@@rmp7400 it would be best to be a neutral third party for everybody. That way, if one country-let's say, Germany, for the sake of an example-would harm the Swiss, then every country would gun for Germany.
Switzerland is the school kid who, in one hand, holds the wallets of the bullies who are fighting each other. Unlike the schoolkid, Switzerland also holds in his other hand a grenade with no pin.
ok the wallet thingy, that i understand. but a grenade with no pin. i am wishing for more context. it was nuke probably or maybe economic trade secrets.
Favourite Swiss quote in response to the Kaiser of Germany During WW1, Switzerland had 250,000 soldiers. The German Kaiser asked the Swiss ambassador in Berlin: “What would Switzerland do if I invaded with 500 000 soldiers?” The ambassador replied: “Shoot twice and go home.”
Hitler like invade again Switzerland but his famous General Erwin Rommel showed him a calculate...inside Switzerland the first 25km defenders lost app. 25.000 people, ....but Germany Army it will be lost app. 250.000 people... And after the Winter War (Finnland against Sovietunion ), learning something the Wermacht warmachine... Finnland lost App. 25.000 people,...but novadays historic research the Soviets lost over 1 million people....
@@JegesCaverMedve Plus the socialist nazis would have brainwashed the German soldiers into believing the Swiss-Germans would have welcomed them as "liberators", just like the socialist bolsheviks had the soviet soldier convinced they were invading Finland for the same idea. They would have been very enthusiastic until the body bags started coming back by the thousands.
@@JegesCaverMedve imagine swiss snipers in the mountains taking nazi soldiers one by one(like in Finland)... but yeah.. soviet union lost its most troops to cold when going for Finland
@@mercetajs swiss snipers nowadays are a bit of a joke. Yeah durable, can climb an icy mountain, survive morr them a week up there in snow etc. But the modern military is kindergarten for adults. Greeting from a Swiss marksman
2 things: 1) Swiss tanks were designed for mountain terrain and can adjust their track pattern unlike any other tank for use in mountain regions. It's called a Stridsvagn 103 2) The inner mountain base(s) are real. I've witnessed them personally while stationed in Europe.
There was only one REAL swiss Tank: the "Mutz".Everything else was called "Horse" in really tricky terrain. And the Messenger/intelligence couriers used Bicycles.
@@sunsnows Aghh...Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Somalia... same shit. We don;t give a fuck here in the US, it's all the same to us. We are the greatest country in the history of the human race! Lol
@sneksnekitsasnek Napoleon didn't invade Switzerland. nor have conflict with it. He just walk in the mount alps for deception into thinking the britz wouldn't think.
Ammunition isn't allowed anymore to carry home. It first was introduced to be able to 'shoot your way into the next military base'. However, since some soldiers killed themselves or relatives in domestic conflict, ammunition was only distributed when in active training at shooting ranges. After every exercise, remaining ammunition must be surrendered by law.
Switzerland also did a really good job playing its enemies out against each other. A fantastic readable book about this thematic is for example 'Jürg Jenatsch' by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer. Thank you for the video!
About them bombing bridges, if I recall there was a time where Germany and Switzerland in the early 2000s or 2010s worked together to build a bridge (Germany paid for half of it and Switzerland paid the remaining half) but these madlads decided to place bombs along the bridge without Germany’s knowledge for years, just goes to show their dedication to neutrality is still very strong in the modern age
To be fair, it was only roughly in the same time that Germany started to dismantle its own planned obstacles against an invasion from the east. Bridges were not armed with explosives all the time, but the boreholes were already there. There were also camouflaged towers alongside narrow highway portions that contained large cement blocks that could be blown up in a specific way to fall across the highway. And other stuff. The swiss didn't invent the concept of destroying infrastructure to delay an advancing enemy
No one will invade Switzerland because the swiss bank is where nations store their off shore saving and Switzerland has serious diplomatic ties to practically everyone.
@@unlink1649 I just saw the US Air Force having there fighterr pilots land on a highway in Kentucky just a couple of weeks ago.I couldn't believe they still have their pilots doing such maneuvers these days.
"Neutrality does not just mean staying out of conflict, it means seeing everyone as a potential threat to themselves and preparing for such. Because neutral countries that don't get Belgiumed."
Got a lift from a Swiss army colonel when hitchhiking once in France/Germany. He said the reason nobody would dare invade Switzerland is simple - all of Europe’s rivers start in Switzerland. They control Europe’s water supply and could deny water to anyone who messes with them.
As a Swiss living 10 kilometers from France, you can still see a lot of bunkers along the road (it was because it was occupied part of France during WWII)
Banks said lets stay neutral and we will get rich from it simple as that they financed allies and axis double edged sword, traits from temple banking system the first of it kind with tax free till to this day.
Norway use the same strategy, like the Swiss we are prepared to blast our own infrastructure if ever necessary. Like Switzerland Norway is a mountainous courty, Norway is full of mountains, steep valleys and deep fjords.
@@juliangerhard2552 not really, it was due to a law. swiss mercenairies should not fight for other countries anymore to prevent swiss men from killing each other.
Greetings & love goes out from Albanian to all Swiss people & Switzerland we love you and all Albanians living their and doing their service in Swiss Army ❤
Well, some exagerations… I am swiss, did my mandatory service for a year. 800’000 soliders is off, we speak about 80-100’000. We don’t have all our équipement home, just a few pieces, sometimes including the riffle, but rarely. And no amunition. About the dinamites in Infrastructures, it’s mostly not the case anymore, but some still have. But we can see the acces doors on many bridges, to the « dinamites » chambers. For the bunkers under the houses, we don’t have to Build them anymore, and if we don’t, we don’t need to pay for a community shelter. This rule came at the peak of the cold war. I think, what protects switzerland mostly, is that we’re small, and not very strategic on a political or geografical level. But, still, it’s nice that some people find this interesting.
Switzerland is far from unconquerable, and most great powers would be able to do it (France did it quite easily during the French Revolutionary Wars) now as well as in the past. However, the cost of doing so compared to what you gain from it has always been terrible, and as it has claimed neutrality and served as a buffer zone for ages, there has never truly been any good reasons to conquer the Swiss.
Yeah in war a lot of people often forget you don’t need to be stronger to win you just have to be enough of a pain to actually invade that nobody wants to put in the effort
@@rumplstiltztinkerstein they likely have considering the only reason they won the revolutionary war and war of 1812 was that very thing. They just know if they have the absolute strongest military it is both a giant deterrent and it allows them to meddle in foreign affairs a lot easier
@@Boggs11HD Doch 😂 Ich höre und spreche es (fast perfekt) jeden Tag, es stört mich nicht, aber wenn ich darüber nachdenke... 😱 Und ja ... ein Berner der Hochdeutsch spricht 😱😱😱 Mutter aus Basel, aufgewachsen in der welsche Schweiz, ich arbeite seit 15 Jahren in Biel/Lyss. Deutsche Freundin, (richtiges) Hochdeutsch ist so viel schöner ^^
As other commentators already mentioned - the Video describes the very well thought-out defense concept that existed into the 1990s. After 1999 for 20 years much was lost - but in European comparison it's safe to say that Switzerlands defense is in a better shape than Germany and Austria for example. If it had simply reduced spending and size of the military like Finland after the Cold War, instead of switching to a totally other, useless concept ('Security through cooperation' & relying on a 10-year warning time before a next possible war (no joke!, but fortunately this idea is now being abandoned)), it would still be unconquerable. Now the funding is being increased, F-35 jets are being bought. The army size will probably get increased in the foreseeable future. The civil defence suffered simliiar neglect over the last 20years. The 'bunkers' are still there, but the whole system to turn them into a place where people can not only take shelter, but live and survive for days and weeks, is quite 'out f shape'. Here also a lot of reinvestement is overdue.
Hitler also said no retreat at some point and this allowed for entire armies to be encircled and destroyed by the Russians... Backing down to fight another day when the odds are in your favor is the way to go. If you however are holding a good position that has many force multipliers, the words are wise indeed. Think of Stalingrad where the Russians kept pouring in hundreds of thousands of soldiers for ideological reasons. It is estimated that 2 million died there. Yes they kept the Germans out, but the cost was way too high.
