National Redoubt (Switzerland)
The Swiss National Redoubt (
The National Redoubt encompassed a widely distributed set of fortifications on a general east–west line through the Alps, centering around the major fortress complexes of St. Maurice, St. Gotthard, and Sargans. These fortresses primarily defended the alpine crossings between Germany and Italy and were outside the industrialized and populated regions of Switzerland. These regions were defended by the "Border Line", and the "Army Position" somewhat farther back. While not intended as an impassable barrier, these lines contained significant fortifications, but the National Redoubt was planned as a nearly impregnable complex of fortifications that would deny an aggressor passage over or through the Alps by controlling the major mountain passes and railway tunnels running north-to-south through the region. This strategy was intended to deter an invasion altogether by denying Switzerland's crucial transportation infrastructure to an aggressor.
The National Redoubt has been the subject of debate in Swiss society, with many fortifications decommissioned by the early 21st century.
Swiss Alps
The concept of "réduit" is a recurring theme in Swiss defence theory. Having stayed neutral during World War II, Switzerland retained the concept for its plans of resistance against a putative Soviet invasion during the Cold War, when it became a strong influence on the Swiss concept of neutrality.
History
Fortification of the Swiss alpine region began in the 1880s, shortly after the opening of the
In the immediate
Guisan plan
General Henri Guisan developed a strategy for the defence of Switzerland that recognised its limited resources in equipment and manpower compared to its potential adversaries. Guisan proposed a delaying strategy in the broken terrain of the borders to keep an invading force out of the open country in the central plateau for as long as possible to allow an orderly retreat to the secured Alpine perimeter. Once the retreat to the Alps was complete, the Swiss government could remain in hiding for an extended time. Accordingly, border fortifications were improved, with major programs along the Rhine and at Vallorbe in the Jura. The strategic Alpine nodes of Saint-Maurice, Saint Gotthard, and Sargans were identified as the primary points of access to the Alpine redoubt for a potential aggressor. While Saint Gotthard and Saint-Maurice had been previously fortified, the area of Sargans was newly vulnerable because of a drainage program of former wetlands along the Rhine that would now provide easy access to the eastern Alpine gateway at Sargans.[2]
World War II
Debate continued over the extent of the redoubt under the Guisan Plan. A proposal was developed by officers from German-speaking cantons, advocating a more compact redoubt. That was overcome by a proposal, authored by Guisan's chief of staff, Colonel Samuel Gonard, whose plan ratified the Saint-Maurice - Saint Gotthard - Sargans strategy, prefaced by a defence in depth. Additional impetus was provided by the
The Redoubt strategy was emphasized on 24 May 1941. Until then, only about two thirds of the Swiss Army had been mobilized. After the swift overrunning of the
The National Redoubt assumed great importance to the Swiss in 1940, when they were entirely surrounded by Axis powers and thus effectively at the mercy of Hitler and Mussolini. The National Redoubt was a way to preserve at least part of Swiss territory in the event of an invasion. The redoubt was to be manned by eight infantry divisions and three mountain brigades;[6] the Swiss practiced for war by imitating the battles occurring around them.[7] Switzerland's redoubt strategy during World War II was essentially one of deterrence. The idea was to make clear to Germany that an invasion would have a high cost. Simultaneously, economic concessions were made to Germany in the hope that the overall cost of a German invasion would be perceived to be higher than the potential benefits. However, it is clear that Hitler intended to invade eventually and that the Allied landing at Normandy and the difficulties faced in invading the Soviet Union were pivotal in merely delaying an invasion.[8] Concessions included a national blackout and the destruction of a secret German radar system that had accidentally landed in Switzerland in exchange for a dozen aircraft.
In its invasion plan, Operation Tannenbaum, Germany planned to capture Geneva and Lucerne, and Italy would capture the Alps; both countries would then divide Switzerland.[7]
Cold War
Swiss policy during the Cold War adopted a more aggressive defence of the borders that relied less on a retreat to the mountains. While Switzerland was again surrounded by an alliance, NATO was not considered a threat to Swiss independence; the Warsaw Pact alliance however was considered a threat. The Swiss strategy sought to exact a high price from any direct ground attack on Swiss territory. Control of the Alpine crossings remained a cornerstone of the Swiss strategy of neutrality. The dense network of passive and active barriers and large and small fortifications allowed considerable flexibility in the disposition of Swiss forces and represented an almost-optimal scenario of defence in depth.[6]
The strategic importance of the Alpine crossings had only increased since the Second World War, and any incursion by Warsaw Pact forces would require them to be taken or for terms for their use to be agreed upon to the satisfaction of Switzerland.[6]
In 1953, Swiss policy was formalized to place greater emphasis on the defence of the borders and population centers and to extend the concept of defence in depth, pioneered in the redoubt, to the entire Swiss territory. That corresponded to an unspoken reliance on co-operation with NATO to secure the flanks of Swiss territory and to resupply Swiss forces, which already purchased equipment from members of NATO. The redoubt, with its determinedly-neutralist connotations, lost priority.[9]
Many billions of francs have been invested in building the fortifications in the mountains, which are partly still used by the army. The most important buildings of the redoubt were the fortifications of
The construction of enough civilian
Comparison with contemporary projects
The National Redoubt fortifications, when compared to contemporary French, Belgian, German, or Czech fortifications, were much more extensive and heavily armed than the
Fortress St. Gotthard
Airolo positions
Fort Airolo 46°31′42.19″N 8°35′21.25″E / 46.5283861°N 8.5892361°E, also known as Forte di Airolo, was built between 1887 and 1890 at the southern end of the
Battery Motto Bartola 46°32′01.15″N 8°35′17.15″E / 46.5336528°N 8.5880972°E is located just up the hill from Fort Airolo and mounted an additional four 120mm guns.[14][15] The fort, built between 1888 and 1890, also mounted four 84mm guns, with extensive underground galleries linking the firing positions.[19][20][21]
Battery Foppa Grande mounted one 105mm gun in a camouflaged turret above Motto Bartola, with three 20mm anti-aircraft guns. The position featured a mortar battery, installed in 1953. The position was deactivated in 1997 and classified as potentially historical. The position may be visited by prior arrangement.[22]
Fort San Carlo is an artillery fort.[23][24]
Fort Stuei[25]
Saint Gotthard Tunnel South Portal monitored the original south entrance to the
St. Gotthard Pass positions
Redoubt Hospiz 46°33′24.20″N 8°34′06.37″E / 46.5567222°N 8.5684361°E, also known as Forte Ospizio, was built in 1894 and operated until 1947 near the summit of the Gotthard Pass. The fort mounted two single 120mm gun turrets.[14][27] The fort is now operated as a museum and may be visited by the public.[17]
Fort Sasso da Pigna 46°33′31.68″N 8°33′59.50″E / 46.5588000°N 8.5665278°E was built during the early part of World War II, becoming operational in 1943, effectively replacing Redoubt Hospiz. The fort consists of an eastern battery overlooking the Leventina valley and a western battery overlooking the Bedretto valley and the main pass. The main entrance is located just to the north of Fort Ospizio, with 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) of galleries and four 105mm gun positions. A proposed addition of two more guns in the late 1950s never proceeded. The position was used until 1999.[28] It opened to the public as a museum on 25 August 2012.[29]
Infantry positions: A number of small infantry bunkers exist near the top of the pass, most notably Bunker No. 3. Construction took place in three stages: 1886–87, 1892–1920, and 1946–1973. These works exhibit a high quality of workmanship and integration into the landscape.[30][31]
Göschenen
Andermatt
Urseren Valley North
Fort Bühl 46°38′35.45″N 8°35′24.97″E / 46.6431806°N 8.5902694°E[32]
Fortin Altkirch 46°38′37″N 8°35′30″E / 46.64361°N 8.59167°E[33]
Fort Bäzberg 46°38′40″N 8°34′38″E / 46.64444°N 8.57722°E[34]
Oberalp Pass
Fort Stöckli 46°39′28.99″N 8°37′17.21″E / 46.6580528°N 8.6214472°E[35]
Oberalp infantry positions[36]
Fort Gütsch 46°39′17″N 8°36′53″E / 46.65472°N 8.61472°E[37]
Furka Pass
Fort Galenhütten 46°34′38.24″N 8°23′27.61″E / 46.5772889°N 8.3910028°E
Fort Fuchsegg[38]
Fortress St. Maurice
Fortress Sargans
Fortress Sargans comprises six major fortifications centered on the town of
First Rhine Barrier Forts
Fort Schollberg
Fort Anstein
Major Forts
Fort Magletsch is as of 2012 still in use by the Swiss military. Shut down in 2017
Fort Castels is as of 2012 still in use by the Swiss military. Shut down in 2017
Fort Furggels
Fort Passatiwand
Southern Forts
Fort Molinära
Fort Haselboden
Second Rhine Barrier Forts
Fort Tschingel
Fort Nusslock
Fort Tamina Ragaz
Modernization
The Redoubt positions and others in Switzerland were augmented by the Bison project, which involved the installation of anti-tank guns in new bunkers at key locations to provide a modernized pre-positioned force capable of defeating modern armor. A project to install automatic 120mm mortars was completed in 2003.[42]
Army strength reductions
In 1995, the Swiss army was reduced from 750,000 troops to 400,000. By 2004, army strength was 120,000, with 80,000 proposed by 2020.[42]
Fate
Debate continues over the usefulness of the Redoubt and other Swiss fortifications. In October 2010,
Because the Réduit strategy was essentially one of deterrence, part of it was overt and public, and played a part in the so-called "intellectual defence of the homeland", or Geistige Landesverteidigung attempting to improve the morale and cohesiveness of the Swiss nation. The Réduit strategy's use as a deterrence/propaganda tool continued through the cold war. In 1964, the army's pavilion at the Swiss Fair (Landesausstellung) in Lausanne had the shape of a giant Czech hedgehog made of concrete.[citation needed]
The Réduit features at the center of Swiss writer Christian Kracht's 2008 dystopian novel Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten.[citation needed]
Nation-wide removal of Cold War-era demolition explosives on hundreds or thousands of bridges and other structures such as the Holzbrücke Bad Säckingen covered bridge was completed by December 2014.[44]
Civilian transitions have resulted in a diverse array of repurposed former military facilities. Niche enterprises now occupying decommissioned sites include hospitality and leisure providers, food producers and cultural initiatives, as well as cyber-security and asset-protection specialists.
