Ah, the legendary Swiss “neutrality”
The President of the Swiss Confederation, mr Alain Berset has yet again reassured the world that Switzerland will not allow the re-export of the Swiss ammunition to Ukraine.
The President of the Swiss Confederation, mr Alain Berset has yet again reassured the world that Switzerland will not allow the re-export of the Swiss ammunition to Ukraine.
“We have been in a stable position for a long time. Switzerland is a neutral country,” he said.
Funny. I love history. Let’s look back.
Funny. I love history. Let’s look back.
Switzerland's WWII arms sales amounted to some 900 million francs between 1940 and 1944, when the trade was halted under pressure from the Allies.
Of this, TWO THIRDS went to Germany and part of the rest to its ally, Italy.
Zero lessons learned.
Of this, TWO THIRDS went to Germany and part of the rest to its ally, Italy.
Zero lessons learned.
The weapons included anti-aircraft systems, cannons, military precision instruments and ammunition and were made by the Swiss Oerlikon-Buhrle, Tavaro, Hispano-Suiza and Dixi (reported by prof. Cerutti of Geneva University)
Cerutti referenced the 1946 document discovered in the archives of the Swiss Military Department, which detailed accounting of the companies and amounts involved.
Moreover, Switzerland, more than any other European country, served as a refuge and center for Nazi financial operations during WWII.
The leading Swiss banks served as international bankers to the Germans, and as links with Germany's network of foreign holdings and interests.
The leading Swiss banks served as international bankers to the Germans, and as links with Germany's network of foreign holdings and interests.
Swiss francs were made available to Germany by Swiss banks' purchase of German gold.
Guess where that gold came from? Right, stolen from the Jews, later murdered in the concentration camps.
Guess where that gold came from? Right, stolen from the Jews, later murdered in the concentration camps.
German penetration into Swiss industry for cartel, tax evasion or safe haven purposes was accomplished principally through the establishment in Switzerland of subsidiary companies of powerful German firms.
Soooo neutral.
Soooo neutral.
By war's end there were about 350 direct subsidiaries of German firms established in Switzerland.
In addition, German participation in Swiss firms, particularly in chemicals, electricity, and fuel was considerable.
In addition, German participation in Swiss firms, particularly in chemicals, electricity, and fuel was considerable.
Thus, on August 9, 1940, Germany and Switzerland signed a trade agreement that provided that Germany supply Switzerland with raw materials, including coal and iron. In return, the Swiss agreed to allow the Germans to transit across its territories to bring in goods from Italy.
Other foreign currencies necessary for German war efforts and trade outside Germany were also made available to Germany.
By the end of 1944, it was estimated that German investments and accounts in Switzerland amounted to $600,000,000.
By the end of 1944, it was estimated that German investments and accounts in Switzerland amounted to $600,000,000.
It was also believed that considerable amounts of German assets were represented in securities, currencies, jewels, works of art, etc., held in Swiss safety deposit boxes.
German real estate holdings in Switzerland were thought to be worth $62,500,000.
German real estate holdings in Switzerland were thought to be worth $62,500,000.
Privately owned German accounts were reported to be in excess of 500 million Swiss francs. These were easy to cloak since the Secrecy Act permitted Swiss banks to hide ownership under numbered accounts.
Nobody can change the past. Nobody.
But is it so difficult to learn from it? Is it so unbelievably difficult not to help dictators and murderers, but to help stop them, as to not repeat the history?
But is it so difficult to learn from it? Is it so unbelievably difficult not to help dictators and murderers, but to help stop them, as to not repeat the history?
“This [Switzerland] is a country of the Geneva Conventions, which participates in the negotiation process,” Berset says.
Is it not obvious that no negotiations can stop this war? Is mr. Berset so arrogant he thinks HE can talk Russians out of this?
Is it not obvious that no negotiations can stop this war? Is mr. Berset so arrogant he thinks HE can talk Russians out of this?
It’s obvious for everyone that the war will be over when Ukraine wins. And it will win when we get the means necessary for that.
But some people just seem to be unable to quit being complicit in genocides.
Hope everybody enjoys fucking Davos.
But some people just seem to be unable to quit being complicit in genocides.
Hope everybody enjoys fucking Davos.
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