As a swiss citizen let me say a lot of this is outdated/exagerated. Most of the bridge bombs have been disarmed(at least officially). 800'000 is incorrect, more acurate number is about 250'000, also you only get to keep your military equipment until 34 when you are no longer considered in "reserve", you can choose to keep the rifle though. Also thr actual effectiveness of the military is highly debated as 90% are citizens and many would refuse to fight. However we do recieve similar training to US marines, and we have joint training exercises. The bunkers are real but were built in the 50s/60s so they are quite outdated, also many are so top secret they have been forgotten(we recently rediscovered one with a jet in it). There is a lot of mountain bunkers though, apparently enough to support ~1 million people, theres even an entire battery factory in one. Modern switzerlands neutrality is 90% diplomatic nowadays. Also we accidentally invaded liechtenstein with tanks a few times (it was my battalion, sorry liechtenstein). We invaded france by mistake too but it was just some infantry so no biggie.
As a Swiss with a "Swiss" name ,-), I thank you for your observations, corrections. I don't want to belittle the Swiss armed forces. Not at all. But a lot of other "weak" factors" weren't accounted for. The most important thing in all those "Switzerland Is a Country of War" jubilation videos don't account for one thing: Switzerland was as beligerent as every other European nation at that time. But they (we) drew the right conclusions after a devastating defeat after a war of expansion: Stick to your country. Defend it, yes. But don't ever do a war for territorial gains again. The defeat in the 16 hundreds (the battle of Marignano) was that "official" Switzerland wanted to conquer Italian territory - and they were defeated by Italian forces - mostly "armed" by Swiss soldiers of fortune who were fighting for the other side... Also, with this: Swiss soldiers were traded like commodities since hundreds of years at that time. Sold by the rich class in our country to other forces in whole of Europe. It was not a slave trade, but a Soldier of Fortune-trade. And those who were "sold" did the bidding of other countries. Out of poverty.
@@Christian-nj5bq What you describe where mercenaries become debters and fight for the other side is literally the founding history of slavery. The rules just got watered down and countries became loot and contracts unenforceable with failing governments. What won out was the men who traded the most debters and these men were expert at creating debters. It's exactly what happened to Native Americans as well. "explorers" as they're called in American history were these men and they also in essence made a pact with states to reignite the economic influence of government. That was the start of capitalism.
@@Furiends Yes, it is/was a form of slavery. I don't exactly concur with your premise that this was the start of capitalism though ;-). But in essence the mechanism was/is the same.
I never been to Switzerland. But, I met two of them in my MMA class. And, they were both at least 6'2" and both have light colors of hair. And, they are tough beasts. Both of them came from different places in Switzerland.
This entire video is gold even with leaving out the most insane story/fact ,depending on who you ask, the Swiss were ready and prepared to blow up the Rhine dam. Flooding a huge part of land to make advancing basically impossible.
And there it is. I can‘t believe this wasn’t mentioned in the video. I‘m Swiss and I also live here, this is one of the biggest reasons we weren‘t attacked. Everybody knew, if you do that, you start a war with another 50 countries, some of them your allies
Paresh Kalekar Just dont drag your culture to the alps. Get a green card and start your evolution by eating cheese and chocolate and less curry and camel biryani. (I’m just kidding. I miss making jokes with travelers about stereotypes).
I'm from a small village on the german side of the lake of constance and when we visited a swiss bunker with our school once, the senior officer that was showing us around very proudly showed us our home village through the lense of a canon, stating that if it were to come to a conflict, they could easily reinstall said cannon and "shoot down your lighthouse with one shot". "Of course", he added "this bunker is open to the public so we wouldn't actually do it from here". I love our neigbors on the mountains!
The nice thought is this: If there is no invasion from Germany - which will never happen, as long as I live, this is just a "special" story ;-). I think and hope that those days in Central Europe are over for good. I just cannot imagine that we are doing the same sheit we did in the 30ies/40ies of last century. Alone considering how Germany and Switzerland is intertwined as never before.
Netherlands and Switzerland during ww1 NL: this is nice Swiss: yeah really it's really pretty NL: next time same place Swiss: yeah sure WW2 Swiss: hello Netherlands?! Germany: Netherlands isnt available at the moment
Good one😂 Maar, “ze germans” pakte ons omdat we close waren met de britten en te para dat we een springplank zouden kunnen zijn later in de oorlog. En vergeet geografie niet…blitzkriegen gaat lastig in de bergen.
Let me expand a bit on the Swiss mobilisation system: During world war 2, the entire army (800k soldiers) was able to mobilize in just 24 hours, border troops in even just 4. It was considered the fastest in the world. Note: these numbers are based on calculations in case of an actual invasion. In reality, the swiss mobilized 420k men (nice) in 3 days in response to the invasion of Poland
@@aoilpe hm i can't recall my source right now tbh, but according to the NZZ the army was mobilized in 3 days in ww2. What "could be done" is a lot of speculation ofc
Just to clarify, since about 2014 TNT was removed from basically all bridges. Also I talked to a couple of ex military people from Switzerland which are part of a historian group regarding the WW2 bunker group on the eastern defense of Switzerland and they told me that looking back at it they calculated that the defenses would not hold for long if Germany decided to actually march intro Switzerland back in the days. Sure they would have moved into the mountains but that would only worked out for so long, until they are out of food and whatnot. Sure it wouldn't be easy for the Germans but at the end it all would came down to numbers.
The worst thing of it is, that - after the war - it was exposed that a lot of those bunkers were built with inferior material. By Swiss corporations btw. Out of greed. It is a fact btw. This was discovered in the 50ies. Thank God those soldiers never had to see action - and were thinking sitting behind the best bunker tech at the time (because, yes, CH had the best knowledge about that - if the material was right...)
Swiss Engineers: "Hmmm, so how should we design our tank traps, so the Germans and French know that we mean business?" (looks at engineer eating a Toblerone chocolate bar)
Swiss government: "we have taken all the explosives from our infrastructure." also Swiss gov't (maybe, Idk): "bomb all bridges with the hidden planes as soon as you see soldiers approaching."
You got two parts somewhat wrong and missed funny things. 1. 3:06 The swiss Men are NOT allowed to take the ammunition home with them. If a war breaks out, the ammuntition is given out. 2. 6:48 The "Tank Traps" are called "Drachenzähne" "EN: Dragontooths" 3. You never mentioned that but, the swiss has no active "Military General". The swiss decides as soon as a war breaks out, who gets to be the "General". Edit: The Swiss actually shot down Planes in WWII. They shot down some Bombers of the allied forces and some Fighter Planes of the Axis. The Swiss got bombed by allied powers one time. The city they bombed was "Schaffhausen" cuz they mistook it for germany territory. The Swiss actually invaded "Lichtenstein" 2-3 times by accident.
@@wirshl7141 ah well, the swiss has many crossroads and if u accidentally take a wrong turn near the Border, that happens. No one said, that the swiss army is smart.
No you are wrong. As he said in the video. In 2007 they decided to not have the ammunition at home anymore. Before you had it at home. I know that because they changed that while I had to do my military service. The idea was that you have enough ammunition to get to the meeting point of your military unit in case of war.
@@ElementsSti I am not wrong. I just misheard the "2007" and thought, that he said, that we still are allowed to take the ammunition home ^^ I know from my brother, that you can keep the equipment and all but not the ammunition. (btw ^^ bin 20 und hat noch keine Aushebung xD)
That reminds me of a famous Swiss reply to a German threat of invasion by Kaiser Wilhem. "What would you do if I sent an army of half a million to invade" "Shoot twice and be home by Chrismas" The Swiss militia/army of the time counted roughly 250 000. Talk about a Spartan reply.
@@Alex0404. you have inferiority complex. They are better in economic terms we are forged in warfare. I didn’t say anything diminishing. Just a statement.
as a Swiss army captain, I see a lot of misinformation in this video: - most of the explosives in bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure are removed by now - currently Switzerland can raise an army up to 140'000 (with a goal of reduction to 100'000 in the near future) - "Switzerland doesn't have an army; Switzerland is an army" is a saying from the cold war period - not applicable anymore, and the troops never kept all the materials, but as it is still today, some essentials like the bag-pack and the rifle (without ammunition that is) - there is no "secret" airbase inside a mountain; Meiringen is an airbase still in use today in wich the most important infrastructure and some hangars are build in the mountainside (quite safe and impressive, but not secret or otherworldly special by any means) - regarding the "law" that every building must have a bunker... the meaning is to have an air-raid protection shelter, not a bunker to survive in for a period of time - the "tank traps" are actually called "tank barricades" (sometimes referred to as "toblerone" because they look like the chocolate) and were installed to slow down any advance of a foreign force - very common in all parts of the world - those nice little houses, that are actually canons are very rare, most of the canons don't had this "disguise" (reason the few were disguised was to not frighten the french tourists) - to say Switzerland poisoned the Rhein (even as an accident) is just hilarious... there was an accident/fire in a chemical facility in the city of basel (north western most point of Switzerland) and chemicals were getting in the river, wich killed a lot of fish, but thats it I could go on, but this is getting long
@@lokiodinson5412 he said that switzerland had taken away the bombs on the infrastructure though, so your first point is invalid plus I mean an air raid shelter is basically bunkers
@@mappsmappings4025 I clearly must have missed the part, where he's saying that the explosives are removed... could you please point me to that? (at 1:02 he doesn't mention that, does he?) as for the bunker... I generally agree; an air-raid shelter is a bunker, however to visualise that in the video he shows a bunker to live in for at least a few days (with a kitchen, table, bed, wardrobe, ..etc.) while explaining that, wich is just misleading (most of those "bunkers" are just a reinforced room - often but not exclusive underground/in the cellar - with a steel door)
I am from switzerland and even when my father toldm me some things like the bunkers and bases in the mountains. There were some very interesting facts i didn‘t know. Very cool video!
@@brothdian HOI4-wise, invading Switzerland is essential to defeating France, since the border between France and Switzerland has lower mountains than the mountains between France and Italy.
One of the reasons, why we removed the explosives from the bridges, tunnels and roads is, that the Gotthard tunnel once almost blew up, when there was a fire. After that, we kind of realized, that this could make another accident like this way worse, than it already would be, without the explosives and decided to play save.
I mean all Switzerland would never in a million year attack their neighbours. The risk of an accident is much greater than the actual risk of somebody actually invading Switzerland. Makes sense to me to remove the explosives.
@@spencervance8484 The whole installation and wiring is still in place. As soon as an attack seems possible, the explosives are ready to be installed in a moment.
I chose an apartment where I had no idea that to reach our buildings bunker, you have to have my storage space key to reach it 😅 I think maybe that’s the reason why everyone’s always so kind with me where I live 😂🇨🇭
@@spencervance8484 I have spares fortunately but I’m not allowed to give them to other neighbors unless with the home lord’s permission ;) in Switzerland we all nearly have really special keys that open multiple doors at our residence. Every key is made basically for one apartment and what comes with it.
What? So only you had the key to the other people storage? xD That could cause the landlord a little bit of trouble... xD I'm Swiss, didn't even knew that there are bunkers used as appartments...
@@siomhaithwarren739 no.. You understood what I wrote completely wrong. To reach our buildings bunker you have to have my keller key. I have my own apartment and I don’t live in my Bunker and I don’t have other people’s keys.
I have seen the "secret" airbase from my eyes. It is so confidential that there’s a restaurrant opened to visitors where you can have your coffee at the same place fighter pilots would and buy postcards or gifts from their little "gift shop".
When i was in military in Switzerland,, my job was to apply explosive charges on bridges and other infrastructure behind enemy lines. Also to build temporary bridges for our Tank battalions. The explosives on most infrastructures are removed since a long time, but theobjects are still prepared (kable canals for detonating wires and boxes for explosives) for explosive charges to be installed quickly.
In other words, all the explosives are removed, but they can all be put back in place before an invading force gets within 1km of the "designated fail point." Yup, you do not even THINK of messing with Switzerland. Makes me wonder if they have an army of hackers providing cyber-security for the nation, as well as being ready to destroy the digital infrastructure of any nation that dares to try a cyber-attack. ... Who am I kidding, the hackers are all billeted near Server Mountain.
@@andrewdreasler428 i doubt the hacker army tbh. We are more of a rigid nation of brains😀 of course in case of a conflict, it would still take a while to put back all the explosives. Also there were several levels of retreat planned, zones with defense lines that would hav been given up, slow down the enemy until they reach the fortified mountains. During the last twenty years, many of these bunkers and structure were given up by the army and are not secret anymore. There is a good documentation on the channel of „bloke on the range“ about that
@@mlugin8050 Switzerland is now recruiting a serious department for cyber security in the army. As a swiss, choosing my military specialization (studying mathematics and thus informatic as well) I've been offrered to be part of it. Everything is closed and an entrance exam has to be taken before beeing able to apply. If i'm not mistaking
Went riding through the Swiss/Italian Alps a few years ago, and of course stopped at many mountain passes to enjoy the scenery. On one of those occasions (Julierpass) while looking around we notice strange formations in the rock faces in the distance. And the same in the rock faces behind us. Then it dawned on us, those were hidden gun emplacements and they were pointing right at us. No enemy force would be able to get past there without getting hammered by shell fire, exposed to guns from above and nowhere to hide. And then we started noticing odd looking garages and barns in the middle of nowhere located at locations with an excellent view of the surrounding infrastructure. Yeah, Switzerland is weird. :D
if you pay attention, on some mountain roads you can see what looks like a big rectangular manhole made of cement. That's where the bombs are. And we don't always get to know IF there are bombs or not
There are also some "sacrificial" houses and barns which specifically state in their contracts that, should a war break out, the house will be shot to pieces by artillery hidden behind it Usually these buildings are very simple (basically just some wood planks) so that the artillery can actually shoot through them though :3
How could Switzerland stop any military?the soldiers there shoot a rifle that only shoots in 5.56 which cheap armor can easily stop.The U.S. is moving to the 6.68 Sig rifle,which can shoot through level 4 armor.
I think this is important, Switzerland has a direct democracy, so certain or better said the most important decisions which can impact the culture and society of Switzerland goes to the public, so the citizens in Switzerland have a more powerful voice on how the country is run compared to other countries when it comes to important decisions
In my six years in the country I have not seen/heard of even ONE municipal decision that asked the opinion of those effected by the administrative dictum! Decide: Is it militarism or democracy! My experience: It is pretty fake but seriously fake in both ways. Slavish covid-sheeplings competing who is the most impudent and arrogant bully.
@@xres1329 you simply did not understand our system during your stay. We elect representatives to avoid cumbersome people polls about every legislative decision to be made. But if things go bananas, we have a powerful tool called referendum by the means of which we may say no-no. The weakness in our system is the increasing complexity of topics we need to decide upon, though.
The crazy thing is... except two sections, he pretty much was very very accurate. And these specific sections about the rhine poisoning and the airbase are not totally off either - I mean there are known hangars inside of the mountain atleast big enough to store F-5s.
Thank you for making this video! My romanian friends didn’t believe me that we have fighter Jets that start and land in our mountains. Now I have proof! 😊
What every population expect from their own Government, is to protect them against ennemies. This is exactly what the Swiss authorities did. Whatever the means.... Geniuses !
@@Murdererstylee Well the strategy worked, wether it was actually the reduit or just the German reliance on Swiss trade, the Swiss government did its job during WW2.
The other big reason to have that is that the military cant radicalize itself. Cause when every man has to go, you have people off all social and political backgrounds in it. The military doesnt become its own political entity here and something like a military coup is just not possible.
My Father was there in WWII, and, as a Scandinavian-'mix'-European with a 'knack' for languages, he fit right-in, and came to quickly love the people and their customs! He told me in one of our few conversations(he died when I was eight(8)), that I was to always think of Switzerland, as my 'other' home! I've met many native Swiss, and Nothing, has detracted from what my Beloved Father told me of them! (Not to mention, the innate beauty of the land itself!) Wonderful & Entertaining Presentation! Thank You. (New Subscriber.)
the only problem is the border with germany, Basel, Schaffhausen, even St. Gallen doesn't have big mountain, this could be the easiest way to enter swiss.
I've been all over the world, and only TWO places were so amazing that they SURPRISED me. 1.) The Grand Canyon. My vision & mind LITERALLY couldn't handle the canyon. It's like my eyes were trying to tell my brain, "Psst! This MUST be a 3-d movie." It was SO weird, but SO beautiful. 2.) Switzerland. Interlaken specifically. You have these endless green & beautiful pastures, rolling hills, then, seemingly out of NOWHERE, a majestic mountain rises skyward, looking like some giant lost an ancient arrowhead. What my travels taught me: When it comes to raw beauty, FOR ME, man cannot compete with God/Nature/Universe. Don't get me wrong, man has created cool stuff, stuff worth investigating and looking at. But, nature is the ultimate form of art.
I didn't travel the whole world but I sensed that Switzerland is the best place, it has something very special. I love their landscape,their lake, the people,it was a place where I saw a huge snow and it was my firstime to see the snow showers on me together with Rainer, that was the happiest moment happened in my life as the present time. I wish or I hope that I will meet him again and we visit again the place we went together and spending time with him visiting all the places there. I still miss him, even there was something happened to me,that I don't still figured it out. Overall, I love Switzerland.
@@pip5461 Yeah, no kidding. All roads lead to extinction or at least the end of the modern world. But, hey, at least CEO's and policy makers can buy their 5th mansion.
Hey greetings from Interlaken. Well from the village next to it called Matten. Im happy about your comment and the fact that you liked it here. I cant and i dont want to imagine living anywhere else. Im feeling safe in the little bubble we live in between two beautiful lakes! Cheers
Tank = *gets through Switzerland*
Switzerland = congratulations, you're fucked
you need mobile suit like gundam to breakthrough the mountain :D
@@marczhu7473 they won't. Switzerland is a giant bear trap
You only see the tip of the protection mountain in this clip. Tanks sitting at the bottom of cravases are of no use
Yes... Just yes
This video only showed 15% how bad it could be for tanks to reach a city in Switzerland.
Geography is by far one of the largest tactical advantages a country can have
No s**t Sherlock!
@@valinorean4816 what's your problem? Why you so mad?
@@mauby6781 i ain't? it's just too funny
No, its the brain and spirit of the people who live there.
Geography is not worth much if you cant make use of it intelligently.
In modern warfare and future wars Geography will not help.
Switzerland is the perfect example of "It's better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war"
They finance the wars others suffer.
@@rmp7400 it would be best to be a neutral third party for everybody. That way, if one country-let's say, Germany, for the sake of an example-would harm the Swiss, then every country would gun for Germany.
Cheeze
@@rmp7400 Neutrality isn’t supporting. Its about and acting the same towards everyone, be it a morally correct saint, or Satan.
Bro where do you get your metafors from?
Switzerland is the school kid who, in one hand, holds the wallets of the bullies who are fighting each other. Unlike the schoolkid, Switzerland also holds in his other hand a grenade with no pin.
Underrated comment
A turkish guy was terrorizing this community. So I flagged him as terrorist.
ok the wallet thingy, that i understand. but a grenade with no pin. i am wishing for more context. it was nuke probably or maybe economic trade secrets.
Clearly the US education system has gone to a whole new level.
More like he is infected and the bully don't want to touch him
So what I’m hearing is that Switzerland is basically the house from Home Alone
LOL
Kinda, but worst
Swiss Alone
You’re right
and the citizens are kevin
Favourite Swiss quote in response to the Kaiser of Germany
During WW1, Switzerland had 250,000 soldiers.
The German Kaiser asked the Swiss ambassador in Berlin: “What would Switzerland do if I invaded with 500 000 soldiers?” The ambassador replied: “Shoot twice and go home.”
Hitler like invade again Switzerland but his famous General Erwin Rommel showed him a calculate...inside Switzerland the first 25km defenders lost app. 25.000 people, ....but Germany Army it will be lost app. 250.000 people...
And after the Winter War (Finnland against Sovietunion ), learning something the Wermacht warmachine... Finnland lost App. 25.000 people,...but novadays historic research the Soviets lost over 1 million people....
@@JegesCaverMedve Plus the socialist nazis would have brainwashed the German soldiers into believing the Swiss-Germans would have welcomed them as "liberators", just like the socialist bolsheviks had the soviet soldier convinced they were invading Finland for the same idea. They would have been very enthusiastic until the body bags started coming back by the thousands.
Chadzerland
@@JegesCaverMedve imagine swiss snipers in the mountains taking nazi soldiers one by one(like in Finland)... but yeah.. soviet union lost its most troops to cold when going for Finland
@@mercetajs swiss snipers nowadays are a bit of a joke. Yeah durable, can climb an icy mountain, survive morr them a week up there in snow etc. But the modern military is kindergarten for adults. Greeting from a Swiss marksman
2 things: 1) Swiss tanks were designed for mountain terrain and can adjust their track pattern unlike any other tank for use in mountain regions. It's called a Stridsvagn 103 2) The inner mountain base(s) are real. I've witnessed them personally while stationed in Europe.
Stridsvagn is Swedish not Swiss!
There was only one REAL swiss Tank: the "Mutz".Everything else was called "Horse" in really tricky terrain. And the Messenger/intelligence couriers used Bicycles.
That is Sweden not Switzerland
@@sunsnows Aghh...Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Somalia... same shit. We don;t give a fuck here in the US, it's all the same to us. We are the greatest country in the history of the human race! Lol
Ouch! American education struck again!🤡
Proud to be Swiss 🇨🇭
We love peace but we also brave enough to defend our country at any cost. 🛡️
Me too bro💪
@@ham0ud33 Jaja wenn das Land mit dem Maul verteidigt werden könnte bräuchten wir uns vor niemandem zu fürchten!
WHERE... IS... MY... GOLD?????????
Love Switzerland, from the United States 🇺🇸❤️🇨🇭
@@sans1331same I wish I was half Swiss but if there chill with Jamaicans and Indians let me know cause I’m Indian and Jamaican
Germany: I'm thinking of invading Switzerland
Switzerland: How's your water quality?
''accident''
@@samplasta1033 I mean they did ACCIDENTALLY invade Lichtenstein .... more than once
Oh, that is a nice river there, would be a shame if something were to happen to it, oder? ODER?
No country on earth will invade Switzerland. Corrupt leaders of most countries have secret accounts in Swiss banks.
I know old german People who was sus of the drinking water & bought bottle water. Totally beacuse of Switzerland, not coincidence. 😌
People: “Don’t invade Russia in the winter.”
This guy: “Don’t invade Switzerland, period.”
@sneksnekitsasnek Napoleon didn't invade Switzerland. nor have conflict with it. He just walk in the mount alps for deception into thinking the britz wouldn't think.
@@Senzawa69 when Napoleon attacked them they weren't the extreme of neutral
if you were looking for a few K likes then I’m sorry you won’t get that 😉
No one invaded Russia in the winter.
@@beback_ What about Germany, France and Sweden
Ammunition isn't allowed anymore to carry home. It first was introduced to be able to 'shoot your way into the next military base'. However, since some soldiers killed themselves or relatives in domestic conflict, ammunition was only distributed when in active training at shooting ranges. After every exercise, remaining ammunition must be surrendered by law.
Switzerland also did a really good job playing its enemies out against each other. A fantastic readable book about this thematic is for example 'Jürg Jenatsch' by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer. Thank you for the video!
About them bombing bridges, if I recall there was a time where Germany and Switzerland in the early 2000s or 2010s worked together to build a bridge (Germany paid for half of it and Switzerland paid the remaining half) but these madlads decided to place bombs along the bridge without Germany’s knowledge for years, just goes to show their dedication to neutrality is still very strong in the modern age
To be fair, it was only roughly in the same time that Germany started to dismantle its own planned obstacles against an invasion from the east. Bridges were not armed with explosives all the time, but the boreholes were already there. There were also camouflaged towers alongside narrow highway portions that contained large cement blocks that could be blown up in a specific way to fall across the highway. And other stuff.
The swiss didn't invent the concept of destroying infrastructure to delay an advancing enemy
The afgan of europe :)
Yeah, I think Germany found out after Switzerland announced: "We removed the explosive out of the bridge..." And Germany was like: "What explosives?!"
No one will invade Switzerland because the swiss bank is where nations store their off shore saving and Switzerland has serious diplomatic ties to practically everyone.
@@unlink1649 I just saw the US Air Force having there fighterr pilots land on a highway in Kentucky just a couple of weeks ago.I couldn't believe they still have their pilots doing such maneuvers these days.
"Neutrality does not just mean staying out of conflict, it means seeing everyone as a potential threat to themselves and preparing for such. Because neutral countries that don't get Belgiumed."
I see you my kraut comrade.
@@AmanKumarPadhy my one piece and kraut comrade
I see a switzerland getting of afraiding sof rhe lickthenstein
Sorryings of bad englsih
neutrality is also always siding with the oppressor to avoid getting seen as an enemy by the one hurting your neighbours!
Got a lift from a Swiss army colonel when hitchhiking once in France/Germany. He said the reason nobody would dare invade Switzerland is simple - all of Europe’s rivers start in Switzerland. They control Europe’s water supply and could deny water to anyone who messes with them.
As a Swiss living 10 kilometers from France, you can still see a lot of bunkers along the road (it was because it was occupied part of France during WWII)
If “MINDING MY OWN DAMN BUSINESS” was a country.
Canada?
@@simix6915 NATIVE CANADIAN GENOCIDE
Well yes but their Major League Swiss Banking System paves the way.
