why did not hitler occupy Switzerland during the WWII?

Answer 1

I thought he did.

Answer 2

Switzerland was a bad strategic post, since no country would ever try to capture it, and it would be very difficult to make any defensive installations in it. It would have been a waste of time for Germany. Though the Swiss were neutral, this wasn't the reason Germany didn't capture it, coz Nazi's had no principals and they did not care whether a country was neutral or not.

Also, Switzerland did not have any heavy industry, factories, or something else economically useful.

On a lighter side, Hitler didn't wan't to spoil a beautiful vacation/honeymoon spot just for few war-filled years!!!

Answer 3

I don't know where you learned you history, but I think you had better demand your money back.

For the record, Hitler did NOT occupy Switzerland during WW2, in fact, Switzerland was specifically exempted by the AXIS Powers because all parties needed a neutral country where terms of surrender or prisoner exchanges or the business of making war or ending it could be discussed.

Answer 4

Switzerland is and has always been a neutal country allowing many other countries with conflicts to hack out their differences there.

Switzerland is the most true democratic nation in the world - we are not a true democracy, we are a republic - not only do politicians get to introduce bills for the country, but any citizen has that right also, boy could we use that now!

The downside to their government is it takes many years to convince the majority on issues, and so passage of law takes that long.

In war, cities can be declared open - meaning that neither side can combat in those areas. I'm told Rasht in Iran is such a city.

Answer 5

The Swiss were lucky as France's Plan 17 made Switzerland the next to be invaded. Hitler had not needed it before but planned to take it. In the past many armies have used the Alps to make counter attacks.Switzerland been part of "Lucy Spy Ring" to misinform the Soviets.

Answer 6

Many reasons

Switzerland sucked as a strategic post, since it's isolated in the Alps, and no country would ever try to capture it, and it would be very difficult to make any defensive installations and such in it. It would have been a waste of time for Germany. Yes, switz was neutral, but this wasn't the reason why Germany did not invade it, considering Germany had no morals and they obviously wouldn't care about whether a country had declared itself neutral or not.

Plus, switzerland did not have any heavy industry, factories, or anything. The reason Germany invaded Czech was because it was one of the foremost arms producers in Europe at the time. Swizterland would have been useless.

Answer 7

Because the Nazis needed a neutral country in which they could invest the billions in gold and currency they were looting from occupied Europe.

Switzerland is obviously the global home investment banking.

Only last year the Swiss government has had to start paying compensation to the familes of Jews.

Sweden, Spain, Ireland, and Portugal also stayed Neutral.

Answer 8

If Germany would have invaded Switzerland, the Swiss were in a perfect position to cause extensive damage to the German supply trains and rail lines. Thus, Switzerland was not invaded.

Answer 9

A good question. Some factors, I assume, include Switzerland's moutainous terrain that is easy to defend, hard to invade. But, given the power of WWII Germany's war machine, that can't be the only answer. Perhaps it would have simply been to costly to occupy.

There are some books on the subject you may want to check out:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0739102559/103-2825681-8791005?v=glance&n=283155

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/Holocaust/swiss-and-hitler.html

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/rkba/swiss_militia.htm

Answer 10

No. Switzerland remained neutral during the war.

Answer 11

Cost / Benefit analysis

Not worth the effort, for a neutral country the Switz have a good army and good defenses built into the terrain, a tough nut to crack.