.





I thought I seen these here in the past but couldn't find them and they were worth a repeat anyway.

While this is the best form of Socialism I can think of, I still do not want a government to give me anything.

[RickBelmont]

Distance: Stuttgart to Zurich: 100 miles; favorable geography: Mountain range
Distance: Stuttgart to New York: 5500 miles; favorable geography: Atlantic Ocean
Distance: Sasebo to Seattle: 5300 miles; favorable geography: Pacific Ocean

I'll take the intervening oceans over a few cliffs. The U.S. doesn't need a conscripted military even if it does come with a "free" government-provided weapon. Give me two oceans and a country with 5% good old boys who own their own rifles. I'll keep my few remaining liberties, thank you!

XNN

All fighting units need leadership and discipline, and let's face it, good ol boys have fighting ability because of paternal heritage. Conscription in this Swiss manner facilitates paternalism. It serves as both a cultural sustaining tool, and a deterrent.

People don't fight really well when all they think about is their own self interests. This requires a massive campaign to convince people that fighting is in their mutual interests and a fighting force that has cultural connections, along with esprit d corps and training is superior.

The Swiss have more liberties than we do, primarily because they control their border and identity.

But yeah, a Southerner can probably out fight anyone.

[RickBelmont]

While this is the best form of Socialism I can think of, I still do not want a government to give me anything.

Not socialism, plus you are calling Ron Paul a socialist! lol?

[Demigod]

The Germans really wanted Switzerland. It has the utmost geographic importance, tactically and strategically. The Germans thought they would go after after winning other fronts by surrounding it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tannenbaum

Also, Mussolini wanted the Italian speaking southern part of Switzerland.

It was impossible for Switzerland to surrender, as power resided in every Swiss male. The Swiss government told the public that if the Germans invaded and there was any rumors of a surrender that it would just be German propaganda.

Really?

If Germany or for that matter any other major power (except Italy but maybe even they ) wanted to they could take Switzerland at a moments notice.What good is their militia if the enemy has an army x2 or x3 of their entire population supported by aircraft,artillery and tanks.

If they did not want to surrender they would have just been sent to concentration camps and that is it.

[kylejack]

Switzerland's strict neutrality and heavily-armed citizens means that anyone who wants to invade it has to make the decision: Do I want to take massive casualties for little possible benefit to conquer a country that wouldn't otherwise attack me?

[kylejack]

Really?

If Germany or for that matter any other major power (except Italy but maybe even they ) wanted to they could take Switzerland at a moments notice.

Sure, they could occupy it. But then the insurgency would begin. And an insurgency where every single household is armed is a very difficult insurgency to beat. Look at all the trouble we had with a sparsely-armed insurgency in Iraq.