Switzerland's Reduit: The Alpine Fortress That Defied Hitler

During World War II, as Nazi Germany encircled Switzerland, the Swiss military devised a radical plan: abandon the cities and retreat into the Alps. This episode dives into the Réduit national, the fortified redoubt built into the mountain heart of the country. Lucas and Luna explore how General Henri Guisan rallied the army on the Rütli meadow in 1940, the construction of hidden bunkers and artillery positions, and the controversial strategy that prioritized defending the Alpine core over the industrial lowlands. They discuss the legacy of this 'Alpine fortress' mentality, its role in deterring German invasion, and the moral dilemmas it raised about sacrificing parts of the country to save the whole. From the Gotthard to Saint-Maurice, discover how Switzerland's geography became its ultimate weapon. #Reduit #HenriGuisan #AlpineFortress #SwissNeutrality #WWII #Gotthard #SaintMaurice #RTliReport #TotalWar #SwissArmy #MountainWarfare #Bunker #Deterrence #NationalRedoubt #SwissHistory #MilitaryHistory #History #FexingoHistory #RTlischwur #Morgarten Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo