National Redoubt: Switzerland’s Plan to Survive the Nazis
Discover the untold story of Switzerland's formidable defense strategy during WWII, including hidden fortresses, bunkers, and a massive military mobilization that deterred Hitler's invasion. Learn how the Swiss preserved their neutrality against all odds.
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I would love a video on Taiwan, I'm endlessly fascinated by how they've managed to stay independent for so long
It's pretty simple, they had strong allies in the west. Unfortunately the US is perceived as extremely weak currently and the real China will likely soon fall to the ccp
Simple, we have the biggest moat. Plus, USA.
That would be the most basic of video and boring. Smh
They already made one
I want the video as well
I am Swiss and like almost all Swiss men, I was in the military. During my service I regularly sat in a bunker whose entrance looked like a normal farmhouse. from the entrance it went through a 90m tunnel into the mountain to the actual bunker. The bunker had no camouflaged cannons because it was a command bunker. In the bunker there were also old photos of the cold war. all the cutlery and the plates were also from that time.
So basically Switzerland is a bunker disguised as a country
My grandfather bought a small plot of land in a village within the Redoubt a few years before the war. He built a Chalet on it and the land was used mainly for growing potatoes. He understood that if the country does get invaded, then his home city in the lowlands would be reduced to rubble within weeks. Luckily, history took another path, and today we still have that chalet in our family. The Town of Grindelwald has become a popular skiing destination and to our luck the ski slopes were put in right next to our chalet. We put on our skis at the doorstep and ski right onto the slope and down to the ski lift just a few hundred meters below the chalet. It's mind-blowing when we think about how it came to be that our family jewel was initially built with the fear of war and destruction.
What an interesting story and history that comes with your chalet! I bet you could make a bundle on Air B&B or by renting it out yourself and cutting out the middleman-of course when you do that, you can't have anything real personal or nostalgic in there-you know, those things that transform a house into a home.
A deep dive into Taiwan's defense strategy as well as a look into possible plans that China could have on Attacking Taiwan, and even a possible American, Australian, Indian, and Japanese response to an invasion would be horrifically epic.
I’d really like to hear this as well. I’m Australian but I have no idea what my government would do. Probably follow whatever the US did. I have a lot of friends in or from Taiwan so it’s worrying.
@@--enyo-- The failed Russian war on Ukraine should luckily deter China from invading Taiwan, especially since its a mountain fortress
For one, Taiwan interior is mostly steep mountains covered with forest, very favorable to guerilla. They had plenty of time to build something similar to the National Redoubt. Ho, and being an island, we can assume any usable beach have been prepared for artillery. The casualties to pay to have a viable beach head would be staggering, and then you would have to maintain those beach heads, with US navy pounding your supply lines : you would have to submit the island quick, which is hard being the guerilla paradise it is.
Definitely do one on Taiwan's porcupine doctrine
Yeah, I second the motion. Motion passes! ;)
Or Singapore
@@FortuneZer0 that would be a good one too
Indeed.
"We can't know precisely what was in Hitler head during World War 2." But we all know what was in it at the end of World War 2. 🤣
While it is important to point out Switzerland's appeasement and complicity in Nazi Germany's atrocities, it should also be noted that every Nazi war plane that was detected in Swiss airspace was promptly shot down. Switzerland may have felt a need to at least appear friendly to Germany, but even in that the Swiss didn't Hitler walk over them.
It's important to point out that the Swiss saw a lot of profit in it. How do we know? They've been caught trying to destroy bank records showing deposits for Jewish families, to prevent the heirs from getting their family money back. This is post war, with no Nazi war machine. Sure they didn't let Hitler walk over them, but look at the kind of people they were protecting.
They just profited from all the looted valuables pouring in. It’s easy to stay “neutral” if they need you to launder your cash.
They also shot down allied planes.
Allied planes had the same fate. The Swiss saw no sides, just foreign invaders surrounding them.
That's being called truly neutral I suppose
Would love to see your take on Taiwan and how they would defend their straits against the PRC, and how the US would be involved.
It's been war gamed to death. There's plenty of information about the results. None are even remotely desirable. Fingers crossed the dick wavers on both sides never get enough power to put the gamings to the test.
Seconded.
We used to say, "Switzerland doesn't have an army. Switzerland *_IS_* an army."