@@simix6915 if "im so sorry" was a country
Banks said lets stay neutral and we will get rich from it simple as that they financed allies and axis double edged sword, traits from temple banking system the first of it kind with tax free till to this day.
Like Einstein said: “I am not only a pacifist, I’m a militant pacifist, I am willing to fight for peace”
The Swiss were taking notes apparently.
Einstein was the one taking notes from his time in Switzerland
he lived here next door lol
Ha ha ha... Dude ! Switzerland was founded in 1291... Einstein was living in Switzerland in the XXth century...
Einstein said everything apparently
@@redhidinghood9337 “indeed, I did” - also Einstein 😂😂
"tag you're it"
🇨🇭: "damn it"
Norway use the same strategy, like the Swiss we are prepared to blast our own infrastructure if ever necessary. Like Switzerland Norway is a mountainous courty, Norway is full of mountains, steep valleys and deep fjords.
Switzerland's battle cry from the mountains:
R - I - C - O - L - A - !
🤣🤣🤣
It is decoded, only Swiss people will know it's meaning 😂
@@dilmaarora5316 true 🤣
Oh it's on when they hear that🤣🤣
@@dilmaarora5316 Italians too
"we aren't neutral to protect us, though that is one reason, its to protect our enemies"
Had a swiss friend say that, absolutely metal
Like he said in the video. We were declared neutral by our neighbors - not the other way around. ;)
If you looked at the military history of the Swiss dating from medieval times you would know why they were nicknamed the "tamers of kings"
@@sonicluffypucca96 "Charles the Bold lost his goods in Grandson - his courage in Murten and his blood in Nancy.”
Switzerland actually used to have a lot of mercenairies but at some point everyone agreed not to use swiss mercenairies because it was unfair
@@juliangerhard2552 not really, it was due to a law. swiss mercenairies should not fight for other countries anymore to prevent swiss men from killing each other.
Greetings & love goes out from Albanian to all Swiss people & Switzerland we love you and all Albanians living their and doing their service in Swiss Army ❤
Greetings and love to you as well my Albanian brothers❤️
Kosovo😳
Albanians and Swiss, the alliance nobody expects but everybody should fear
Well, some exagerations… I am swiss, did my mandatory service for a year. 800’000 soliders is off, we speak about 80-100’000. We don’t have all our équipement home, just a few pieces, sometimes including the riffle, but rarely. And no amunition. About the dinamites in Infrastructures, it’s mostly not the case anymore, but some still have. But we can see the acces doors on many bridges, to the « dinamites » chambers. For the bunkers under the houses, we don’t have to Build them anymore, and if we don’t, we don’t need to pay for a community shelter. This rule came at the peak of the cold war. I think, what protects switzerland mostly, is that we’re small, and not very strategic on a political or geografical level. But, still, it’s nice that some people find this interesting.
Swiss here.
Just to let you know. Exept the amuntion, we still keep the military equipment at home.
but you can by the ammo without problem
Ermmm, can I join as a tank driver?
I keep my vehicles extremely clean and poliahed at all times.
@@Ezekiel903 if you have a guncard yeah. But else no
@@theallseeingeye9388 if you bring enought years with you, then maybe yeah.
@@SwiGaVR you need only a Strafregisterauszug, and you can buy ammunition, believe me, i'm in a shooting club! translate Strafregisterauszug
Basically them saying, "We don't want trouble but we'll raise a little hell if you persist..."
Thanks 4 ur comment. You nailed it😂. Cheers from a Swiss.
@@theSunKing142 Ich hann no nie sone schwizer Name wie "Reto Nideröst" ghört :)
@@philippjorda4671 same bro
Jep
"little"
Switzerland is far from unconquerable, and most great powers would be able to do it (France did it quite easily during the French Revolutionary Wars) now as well as in the past. However, the cost of doing so compared to what you gain from it has always been terrible, and as it has claimed neutrality and served as a buffer zone for ages, there has never truly been any good reasons to conquer the Swiss.
Yeah in war a lot of people often forget you don’t need to be stronger to win you just have to be enough of a pain to actually invade that nobody wants to put in the effort
Makes most sense
@@plugshirt1762 If the US thought about that they wouldn't have to spend so much in the war industrial complex
That is a really Swiss answer :)
@@rumplstiltztinkerstein they likely have considering the only reason they won the revolutionary war and war of 1812 was that very thing. They just know if they have the absolute strongest military it is both a giant deterrent and it allows them to meddle in foreign affairs a lot easier
amazing use of sound in this video!
“The Swiss-German language that is the equivalent of bombs to your ears” 😭😂
Wow!
Nothing compared to what you'll hear if you try to speak Hochdeutsch to them.
@@humphreygokart2135 so schlimm simmer ned😭😭😂
@@Boggs11HD Doch 😂
Ich höre und spreche es (fast perfekt) jeden Tag, es stört mich nicht, aber wenn ich darüber nachdenke... 😱
Und ja ... ein Berner der Hochdeutsch spricht 😱😱😱
Mutter aus Basel, aufgewachsen in der welsche Schweiz, ich arbeite seit 15 Jahren in Biel/Lyss. Deutsche Freundin, (richtiges) Hochdeutsch ist so viel schöner ^^
@@Boggs11HD Vor allem in Lenzburg gäll
@@Kyr082 Nei eifach nöd Hochdütsch isch eifach schmutz
What’s the best thing about Switzerland?
I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus.
Genius
Brilliant :D
wow..
same as red cross flag
Smart
As other commentators already mentioned - the Video describes the very well thought-out defense concept that existed into the 1990s.
After 1999 for 20 years much was lost - but in European comparison it's safe to say that Switzerlands defense is in a better shape than Germany and Austria for example. If it had simply reduced spending and size of the military like Finland after the Cold War, instead of switching to a totally other, useless concept ('Security through cooperation' & relying on a 10-year warning time before a next possible war (no joke!, but fortunately this idea is now being abandoned)), it would still be unconquerable.
Now the funding is being increased, F-35 jets are being bought. The army size will probably get increased in the foreseeable future.
The civil defence suffered simliiar neglect over the last 20years. The 'bunkers' are still there, but the whole system to turn them into a place where people can not only take shelter, but live and survive for days and weeks, is quite 'out f shape'. Here also a lot of reinvestement is overdue.
great content! Welcome to Switzerland
6:48 The Swiss invented anti-tank toblerone. No wonder no one wants to mess with them.
😂😂
,,anti-tank toblerone“ 😂😂😂😭😭
@@dario7292 that's actualy how we name them in Suisse Romande ^^
LMAO ;D
@@mikebrown1881 nice to know haha ich live at the german border
The swiss havent been to war in roughly 200 years. They are really dedicated
Sonderbund war....
This is not correct. The last armed conflict on Swiss territory took place in 1848.
@@yaenlauper7272 changed
@@HDTomo👍
Switzerland is so neutral, that during the Sonderbund war (aka. a Swiss civil war), some of the cantons/states stayed neutral
Switzerland really does make really great army surplus gear!!!
This reminds me of a quote: “Walk a mile to avoid a fight but when it starts don’t back down an inch.”
Wise words wonder how this will work with Xi jingping goes shit crazy like the Hitler of Asia
Hitler also said no retreat at some point and this allowed for entire armies to be encircled and destroyed by the Russians... Backing down to fight another day when the odds are in your favor is the way to go. If you however are holding a good position that has many force multipliers, the words are wise indeed. Think of Stalingrad where the Russians kept pouring in hundreds of thousands of soldiers for ideological reasons. It is estimated that 2 million died there. Yes they kept the Germans out, but the cost was way too high.
It’s not too high when your life means nothing to your governing body
As a swiss citizen let me say a lot of this is outdated/exagerated. Most of the bridge bombs have been disarmed(at least officially). 800'000 is incorrect, more acurate number is about 250'000, also you only get to keep your military equipment until 34 when you are no longer considered in "reserve", you can choose to keep the rifle though. Also thr actual effectiveness of the military is highly debated as 90% are citizens and many would refuse to fight. However we do recieve similar training to US marines, and we have joint training exercises.
The bunkers are real but were built in the 50s/60s so they are quite outdated, also many are so top secret they have been forgotten(we recently rediscovered one with a jet in it). There is a lot of mountain bunkers though, apparently enough to support ~1 million people, theres even an entire battery factory in one.
Modern switzerlands neutrality is 90% diplomatic nowadays. Also we accidentally invaded liechtenstein with tanks a few times (it was my battalion, sorry liechtenstein). We invaded france by mistake too but it was just some infantry so no biggie.
