[definitelynotaliberal]

I was goaded (by a Swiss woman) a few things about Switzerland. At 1 point, she told me, "We are a small country with a military only for defense." So, naturally, I had to ask how Switzerland would ever defend itself if attacked, given that all the other Europeans would wring their hands and say, "We are pacifists." Her answer was, "There are tunnels in the Alps." She made a little hand gesture. In essence, she told me that if Switzerland were ever attacked, the Swiss army was hide itself in the tunnels in the Alps. That's what it means to have a military only for defense. Europeans, gotta luv 'em!

[Tennessee_Bob]

The Swiss are a pretty scary bunch from a military standpoint. Real big belivers in Pro Pace Para Bellum. All major tunnels/bridges in/out of the country are pre-bracketed to accept charges to cut them, along with tanktraps in place to pin whoever might get past. There are artillery units that are dispersed throughout the countryside, hidden in the hillsides, and ready to deploy. Underground airbases, airbases cut into the sides of mountains. Yeah - they're small - but I wouldn't want to be the country that tried to take them on. They would bleed you to death.

[Lurker]

Your description of the Swiss response if they were ever invaded is incorrect.

In Switzerland nearly every home has a fully automatic assault rifle in it and a good quantity of ammunition. On weekends their version of the National Guard practices blowing up their own bridges.

The official policy of the Swiss Government if they are ever invaded is to call on the entire populace to rise up against the invaders and practice total resistance

There's a story of a Nazi general talking to a Swiss general during WWII and asking him "What will you do if I send a million men marching into Switzerland?"

The Swiss generals response was "We will all shoot twice and then go home."

L

[dmz]

Have you ever asked yourself why Switzerland was not attacked during 2 world wars fought (in part) on the European continent?

Perhaps those Swiss you so quickly dismiss know something you don't.

[GAB-1955]

Your Swiss woman was badly informed. I did a paper which dealt with Swiss military doctrine. This is what was told to me by the Swiss attache, an Oberstdivisionar:

1. Switzerland is neutral, but it is part of the West and thus is concerned with the fate of Europe.
2. Switzerland intends to defend every square meter of its territory if attacked.
3. The Alpine redoubts are there, but not the key defense in nuclear periods.

Every male in Switzerland, with some rare medical and conscientious objectors, will serve in the military. Swiss households are required to have the males' military rifles in good order and ready to use.

The Swiss do see military service as a common event and a source of good-natured humor. I remember one cartoon from a unofficial Swiss Army web page:

1870: A Swiss private digs in while a corporal hangs over him. In the background is a horse.
1914: A Swiss private digs in while a corporal hangs over him. In the background is a machine gun.
1939: A Swiss private digs in while a corporal hangs over him. In the background is an antitank cannon.
1980: A Swiss private digs in while a corporal hangs over him. In the background is a armored fighting vehicle.
2020: A flying saucer is in the background... and the Swiss private is still digging in.

[null and void]

Ever been to Switzerland? It's not just tunnels, if you pay even a little attention you'll see it's so much more. For example, every choke point in every valley is sown with Dragon's teeth. Some of those charming chalets are machine gun bunkers. Every public building has fallout AND blast shelters.

It would be a very tough place to invade, let alone occupy.

And damm near everybody is armed...

[AmericanMade1776]

The Swiss Army was obviously not on the defense as they were not hidden in the tunnels of the Alps.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Actually the Swiss model is "you may win, but the cost will ruin your army". It is why the Germans stayed out of Switzerland during WW-2. (Also I think that half of the SS had their savings accounts there.)

The Swiss have universal conscription for all men and you do your basic and active service and then go into the reserve which requires periodic meetings and a summer proficiency camp until you are about 50 years old. Every Swiss man has a rifle and ammunition issued to him which he keeps in his house in case the army is called up.

We could take some profitable lessons from the Swiss.

[Mercat]

Every adult male has a gun, a large gun, in his closet. It's required by law. So I'm thinking that they plan on using more than tunnels. They also have some serious batteries and do drills on using them.