Switzerland has taken up the mantle of Prussia.
Having mountains sure is beneficial to deter an invasion. Besides that, the Swiss military and its engineering capabilities are a force to be reckoned with
Switzerland doesn’t have an army. Switzerland is an army.
they were at one point the most commisioned mercenaries in Europe.
@@theawesomeman9821 True, and very expansionist until the Battle of Marignano. Nowadays only the Swiss Guard serve as mercenaries in the Vatican
Hell even their fondue dish can b promptly turned in2 a weapon
😂 don't kind yourself. It's their bankers that matter. Gold teeth from the Jews aww that's fine. Drug money from the cartels aww that's fine. The swiss don't care where it comes from as long as it ends up in their banks.
When I was in the Swiss army in the 90s my job was blow in to dust every single bridge,tunnel and other infrastructure could be used by the enemy before retreat in to the mountains ,half of this infrastructure are already filled with explosive in the right spots ,they said to as we were the last Swiss soldier the enemy would see before a rain of bad news would fall on them by the artillery on the mountains, I went in some bunker with more than 50km of tunnels ,you could get lost very easily, big enough to drive in with trucks, they said to as that we don't have a m2 of the country who is not covered by the artillery....proudly Swiss
Damn that is tough
Even with modern technology, there is no easy way to capture your land. Not in any profitable way, that is. Dozens, maybe hundreds of enemies would die to kill one of yours. That's what I call government assistance, taxes well spent, lessons well learned.
I've been to one of these fortresses up in the alps and when I saw it I knew just how suicidal any invasion of Switzerland would have been. It's not just how heavily defended the position is. They were built in locations that funneled enemy attackers into giant killing zones. Every nook and cranny in the mountains was a perfect snipers nest. Bombers would destroy enemy armor with little problem. It was every single thing the French defense wasn't.
It would have taken years for an army to conquer Switzerland. They would have to snuff out every nook and cranny.
11:50 This episode reminds me of the sign I saw, on the outside wall of the main building, as I was walking inside to report into the US Army's Mountain Warfare School. It was a quote from General Ethan Allen (who commanded Vermont's "Green Mountain Boys" during the American War for Independence). It read, THE GODS OF THE VALLEYS ARE NOT THE GODS OF THE HILLS It always brings a wistful smile to my face when I remember that quote, and how true it proved to be...lol
The Geneva Conventions would make a great Warographics! It's origin. What it does. And infractions of it.
Second
Very interesting video! I knew that at one point, Swiss roads and bridges were mined, but I didn’t know about all of the bunkers, tunnels and cable cars inside of the Alps! Swiss engineering isn’t something to mess with. Yes, please! I’d love a video about Taiwan’s redoubt! Excellent video as always Simon and team 😊
Yes, please, Simon. A video on Taiwan would be appreciated. I always look forward to learning from you and your team.
My grandfather, who fought in world war 2, would tell me stories. One of which was several years after the war when he got into the watch and parking meter repair business, he would often do business with Swiss companies. When they would originally meet, it was normal to not first meet in an office and discuss business, so they would go out for a picnic and get to know each other. And during one of these picnics, he said a fighter jet flew right out of a mountain. And he said the business man told him that they had bunkers and airstrips right into the sides of the mountains all in the Swiss alps. I always thought he was yanking my chain.
I would love to see Taiwan’s defense strategy
It's basically. "You can't touch us or the US is going to drop several thousand tons of freedom and democracy packages on you." 😂
As I understand: - sea-mines - anti-ship missiles - air defenses + an interceptor-based airforce - lots of hidden bunkers in the mountains, from which artillery can fire on the landing beaches It’s an island with lots of mountains, and most of the coast is cliffs. That means you can either land in the ports, which are defended and regardless lands you in urban combat immediately. That’s hell for an attacker The few beaches that exist lead into inhospitable terrain, and have said artillery bunkers watching. Airforce & hidden / hardened emplacement help place enormous costs on any incoming transports
As the Roman prohib goes " if you want peace, be always prepared for war"
"Sic Pacem Parabellum", Brain Boy. It's an ancient concept, and it continues for good reason: It works.
It's called "si vis pacem, para bellum", brain boy.
“You have a mighty army of 500,000 soldiers. However how would you respond if an army of 1,000,000 were to invade?” “Shoot twice and go home.”