As a Swiss with a "Swiss" name ,-), I thank you for your observations, corrections. I don't want to belittle the Swiss armed forces. Not at all. But a lot of other "weak" factors" weren't accounted for. The most important thing in all those "Switzerland Is a Country of War" jubilation videos don't account for one thing: Switzerland was as beligerent as every other European nation at that time. But they (we) drew the right conclusions after a devastating defeat after a war of expansion: Stick to your country. Defend it, yes. But don't ever do a war for territorial gains again. The defeat in the 16 hundreds (the battle of Marignano) was that "official" Switzerland wanted to conquer Italian territory - and they were defeated by Italian forces - mostly "armed" by Swiss soldiers of fortune who were fighting for the other side... Also, with this: Swiss soldiers were traded like commodities since hundreds of years at that time. Sold by the rich class in our country to other forces in whole of Europe. It was not a slave trade, but a Soldier of Fortune-trade. And those who were "sold" did the bidding of other countries. Out of poverty.
Ils serait obliger de defendre notre pays
I love the fact that Liechtenstein can be accidentally invaded.
@@Christian-nj5bq What you describe where mercenaries become debters and fight for the other side is literally the founding history of slavery. The rules just got watered down and countries became loot and contracts unenforceable with failing governments. What won out was the men who traded the most debters and these men were expert at creating debters. It's exactly what happened to Native Americans as well. "explorers" as they're called in American history were these men and they also in essence made a pact with states to reignite the economic influence of government. That was the start of capitalism.
@@Furiends Yes, it is/was a form of slavery. I don't exactly concur with your premise that this was the start of capitalism though ;-). But in essence the mechanism was/is the same.
I never been to Switzerland. But, I met two of them in my MMA class. And, they were both at least 6'2" and both have light colors of hair. And, they are tough beasts. Both of them came from different places in Switzerland.
This entire video is gold even with leaving out the most insane story/fact ,depending on who you ask, the Swiss were ready and prepared to blow up the Rhine dam. Flooding a huge part of land to make advancing basically impossible.
The Swiss figured out that keeping everybody's money safe from everybody else is the best way to keep anybody from attacking them.
And there it is. I can‘t believe this wasn’t mentioned in the video. I‘m Swiss and I also live here, this is one of the biggest reasons we weren‘t attacked. Everybody knew, if you do that, you start a war with another 50 countries, some of them your allies
Well looking at the video and people's comments, how can I get a Swiss green card
The Nazis figured out the country had better use in banking than anything else. Even now Switzerland is used to clean up dirty gold.
Paresh Kalekar Just dont drag your culture to the alps. Get a green card and start your evolution by eating cheese and chocolate and less curry and camel biryani. (I’m just kidding. I miss making jokes with travelers about stereotypes).
I was just about ready to say something on these lines...thank you for making it simple
I'm from a small village on the german side of the lake of constance and when we visited a swiss bunker with our school once, the senior officer that was showing us around very proudly showed us our home village through the lense of a canon, stating that if it were to come to a conflict, they could easily reinstall said cannon and "shoot down your lighthouse with one shot". "Of course", he added "this bunker is open to the public so we wouldn't actually do it from here". I love our neigbors on the mountains!
I lived around Bodensee too and there were many ridiculously paranoid but neat and orderly communities I saw and enjoyed too.
"we wouldn't do it from here"
implying there are other places they could've hit the village from
The nice thought is this: If there is no invasion from Germany - which will never happen, as long as I live, this is just a "special" story ;-). I think and hope that those days in Central Europe are over for good. I just cannot imagine that we are doing the same sheit we did in the 30ies/40ies of last century. Alone considering how Germany and Switzerland is intertwined as never before.
@@navaryn2938 heavy tounge in cheeck🤣
Thumbs up and subcribed. I was first introduced to Swiss unconquerability by John McPhee's 1984 book La Place de la Concorde Suisse.
the music on these videos is sick!!
Netherlands and Switzerland during ww1
NL: this is nice
Swiss: yeah really it's really pretty
NL: next time same place
Swiss: yeah sure
WW2
Swiss: hello Netherlands?!
Germany: Netherlands isnt available at the moment
😂
😔
😔
Good one😂
Maar, “ze germans” pakte ons omdat we close waren met de britten en te para dat we een springplank zouden kunnen zijn later in de oorlog. En vergeet geografie niet…blitzkriegen gaat lastig in de bergen.
🤣
Let me expand a bit on the Swiss mobilisation system: During world war 2, the entire army (800k soldiers) was able to mobilize in just 24 hours, border troops in even just 4. It was considered the fastest in the world.
Note: these numbers are based on calculations in case of an actual invasion. In reality, the swiss mobilized 420k men (nice) in 3 days in response to the invasion of Poland
Oh. Thats impressive. Countries should strive to have that as a standard.
When I was with them in 1990 they said
24h for 80k troops at the border and additional 24h for the rest…
@@aoilpe hm i can't recall my source right now tbh, but according to the NZZ the army was mobilized in 3 days in ww2. What "could be done" is a lot of speculation ofc
im not 100% sure but today are it around 2‘000‘000 mens
@@seve7268
Last I know was 180‘000
Just to clarify, since about 2014 TNT was removed from basically all bridges.
Also I talked to a couple of ex military people from Switzerland which are part of a historian group regarding the WW2 bunker group on the eastern defense of Switzerland and they told me that looking back at it they calculated that the defenses would not hold for long if Germany decided to actually march intro Switzerland back in the days.
Sure they would have moved into the mountains but that would only worked out for so long, until they are out of food and whatnot. Sure it wouldn't be easy for the Germans but at the end it all would came down to numbers.
The worst thing of it is, that - after the war - it was exposed that a lot of those bunkers were built with inferior material. By Swiss corporations btw. Out of greed. It is a fact btw. This was discovered in the 50ies. Thank God those soldiers never had to see action - and were thinking sitting behind the best bunker tech at the time (because, yes, CH had the best knowledge about that - if the material was right...)
Sind sie Deutch?
@@pip5461 Nein aber ich spreche deutsch.
@@williamkatzners Sehr gut (UK)... :)
Really nice video.
Infrastructure is temporary. Swiss blood and soil is eternal.
Naz*'s are red
The bombs are internal
Infrastructure is temporary
*Switzerland is Eternal.*
@@thecreamycrusader290 cool rhyme
Swiss blood and soil are fungible assets on a dictator's balance sheet. You only exist at the leisure of despots.
@@thecreamycrusader290 All we're missing is some cover music from Doom.
i nemm säb als komplimänt a 🙌 (I take that as a compliment)
Swiss Engineers: "Hmmm, so how should we design our tank traps, so the Germans and French know that we mean business?"
(looks at engineer eating a Toblerone chocolate bar)
Not sure what was first… maybe Mr. Tobler got the inspiration for his famous chocolate by looking at one of those traps
Its the other way around, the tank traps are nicknamed tobelerones and the chocolate is based upon them
Very good one !
Nah Toblerone is based off the Matterhorn
8:33 That solder just when flying downhill. He had enough.
We're not trapped in here with you.... you're trapped in HERE WITH US
Swiss government: "we have taken all the explosives from our infrastructure."
also Swiss gov't (maybe, Idk): "bomb all bridges with the hidden planes as soon as you see soldiers approaching."
Drones. Much cheaper. Fact.
i mean, even if they have taken away the explosiv charges, it doesn't need long to reinstall it 🤔
@@Ezekiel903 that kinda is the point, even new infrastructure will have holes ready for charges to be planted
@@idkimlikereallybored9533
Chambers
These are not “holes” but real rooms…!
Switzerland doesn't have bomb dropping capabillities. Lmao
You got two parts somewhat wrong and missed funny things.
1. 3:06 The swiss Men are NOT allowed to take the ammunition home with them. If a war breaks out, the ammuntition is given out.
2. 6:48 The "Tank Traps" are called "Drachenzähne" "EN: Dragontooths"
3. You never mentioned that but, the swiss has no active "Military General". The swiss decides as soon as a war breaks out, who gets to be the "General".
Edit: The Swiss actually shot down Planes in WWII. They shot down some Bombers of the allied forces and some Fighter Planes of the Axis.
The Swiss got bombed by allied powers one time. The city they bombed was "Schaffhausen" cuz they mistook it for germany territory.
The Swiss actually invaded "Lichtenstein" 2-3 times by accident.
How do you accidentally invade something 2-3 times?
@@wirshl7141 ah well, the swiss has many crossroads and if u accidentally take a wrong turn near the Border, that happens. No one said, that the swiss army is smart.
