Switzerland's Geographic and Political Position

• Tiny landlocked country surrounded by France, Germany, Italy, Austria
• Famously neutral - not EU member, not NATO member
• Joined UN only in 2002
• No wars fought in 200+ years (last: Napoleon 1815)
• Located in middle of Europe despite historically aggressive neighbors

Geographic Divisions and Defense Strategy

• Three main regions:
  • Swiss Alps (south): gigantic mountain range, most territory, separates from Italy/Austria
  • Jura Mountains (west/north): smaller than Alps, separates from France
  • Swiss Plateau: basin with rolling hills/rivers/lakes, most population/major cities
• Plateau least defensible position, source of invasion concerns

Historical Invasion Threats

• WWI: Germany invaded neutral Belgium to attack France
• WWII (1940): Switzerland completely surrounded by Axis territory, faced Nazi invasion threat
• Cold War: Soviet invasion fears persisted
• Defensive attitude never fully disappeared

National Redoubt Defense System

• Strategy: make invasion so difficult enemies choose easier targets
• Mandatory male conscription: 170 days military service
• All men keep rifles at home after basic training
• Can mobilize 200,000+ soldiers within 72 hours of emergency

Infrastructure Destruction Capabilities

• Every road, bridge, tunnel, railroad designed for remote detonation
• 3,000+ demolition points throughout country
• Entire mountain sites can be detonated for landslides to block roads
• Strategy: deny infrastructure use to invaders

Alpine Fortress Network

• Military strategy: abandon plateau/cities, retreat to Alpine region
• 26,000+ bunkers and fortified positions in mountains
• Positions include: anti-tank guns, anti-air guns, machine gun nests
• Camouflaged installations:
  • Anti-tank guns disguised as rocks
  • Barns containing machine gun nests and anti-tank guns
  • Underground tunnel connections between positions
• Entire country functions as "one big booby trap"

Modern Military Changes

• Neighboring countries (Germany, Austria, Italy, France) now EU members with no militaristic intentions
• Many fortresses/bunkers converted to museums
• Military downsizing planned: 200,000 to 80,000 by 2020
• Questioning importance of defensive/neutral mindset

Nuclear Fallout Shelter System

• Only country with enough shelters for entire population
• 114% population capacity (accommodates refugee influx)
• 8.6 million fallout shelters as of 2006
• All residential buildings post-1978 mandated to include nuclear shelter
• Shelter specifications: survive 12 megaton blast from 700 meters
• Shelter sizes: individual house shelters to public tunnel shelters housing 2,000+ people for 4+ months
• Population could retreat to bunkers and continue fighting post-nuclear attack

Nuclear War Survival Prospects

• Safest place during nuclear war/WWIII
• Projected survivors of global nuclear war: heads of state, cockroaches, 8.4 million Swiss citizens
• Enough bunkers for Swiss population plus additional survivors