Swiss Neutrality in World War I: A Precarious Balancing Act

When World War I erupted in 1914, Switzerland mobilized its army under General Ulrich Wille, a controversial figure with close ties to Germany. Despite declaring neutrality, the country faced immense internal and external pressures. The episode explores how Switzerland navigated the Great War, including the 1917 Grimm-Hoffmann affair, where a Swiss diplomat secretly proposed a separate peace between Russia and Germany, nearly dragging Switzerland into the conflict. We delve into the economic struggles, the bitter class divide between urban and rural populations, and the 1918 general strike (Landesstreik) that threatened civil war. The role of the Red Cross under Henry Dunant's legacy and the humanitarian efforts in prisoner exchanges are also highlighted. Ultimately, Switzerland emerged from the war with its neutrality intact but deeply changed, setting the stage for the interwar period and the challenges of the 1930s. #WorldWarI #SwissNeutrality #GeneralStrike1918 #UlrichWille #GrimmHoffmannAffair #Landesstreik #RedCross #HenryDunant #SwissHistory #Neutrality #Bern #ZRich #RapportWille #Oberkriegskommissariat #FederalCouncil #20thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #RTlischwur #Morgarten Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo