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Table 6.1
Military Crises and the Swiss Executive

Crisis

Outcome and Assessment

Neuchatel
1856-57
Neuchatel canton declares itself independent of its ancient ties to Prussia. The German states mobilize an estimated 125,000 troops and prepare for war. The Swiss Federal Council remains unyielding toward Prussia despite the daunting military force arrayed against them. Neuchatel remains an independent Swiss canton as Prussia backs down.
Assessment: It is unlikely a U.S.-style presidency could have handled the affair better.

Franco-Prussian War
1870-71
Bismarck's Germany crushes the French army; Napoleon III abdicates; 100,000 French troops flee to Switzerland. Swiss mobilize promptly against both the threat of a French escape in force and a German attack against the French troops. The Swiss allow the French sanctuary as internees but only after they completely disarm. They also spurn German pressure to turn the French armies over to them as prisoners. Assessment: Probably no advantage or disadvantage to Switzerland's executive structure.

World War I
1914-18
Assessment: Executive structure weakened Swiss war-fighting capability marginally. Note though, that a stronger executive might have led Switzerland to enter the war on behalf of Germany in 1914, or of France thereafter. The stubborn slowness of executive by committee works against prompt change and foreign intrigue for both good and ill.

World War II
1939-45
Virtually alone among the countries of Europe, Switzerland stands free and democratic against the Fascist domination of Europe.
Assessment: Executive structure works marginally to Switzerland's advantage in rallying the country for a long resistance to the Nazis (see discussions in Chaps. 17 and 18).

Crisis	Outcome and Assessment
Neuchatel 1856-57	Neuchatel canton declares itself independent of its ancient ties to Prussia. The German states mobilize an estimated 125,000 troops and prepare for war. The Swiss Federal Council remains unyielding toward Prussia despite the daunting military force arrayed against them. Neuchatel remains an independent Swiss canton as Prussia backs down. Assessment: It is unlikely a U.S.-style presidency could have handled the affair better.
Franco-Prussian War 1870-71	Bismarck's Germany crushes the French army; Napoleon III abdicates; 100,000 French troops flee to Switzerland. Swiss mobilize promptly against both the threat of a French escape in force and a German attack against the French troops. The Swiss allow the French sanctuary as internees but only after they completely disarm. They also spurn German pressure to turn the French armies over to them as prisoners. Assessment: Probably no advantage or disadvantage to Switzerland's executive structure.
World War I 1914-18	Assessment: Executive structure weakened Swiss war-fighting capability marginally. Note though, that a stronger executive might have led Switzerland to enter the war on behalf of Germany in 1914, or of France thereafter. The stubborn slowness of executive by committee works against prompt change and foreign intrigue for both good and ill.
World War II 1939-45	Virtually alone among the countries of Europe, Switzerland stands free and democratic against the Fascist domination of Europe. Assessment: Executive structure works marginally to Switzerland's advantage in rallying the country for a long resistance to the Nazis (see discussions in Chaps. 17 and 18).