No you are wrong. As he said in the video. In 2007 they decided to not have the ammunition at home anymore. Before you had it at home. I know that because they changed that while I had to do my military service. The idea was that you have enough ammunition to get to the meeting point of your military unit in case of war.
@@ElementsSti I am not wrong. I just misheard the "2007" and thought, that he said, that we still are allowed to take the ammunition home ^^
I know from my brother, that you can keep the equipment and all but not the ammunition.
(btw ^^ bin 20 und hat noch keine Aushebung xD)
@@Hugofoxli thats really neat. So they purposely go down the wrong road to invade Liechtenstein?
0:36 if you are scared of that, please don’t go near Thurgau or Appenzell
Now I want an anime about Switzerland with all of its badassery.
That reminds me of a famous Swiss reply to a German threat of invasion by Kaiser Wilhem.
"What would you do if I sent an army of half a million to invade"
"Shoot twice and be home by Chrismas"
The Swiss militia/army of the time counted roughly 250 000.
Talk about a Spartan reply.
This country will always be rich in money but poor in heroes.
@@user-ue6yc9kr8i why?
@@aurelien5747 Greek complex we are so abnormal seeing someone better than us
@@user-ue6yc9kr8i It doesn't matter if the country has heroes or not when the heroes can't find anything to eat.
@@Alex0404. you have inferiority complex. They are better in economic terms we are forged in warfare. I didn’t say anything diminishing. Just a statement.
As a Swiss citizen, I see this video as a masterpiece 😍. Thanks you for this work incredible well done👍🏻.
I wish I was born in Switzerland, solely because of the beautiful terrain. And I live in Denmark
@@Sayyian Switzerland doesn't have jus solis.
as a Swiss army captain, I see a lot of misinformation in this video:
- most of the explosives in bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure are removed by now
- currently Switzerland can raise an army up to 140'000 (with a goal of reduction to 100'000 in the near future)
- "Switzerland doesn't have an army; Switzerland is an army" is a saying from the cold war period - not applicable anymore, and the troops never kept all the materials, but as it is still today, some essentials like the bag-pack and the rifle (without ammunition that is)
- there is no "secret" airbase inside a mountain; Meiringen is an airbase still in use today in wich the most important infrastructure and some hangars are build in the mountainside (quite safe and impressive, but not secret or otherworldly special by any means)
- regarding the "law" that every building must have a bunker... the meaning is to have an air-raid protection shelter, not a bunker to survive in for a period of time
- the "tank traps" are actually called "tank barricades" (sometimes referred to as "toblerone" because they look like the chocolate) and were installed to slow down any advance of a foreign force - very common in all parts of the world
- those nice little houses, that are actually canons are very rare, most of the canons don't had this "disguise" (reason the few were disguised was to not frighten the french tourists)
- to say Switzerland poisoned the Rhein (even as an accident) is just hilarious... there was an accident/fire in a chemical facility in the city of basel (north western most point of Switzerland) and chemicals were getting in the river, wich killed a lot of fish, but thats it
I could go on, but this is getting long
@@lokiodinson5412 he said that switzerland had taken away the bombs on the infrastructure though, so your first point is invalid plus I mean an air raid shelter is basically bunkers
@@mappsmappings4025 I clearly must have missed the part, where he's saying that the explosives are removed... could you please point me to that? (at 1:02 he doesn't mention that, does he?)
as for the bunker... I generally agree; an air-raid shelter is a bunker, however to visualise that in the video he shows a bunker to live in for at least a few days (with a kitchen, table, bed, wardrobe, ..etc.) while explaining that, wich is just misleading (most of those "bunkers" are just a reinforced room - often but not exclusive underground/in the cellar - with a steel door)
I am from switzerland and even when my father toldm me some things like the bunkers and bases in the mountains. There were some very interesting facts i didn‘t know.
Very cool video!
Greetings from New Orleans..we love the Swiss, from watches, cheese and our favorite, the Bally Animals/ Alpistar.
really explains how i lost to switzerland when playing as italy on HOI4
You should've never invaded the swiss
Should've used Mountaineers.
@@brothdian HOI4-wise, invading Switzerland is essential to defeating France, since the border between France and Switzerland has lower mountains than the mountains between France and Italy.
@@Oropher420 i already made too many special forces and when i invaded switzerland i invaded it with 50 divisions of various types lmao yet i lost
@@honsda I'm so ass at HOI I can't even beat Poland and I've been playing for two weeks 😭
That was a good sentence:" Switzerland don't have an Army. Switzerland is an Army." 😂😂😂 funny you see us like that. 😂
Liäbi Griäss 🙋♀️🇨🇭
Oh my god, the production value!
Fascinating!!!
One of the reasons, why we removed the explosives from the bridges, tunnels and roads is, that the Gotthard tunnel once almost blew up, when there was a fire. After that, we kind of realized, that this could make another accident like this way worse, than it already would be, without the explosives and decided to play save.
I mean all Switzerland would never in a million year attack their neighbours. The risk of an accident is much greater than the actual risk of somebody actually invading Switzerland. Makes sense to me to remove the explosives.
As long as they have reliable ways of closing the entrances it doesnt even matter.
@@spencervance8484 The whole installation and wiring is still in place. As soon as an attack seems possible, the explosives are ready to be installed in a moment.
@L. della Rovere switzerland isnt part of the eu, what do you mean exactly
I chose an apartment where I had no idea that to reach our buildings bunker, you have to have my storage space key to reach it 😅 I think maybe that’s the reason why everyone’s always so kind with me where I live 😂🇨🇭
That also means if someone steals your key you and everyone else is fucked
@@spencervance8484 I have spares fortunately but I’m not allowed to give them to other neighbors unless with the home lord’s permission ;) in Switzerland we all nearly have really special keys that open multiple doors at our residence. Every key is made basically for one apartment and what comes with it.
@@TravelTheCraftyLife ah. That makes sense
What? So only you had the key to the other people storage? xD That could cause the landlord a little bit of trouble... xD I'm Swiss, didn't even knew that there are bunkers used as appartments...
@@siomhaithwarren739 no.. You understood what I wrote completely wrong. To reach our buildings bunker you have to have my keller key. I have my own apartment and I don’t live in my Bunker and I don’t have other people’s keys.
I have seen the "secret" airbase from my eyes. It is so confidential that there’s a restaurrant opened to visitors where you can have your coffee at the same place fighter pilots would and buy postcards or gifts from their little "gift shop".
We have tank traps like that over here in the UK too
When i was in military in Switzerland,, my job was to apply explosive charges on bridges and other infrastructure behind enemy lines. Also to build temporary bridges for our Tank battalions.
The explosives on most infrastructures are removed since a long time, but theobjects are still prepared (kable canals for detonating wires and boxes for explosives) for explosive charges to be installed quickly.
In other words, all the explosives are removed, but they can all be put back in place before an invading force gets within 1km of the "designated fail point."
Yup, you do not even THINK of messing with Switzerland.
Makes me wonder if they have an army of hackers providing cyber-security for the nation, as well as being ready to destroy the digital infrastructure of any nation that dares to try a cyber-attack.
...
Who am I kidding, the hackers are all billeted near Server Mountain.
@@andrewdreasler428 i doubt the hacker army tbh. We are more of a rigid nation of brains😀 of course in case of a conflict, it would still take a while to put back all the explosives. Also there were several levels of retreat planned, zones with defense lines that would hav been given up, slow down the enemy until they reach the fortified mountains. During the last twenty years, many of these bunkers and structure were given up by the army and are not secret anymore. There is a good documentation on the channel of „bloke on the range“ about that
I’m from Switzerland and I can confirm they have a hacker army activ. I’m IT ingeener and I passed test to do that.
@@andrewdreasler428 Swiss IT is so good, they have to buy chinese cloud servers to store government data....
@@mlugin8050 Switzerland is now recruiting a serious department for cyber security in the army. As a swiss, choosing my military specialization (studying mathematics and thus informatic as well) I've been offrered to be part of it. Everything is closed and an entrance exam has to be taken before beeing able to apply.