The statement is still legendary. In addition, how many shots are fired each year during compulsory shooting, field shooting and other voluntary shooting events? Shooting (orderly and safely in appropriate shooting ranges, i.e. not Rambo-style) is one of the Swiss leisure activities, which means that you know how to aim and how to shoot (and it can therefore be assumed that the Swiss will also hit!).
a cute story but unlikely to have been uttered. Its Dutch equivalent was the Dutch Queen visiting Berlin and being shown the elite German Imperial Honor Guard, the Emperor leaned over to the Queen and hinted of the prowess of his guards who stood at 2 meters; Queen Wilhelmina was said to reply when the Dutch opened their dykes the waters stood at 3 meters deep.
Hitler would not attack the Swiss. He and his cronies were actively using the Swiss banking system for their plunder deposited into their personal accounts. After the war, Swiss banks were flush with unclaimed accounts from German and Jewish depositors.
Hey Simon, love the work you and your team do across all of your channels. I was hoping you could make a video about Taiwan as well. I would love to know what they’re doing to defend themselves from China. Thank you for your videos from the US!
Finland uses a similar porcupine strategy. There is enough room in the bunkers in Helsinki to house 85% of the city’s population quite comfortably. Theirs, however, were designed during the Cold War, so they are likely able to survive nuclear bombings.
Hell yes to the Taiwan strategy episode!
Come on, Simon. You know damn good and well that we want the Taiwan episode. Quit acting brand new!
2:32 This brought a smile to my face. Look at a topographical map of Switzerland, know how fortified and ready the Swiss would be, and remembering you need a hefty numerical advantage to win, the country looked real dangerous to invade.
A series on national redoubts would be amazing ✌️
Got to visit one of these bunkers near Lucerne that was converted into a mini Museum Their defense strategy and setup was impressive
It's a damn shame every country can't be like Switzerland.
Damn shame the rest of the world can't be the bankers of criminals
Nah it's fine, we like being special. Switzerland may not be a world power but it's pretty unique in many regards which most Swiss people like. It's definetly a point of pride the Nazis considered it too costly to invade. Besides you can't just become Switzerland, you need the Swiss. We are a strange people. Switzerland is what it is because most of believe in what it represents and uphold those values such as direct democracy, autonomy from Europe and that stuff. The mentality is kinda special. It had many bad aspects but some good ones are politness in person and in traffic. You let people pass and because everyone is courteous in traffic it works and keeps flowing. Go to Austria and all you here is yelling and honking everyone pretending they own the road. And generally people will be quite friendly. But it does have dark sides too. I would lie if I said feelings of superiority weren't wide spread. We are much like Americans. Much too patriotic and way too proud of our little fortress. Well the alps. The plateau would fall in days which is most of Switzerland and where all the cities are. So it would still be catastrophic. Everyone would have to flee towards the alps, Zurich, Bern etc... would have to be abandoned and burnt. It would have been costly. The Nazis would not have taken it but how much of Switzerland would have been left? Not a lot. They would have all the industry while the army hides in the alps, maybe do some guerilla type stuff against the occupiers but 80% of the country would have to be abandoned likely using scorched Earth tactics.
10:40 That's some pretty kick-ass defensive planning. I'd like to see the detailed fire plans.
Most certainly yes, please do a video on Taiwan’s approach to the porcupine doctrine. That would definitely have put a lot of peoples minds at ease or at least let us know that there is powerful hope against tyranny in Asia.
I climbed mount Katahdin in Maine as a kid, much smaller than anything in the alps, and that's what stood out to me. A couple people with rifles could lock down any of the few paths to the top, you can't hardly look up while moving, let alone trying to shoot, if you did you can't see due to the sun. No easy evac or resupply, no heavy weapons, helicopters seen coming for miles. If you go up to 10 000 feet plus that's difficult for bombers, soldiers have to scale with climbing gear, only to face bunkers, cannons, and AA batteries? It's not going to happen, even with modern weapons and tactics.
Very fascinating.
I was looking forward to my trip to Bern next month. Now, not so much.
This is very similar to Sweden's Total Defence. Is there a possible chance to explore this, given recent events??
Definitely do a video on Taijuan porcupine doctrine!
