#24 - Switzerland in WWII: Refugee Policy & German Invasion Plans | Jakob Tanner History

Описание: Jakob Tanner, professor emeritus of modern history at the University of Zurich and a leading historian, joins How It Ticks to explore Switzerland’s unique role in World War II. He discusses what it meant for Switzerland to maintain its neutrality while surrounded by Nazi-occupied Europe.

This is Part 2 of a 2-part series continuing our deep dive into Switzerland's WWII story.

Expect to learn about Switzerland's controversial refugee policies and its stance toward Jewish asylum seekers during the war. We explore the limitations of Swiss direct democracy, including why women did not gain the right to vote until 1971. Jakob also reveals details about secret German invasion plans for Switzerland, specifically Operation Tannenbaum, and whether the Reduit defense plan would have truly worked. The conversation covers cultural and agricultural resistance efforts within Switzerland and the long process of post-war historical reflection and relations with Germany.

Chapters:
00:00 Refugee policies and Switzerland’s stance toward Jewish asylum seekers
06:00 The limits of direct democracy and why women didn’t get the vote until 1971
12:00 German invasion plans: Operation Tannenbaum and strategic miscalculations
18:00 Would the Reduit defense plan have worked? What was actually built?
24:00 Cultural and agricultural resistance within Switzerland during wartime
30:00 Post-war relations with Germany and the long road to historical reflection

Connect with Jakob Tanner:
https://www.hist.uzh.ch/de/fachbereic...

Connect with How It Ticks:
Website: https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/
Full Transcript: https://howitticks.ch/podcast/switzer...

Listen to Part 1 of this series here:
   • #24 - Switzerland in WWII: Remaining Neutr...  

If you’re curious about Swiss wartime diplomacy, military preparedness, or the controversies that followed, this conversation offers rare historical insight. Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment below! What did you learn about Switzerland's post-war reckoning?