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>>>><g>
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>>>>The old POW movies show the nazi camp guards quaking in their boots when the Geneva Convention guy came a-visiting. I always thought "and what if he wasn't happy? Would CH then invade Germany to teach them a lesson in compliance?"
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>>>We would have sent a group of boy scouts..
>>
>>Seriously though, how strong militarily WAS CH?
>
>At that time, I think not so strong, although Switzerland was fully mobilized in only 3 days (total strength about 500k army and militias). Actually, our military leaders were willing to retreat the army back into the alps (Gotthard massive) in case the armies at the borders were overrun and yielding parts of the plateau. But in the alps I think we would have done well as there's a lot of fortification. Only what good is an army for if it doesn't defend its people?
>
>My grand father always told me, that among the soldiers there was a great deal of determination to defend Switzerland with every means necessary. What would've happened when the invasion by Germany would have taken place in 1940 (Operation Tannenbaum, I think)? Have a guess..

As I understand it to enter Switzerland you have to travel through tunnels and bridges. Both the tunnels and bridges were mined and could be triggered to explode as required to stop or at least impede an invasion.

An article I read said that each male in Switzerland had a military obligation until age 65. An argument about guns and killing was interesting. It stated how many people were killed each year in the United States by guns. It went on to define what countries do not allow or allow (as the case may be) citizens to have guns.

Every Swiss male is issued a gun. There are very few murders in Switzerland due to guns. In the United States it seems to be open season on people. An example of deaths due to guns from 1997: Switzerland 91 the United States 30,000.

You see, we win again!