As an English schoolboy in 1967 I went with a school party to Switzerland, As our coach drove up a mountain road to Interlaken we drove over bumps in the road and were told there were mines laid to destroy the road upon invasion. Years later I visited a Swiss friend. He had a rifle in his house and he could cut his yearly military duties in half if he maintained a high level of marksmanship. The idea being they could shoot paratroopers out of the sky before they could land.
While the Swiss defenses may have aided in Switzerland being left out of the war, I still think (and I know I‘m not alone) that Hitler did not try to invade because a) he didn’t want to engage in a very hard conquest and b) he was able to profit more from Switzerland‘s neutral banks than if all the banks had become German.
Would definitely like one on Tiwain too
I've seen a couple videos about the mountain bunkers in Switzerland, but sounds like they didn't show much for a reason. Good on them 👏 Would love a video on Taiwan 🇹🇼
Not really survive just the Nazis but literally from everyone, they didn't want anyone to disturb their sovereignty and made sure neither side would attempt anything.
This is called armed neutrality and is still todays approach. Considering our size we still have a fairly large and well equipped army, as we have no allies that can be relied upon to defend us.
absolutely do the Taiwan porcupine doctrine video pls!
Yes please Simon, I would like to see a video on the porcupine defense of Taiwan.
Very interesting and unknown subject
I was in Germany in the early 80's (USAF) and took several ski trips to Switzerland. I remember going through some of the tunnels in the mountains and seeing massive doors that lead into the mountains. I was told this was part of the Redoubt. These doors were large enough to easily drive heavy armor through.
We even had airports inside the mountains. With massive gates that could be opened, large enough for fighter jets to take off and land on a runway built inside the mountain. Rumour has it some of those are still active or at least ready to be reactivated. Not sure if thats true tho, as i doubt that the cold war runways would still be long enough for our more modern FA18 and F-35 jets.
This is my favorite channel out of all of Simon’s channels. More content of anything is a plus and a thumbs up from me!!
I really value and appreciate the fine accuracy and excellent quality of Swiss firearms
Agreed. I'd sooner use a K31 than just about anything else.
@@petergaskin1811 one of the first center fire rifles I ever purchased. I still have it and when I die it's going to be passed down to my nephew's who will enjoy shooting it for another whole generation
Please do a video on Taiwan. I'd love to hear your analysis ! You find things to consider that few others do.
You should do another topic on Ireland across any of your channels
@15:09 "axis or allies". then "brrrrt" - was that a rasberry?
Well Simon, artillery goes bang and then somewhere else goes boom.
Yes! do a video on Taiwans defense doctrine!
Can you do the Sri Lankan Civil War next?
10:32 Still there today, if you go along the Lichtenstein/Austrian Border to CH, most of it still has tank traps
Yes, please, Simon! Would love to see one on Taiwan. I know that the entire Eastern side of the Island is mountainous like Switzerland so I'm sure caves are part of their system but would love seeing the entire plan laid out.
Surprisingly the French reduit is translated by redoubt. It means retreat. Redoubt would be redoute.
Id love a deep dive on taiwans porcupine strategy. Mostly on its conscripts training and material
What happened to Biographics Simon? You know, the channel that made you, and has by far the most subscribers of any of your channels
It's super interesting how, while on nearly-opposite ends of the spectrum of funding and organization, the Swiss (and the others named), rely on escaping into the mountains and essentially sitting pretty.
I would love a video about General Hsu's Special Porcupine Strategy!!
I definitely want to see a video on Taiwan's defenses.
Love a video on how to create a army/military eg new country such as independent Scotland how you go about building a military
Please do a video on Taiwan's defende strategy, Simon.
Please do a video regarding Taiwan's porcupine strategy!
A video on Taiwans porcupine doctrine would be great to see.
Speaking of defense,you could do video on Albanian bunkers. In 20ish years period for 1960's to 1984,they build 175 thousand bunkers to defend their homeland from any invasion(mostly they were afraid of invasion from Yugoslavia). Unfortunately,only action these bunkers saw was Albanian civil war in 1997...
I thought the main reason for Germany not invading was that every single Swiss household had a rifle, and all men knew how to use them. A large percentage of the population would fight.
Full male conscription, so those rifles are part of the military, as every man is expected to grab said rifle along with uniform from the safe at home, report to his pre-assigned rallying point, receive ammo there; and then start military defensive operations
Obviously not, the Red Army fielded multiple times more soldiers than Switzerland had inhabitants.
