#x98;The#x9C; Swiss and the Nazis how the Alpine republic survived in the shadow of the Third Reich

“Halbrook succeeds not only in achieving a thorough analysis of Switzerland’s armed neutrality, but also in revealing through their own voices the willingness of ordinary citizens to accept total war in order to preserve their freedom.”—Swiss American Historical Society Review This book tells the long misunderstood story of Switzerland in World War II with emphasis on two voices rarely heard. One is that of scores of Swiss who lived in those dark years, as they repeatedly mobilized to defend the country and helped refugees. The other voice is that of Nazi Intelligence, which spied on the Swiss and planned subversion and invasion. Exhaustive documents from the German military archives reveal a chilling rendition of attack plans. When Switzerland became surrounded by the Axis Powers, it first mobilized a "spiritual defense," using the press, cabarets, and newsreels as weapons against totalitarianism, even at the risk of provoking the Nazis. Swiss soldiers recall an epoch when every day could have been "the day" when all hell would break loose and they would meet the enemy. Blitzkrieg plans against Switzerland devised by the Wehrmacht in 1940 are described, as is how Switzerland became an armed camp with countless fortifications, against which the Axis could have attempted access only with extreme costs in blood. The book goes on to describe Swiss life during the war with its shortages, alarms, and rumors. A chapter investigates whether Swiss officials played a role in Germany's adoption of the "J" stamp on Jewish passports, and how Switzerland became a lifeboat for refugees. Another chapter focuses on Davos, where the Swiss struggled against a Fifth Column, and which became a safe haven for American airmen whose crippled bombers made it to Swiss territory. The last chapter profiles Switzerland as America's window on the Reich—how Allen Dulles and his OSS spied on the Nazis, at times with help from Swiss Intelligence. Table of Contents Introduction Part I: A WAR OF WORDS AND NERVES 1. The Spirit of Resistance 2. The Eyes of German Intelligence 3. Hanging Hitler in Satire 4. Counterattack of the Newsreels Part II: PREPARING FOR INVASION 5. I Was a Militia Soldier Then 6. Blitzkrieg 1940 7. Switzerland Is a Porcupine Part III: STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL: FOOD, FUEL, AND FEAR 8. Gas Masks and Potato Bread: An Oral History 9. The “J” Stamp, the Lifeboat, and Refugees Part IV: ESPIONAGE AND SUBVERSION 10. The Consequences of Encirclement 11. Intruders in Our Midst 12. America’s Window on the Reich: Allen Dulles in Bern Conclusion Source Notes Bibliography Index The award-winning author of Target Switzerland uses “a wide breadth of research to attempt to answer why Switzerland escaped the Nazi onslaught” (Daly History Blog).While surrounded by the Axis powers in World War II, Switzerland remained democratic and, unlike most of Europe, never succumbed to the siren songs and threats of the Nazi goliath.This book tells the story with emphasis on two voices rarely heard. One voice is that of scores of Swiss who lived in those dark years, told through oral history. They mobilized to defend the country, labored on the farms, and helped refugees. The other voice is that of Nazi Intelligence, those who spied on the Swiss and planned subversion and invasion. Exhaustive documents from the German military archives reveals a chilling rendition of attack plans which would be dissuaded in part by Switzerland's armed populace and Alpine defenses.Laced with unique maps and photos, the book reveals how the Swiss mobilized an active “spiritual defense” of their country—including the use of the press and cabaret as weapons against totalitarianism—and explores the role of women in the military and economy, the role of Jewish officers in the highest levels of the Swiss army, and the role of Switzerland itself as America's window on the Reich. “Halbrook succeeds not only in achieving a thorough analysis of Switzerland's armed neutrality, but also in revealing through their own voices the willingness of ordinary citizens to accept total war in order to preserve their freedom.”—Swiss American Historical Society Review