If i'm not mistaking
Went riding through the Swiss/Italian Alps a few years ago, and of course stopped at many mountain passes to enjoy the scenery. On one of those occasions (Julierpass) while looking around we notice strange formations in the rock faces in the distance. And the same in the rock faces behind us. Then it dawned on us, those were hidden gun emplacements and they were pointing right at us. No enemy force would be able to get past there without getting hammered by shell fire, exposed to guns from above and nowhere to hide. And then we started noticing odd looking garages and barns in the middle of nowhere located at locations with an excellent view of the surrounding infrastructure. Yeah, Switzerland is weird. :D
if you pay attention, on some mountain roads you can see what looks like a big rectangular manhole made of cement. That's where the bombs are. And we don't always get to know IF there are bombs or not
You have not yet seen, what we do to people who lose their Bread in our fondue. LOL
@@Gunni1972 LOL it's terrible
There are also some "sacrificial" houses and barns which specifically state in their contracts that, should a war break out, the house will be shot to pieces by artillery hidden behind it
Usually these buildings are very simple (basically just some wood planks) so that the artillery can actually shoot through them though :3
I choked on food when you said a bomb to your ears and played some swiss speaking lol
We also call the tank traps “toblerone” or “the toblerone line” since it is shaped as the famous chocolate toblerone
Incredible country that clearly utilises forward thinking about all scenarios. Switzerland 🇨🇭 for the win . From UK 🇬🇧
A wise man once said
Switzerland is Switzerland
Hmmm yes the floor is made out of floor.
I need to see proof of such bold claims
Ahh yes the planet has gravity
A wise man once said
TH-cam is A social media
A smart man once said
The gases on atmosphere consists of 79% nitrogen,21% oxygen,0.97% inert gases and 0.03% of carbon dioxide
Not only is switzerland smart, and can beat any country, but they also have an amazing warning system of warning sirens set across the country.
How could Switzerland stop any military?the soldiers there shoot a rifle that only shoots in 5.56 which cheap armor can easily stop.The U.S. is moving to the 6.68 Sig rifle,which can shoot through level 4 armor.
Multiple in mountain hangers in Switzerland, saw the camo doors in the 70's.
As someone living in Switzerland i do NOT keep the ammo, only the guns and uniforms.
I think this is important, Switzerland has a direct democracy, so certain or better said the most important decisions which can impact the culture and society of Switzerland goes to the public, so the citizens in Switzerland have a more powerful voice on how the country is run compared to other countries when it comes to important decisions
Yup. Their politicians are as stupid/have agendas as anywhere else... but ppl there are smart enough to decline most of the welfare stuff.
As long as most of the population is well educated, that seems like a pretty good system. I actually have no idea but it's fun to imagine
In my six years in the country I have not seen/heard of even ONE municipal decision that asked the opinion of those effected by the administrative dictum! Decide: Is it militarism or democracy! My experience: It is pretty fake but seriously fake in both ways. Slavish covid-sheeplings competing who is the most impudent and arrogant bully.
@@xres1329 you simply did not understand our system during your stay. We elect representatives to avoid cumbersome people polls about every legislative decision to be made. But if things go bananas, we have a powerful tool called referendum by the means of which we may say no-no. The weakness in our system is the increasing complexity of topics we need to decide upon, though.
@Leona lol thank you. That commenter literally just made shit up to fit their pre-existing opinions without even bothering to research.
As a swiss person I think it‘s such a good video. So happy to live here 💫
schono fätzig oder
The crazy thing is... except two sections, he pretty much was very very accurate.
And these specific sections about the rhine poisoning and the airbase are not totally off either - I mean there are known hangars inside of the mountain atleast big enough to store F-5s.
@@niggisnonaz schüüch, jo
ja, isch ganz gäbig hiä.
samw man
Im Swiss myself so its very interesting how others see Switzerland
Thank you for making this video! My romanian friends didn’t believe me that we have fighter Jets that start and land in our mountains. Now I have proof! 😊
Hitler: * sneezes in the Alps' direction *
The Swiss: So you have chosen death
Switzerland isn't neutral.... it has invaded Liechtenstein twice..
by accident...;-):-)
What the hell is a Liechtenstein?
@@Slithermotion a country in europe 😂
@@timschuermann2159 a small state
@@Slithermotion a country where you were able to book every hotel and holidayflat at once
@@Slithermotion The country that's not Uzbekistan that doesn't border any country that has a seashore.
Matehorn asset management use lots of vaults in the mountains to store gold
Thanks!
What every population expect from their own Government, is to protect them against ennemies. This is exactly what the Swiss authorities did. Whatever the means.... Geniuses !
Sorry to break it to you but no.... The "Reduit" basically would have sacrificed the Population.
@@Murdererstylee Probably a part of it. Better to sacrifice your small finger than loose your whole hand !
@@Murdererstylee Well the strategy worked, wether it was actually the reduit or just the German reliance on Swiss trade, the Swiss government did its job during WW2.
Just don't forget that the soldiers are the citizen, too, hence a part of the population :-) It helps...
NO, having a plan to defend your nation by using citizen soldiers is anything but insane, it's brilliant.
The other big reason to have that is that the military cant radicalize itself. Cause when every man has to go, you have people off all social and political backgrounds in it. The military doesnt become its own political entity here and something like a military coup is just not possible.
It also takes power away from the state and gives it to every citizen. It would be very difficult a dictatorship in Switzerland.
4:49 that bass made it sound like bonkers
You made me have a favourite country
My sergeant said during my recruitement "The enemy may enter but he will not be able to leave to celebrate a victory" I got goosebumps😂
Nobody celebrates victory he forgot to add
@@Alaneri who isn't in switzerland?
@@Mage_co myself
@@Alaneri So you are "UT". But the most are not.
however, people who don't want to are no longer as forced as it was used to be.
@@Mage_co okay
My Father was there in WWII, and, as a Scandinavian-'mix'-European with a 'knack' for languages, he fit right-in, and came to quickly love the people and their customs! He told me in one of our few conversations(he died when I was eight(8)), that I was to always think of Switzerland, as my 'other' home! I've met many native Swiss, and Nothing, has detracted from what my Beloved Father told me of them! (Not to mention, the innate beauty of the land itself!) Wonderful & Entertaining Presentation! Thank You. (New Subscriber.)
When I was a child (many years ago) we all called the tank traps Toblerone, you know the famous Swiss chocolate.
We don't quite just jump into action we get a few weeks of refresher course first
"We removed the bombs from the roads"
Aims hellfire missiles at them on a button-press standby.
it needs nothing to reinstall it, the hole are already here!
Lmao Switzerland has no air-to-ground weaponry.
Geographically speaking: Switzerland is the Afghanistan of Europe
the only problem is the border with germany, Basel, Schaffhausen, even St. Gallen doesn't have big mountain, this could be the easiest way to enter swiss.
Except that there is no insurgency and its kinda moderately easy to control unlike afghanistan
Singapore is laughing at Afghanistan
@@Soldier_Balls well I guess "geographically" was clear enough in my comment
The Swiss even had secret plans to create a self-organizing terrorist organization in case we lost the war. So the similarity is actually there.
Imagine getting to keep a tank cuz you joined the army
They can also piss in the Rhone, all the way to Mediterranean Sea
I've been all over the world, and only TWO places were so amazing that they SURPRISED me.
1.) The Grand Canyon. My vision & mind LITERALLY couldn't handle the canyon. It's like my eyes were trying to tell my brain, "Psst! This MUST be a 3-d movie." It was SO weird, but SO beautiful.
2.) Switzerland. Interlaken specifically. You have these endless green & beautiful pastures, rolling hills, then, seemingly out of NOWHERE, a majestic mountain rises skyward, looking like some giant lost an ancient arrowhead.
What my travels taught me: When it comes to raw beauty, FOR ME, man cannot compete with God/Nature/Universe. Don't get me wrong, man has created cool stuff, stuff worth investigating and looking at. But, nature is the ultimate form of art.
I didn't travel the whole world but I sensed that Switzerland is the best place, it has something very special. I love their landscape,their lake, the people,it was a place where I saw a huge snow and it was my firstime to see the snow showers on me together with Rainer, that was the happiest moment happened in my life as the present time. I wish or I hope that I will meet him again and we visit again the place we went together and spending time with him visiting all the places there. I still miss him, even there was something happened to me,that I don't still figured it out. Overall, I love Switzerland.
Yes, if you travel in the Alps you'll often find that it looks more alien than many sci fi movies.
If only humanity realised this...
@@pip5461 Yeah, no kidding.
All roads lead to extinction or at least the end of the modern world.
But, hey, at least CEO's and policy makers can buy their 5th mansion.
Hey greetings from Interlaken. Well from the village next to it called Matten.
Im happy about your comment and the fact that you liked it here.
I cant and i dont want to imagine living anywhere else. Im feeling safe in the little bubble we live in between two beautiful lakes!
Cheers
Enemy tank: * Approaches Switzerland*
Swiss: Good luck with our concrete Toblerone
4:21 I can't believe this image is real... truly amazing
Switzerland is the healing point.