1:30 - Chapter 1 - Neutrality & the grand plan 6:45 - Chapter 2 - The nazi problem 12:15 - Chapter 3 - Prepared for a last stand - Chapter 4 - - Chapter 5 - - Chapter 6 -
Would love to see a video on Taiwan’s defensive strategy
Hey Simon, it would be cool if you could that video on Taiwan preparing to defend itself against china.
Showing us a map of those 5 forts is much more valuable than their names
I'd love to see a video about Taiwan's strategy!
yes pleez a vote here for some Warographics goodness regarding Taiwan's porcupine posture (if that is what they really are doing). oh also can we tweak down the background music track a bit? and also can we get a Warographics visit to the bunker stores of swiss cheese?
Would love to see a video on Taiwans porcupine doctrine.
A video on Taiwan would most certainly be welcomed!
Factboi's beard is lucking particularly lush today, the chin redoubt.
This is fascinating, although when Simon was listing all the planes the Swiss had, did the Nazis give them the Messerschmitt's? I kinda assumed that the Luftwaffe would've needed them? Was it a sort of 'good will' gesture? Well, as good will as it's possible to get with the Nazis.
Given there was no state of war and they were neutral, It's likely the Swiss simply bought them. The Nazis weren't about to say no to money, and if they were purchased in the first half of the war the Nazi's could have spared them.
The Swiss bought them before the war. (Swiss Messerschmitts shot down some German planes in 1940 during the invasion of France as the Germans violated Swiss air space.) They got some more during the war as an advanced German night fighter by accident had landed on a Swiss air field and the Germans made a deal with the Swiss. Destroy the night fighter so its technology doesn't reach the Allies and you'll get some new BF109s. The Swiss blew the plane up with German spectators but the new planes they got from the deal had either been sabotaged by the Germans or the quality had just dropped massively as they had multipule accidents with them and stopped using them. (I think)
Great vid please do a vid on Taiwan
Do the battle of milvian bridge
A video on Taiwan would be pretty great!
15:09
I want one of those bunkers to live in.
I would love to hear more on Taiwan. & Artillery.
I would love to see a similar exploration of Taiwan's situation.
Most Swiss fortifications are demilitarised now. Some can be visited during the summer and others can be visited on request or on some open days in the year.
The best military investments are the ones that never see combat in eras of combat. As it means they worked.
Feel free to create an episode of hedgehog tactics on Taiwan.. Fan of more of your channels..
Yes! Please do a video on Taiwan.
Maybe it's a little uncomfy to think about how Swiss neutrality enabled the Holocaust, but I think the discomfort comes from knowing that ANY nation would do the same - given the choice between their own people and anyone else, they'll choose what protects their own. And the Swiss never claimed to be saints. Expedience wins out over the idle sophistry of theoretical ethics. But I'm with the other folks in comments here who've said it - I kinda wish more nations would follow Switzerland's example in this; defenses and not aggression, neutrality with the precise amount of appeasement required and not a drop of mercy for those who pick a fight. Robin Williams joked: "the "nice" Germans" - but he wasn't that far wrong, and sometimes I wonder what the world would be like if every nation had such an attitude. "Be nice, be nice - until it's time not to be, and then, destroy them."
17:12 I could tell you what was in Hitlers head during World War 2… A bullet 🥁
The Swiss are like the dwarfs from lotr lol love gold and tunnel into mountains with fortresses
Do Taiwan's defence plan next!
Is it just me or at the 15:15 minute mark, when they show a picture of Hitler is there a brief fart sound? I'm not offended I think it's great
sweden had something similar during the cold war there is a video called Onset of Darkness that explains it
Excellent video. Very interesting. I'd love a video on Taiwan. It's really remarkable that Taiwan has managed to stay independent for all these years
@15:08 I love the fart noise
It was not all well in Switzerland. The 1918 general strike could easily have led to civil war, but thank god the strike committee eventually gave in and avoided a confrontation with the military forces. And in the 80's Punks and the police clashed in Zurich.
15:08 the stinker😞
Please do a video on Taiwan's defense plan.
Please do the Taiwan video
I find it delicious as swiss chocolate that while most Warographics videos and the like describe how most countries FOUGHT Ww2, the video about Switzerland is about how they simply SURVIVED it.