Leisure and tourism
The refashioning of fortified sites added a new dimension to Alpine adventure travel in the Gotthard region. More than 2,000 metres above sea level, the old San Carlo fortress was transformed into a unique subterranean luxury hotel and conference center [45] in 2004. Nearby, the cavernous Sasso da Pigna complex was converted into a museum and multimedia theme park in 2012.
Culture
Converted into a museum in 2001, the former Faulensee artillery plant [46] in the Bernese Oberland offers visitors the opportunity to explore a typical camouflaged underground bunker complex with connecting tunnels.
Opened in 2019, the Andermatt Concert Hall project [47] transformed an underground military space initially earmarked for events and conventions into an international music venue.
Organic foods
Resourceful horticulturalists and food producers have also exploited the warm, humid microclimate of the old Gotthard tunnels. Former ammunition tunnels at Erstfeld, Stansstade and Oberdorf now offer ideal conditions in which to cultivate crops of premium mushrooms.[48]
Likewise, traditional cheese makers Seiler Kaserei invested 6 million francs in 2021 to adapt the old Giswilerstock military tunnel, thus creating a new warehouse environment designed for specialty cave-aged cheeses.[49]
Security
Several Réduit bunkers originally built to guarantee national security now provide the ultimate safe haven for safeguarding some of the commercial world’s most valuable
In the Gotthard region, a dedicated suite of maximum-security bunkers were constructed during the Second World War at a secret location near Amsteg in the canton of Uri. This 3,000-square-metre complex was built to provide a refuge for Switzerland's wartime cabinet.[50] Today, however, these Gotthard vaults are maintained by specialist providers offering protected storage of precious metals and other valuable assets.[51]
Strategic reappraisal
In 2023, with some contemporary observers already predicting “Switzerland’s security will continue to become increasingly dependent on external inputs”,
In military terms, a 2023 Swiss Army review (Die Verteidigungsfähigkeit stärken: Zielbild und Strategie für den Aufwuchs) has acknowledged that modern hybrid warfare with its rapidly evolving technologies will demand a broader future defense strategy to counter a variety of possible threats. On September 18, 2023, Lieutenant General Süssli announced that Switzerland will halt the sale of bunkers.[53] The army will now seek to maximize its capability by reintegrating such fortifications into the existing military infrastructure.
Continuing environmental remediation and public safety
Despite the extensive munitions-clearance program,[44] some Cold War-era hazards remain. The plight of the villagers of Mitholz in the canton of Bern illustrates the nature of such residual problems: On December 19, 1947, a wartime munitions dump exploded, killing nine people and destroying the heart of the village.[54] A Federal Department of Defense (DDPS) report in 2018 confirmed the remaining 3,500 tons of explosive material must be removed to avoid the risk of a further tragedy – a task requiring the temporary evacuation of Mitholz residents. The estimated cost in 2020 was put at 900 million francs. Yet by September 2023, when the Swiss parliament agreed to finance the 25 years of work involved, clearance costs had risen to almost 2.6 billion francs.[55] With the first evacuations scheduled for the summer of 2024, a DDPS disaster risk management plan has nominated the Center for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern to continuously monitor the social impact of the remediation across the lifespan of the project.[56]
See also
Notes
- ^ Kauffmann, p. 152
- ^ a b Kauffmann, p. 153
- ^ Kauffmann, p. 154
- ^ Kauffmann, p.159
- ^ National Defense Speeded by Swiss by C.L. Sulzberger in The New York Times, July 24, 1938. page 16.
- ^ a b c d Andrey, Dominique (15 June 2006). "Le " Réduit national "". Évolution de la valeur opérative du secteur alpin suisse (in French) (243). Revue Historique des Armees: 41–50. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ a b McPhee, John (1983-11-07). "La Place de la Concorde Suisse-II". The New Yorker. p. 55. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ Let's Swallow Switzerland by Klaus Urner (Lexington Books, 2002).
- ^ Soutou, Georges-Henri (15 June 2006). "L'organisation de la défense helvétique vue par les Français". La IVe République et l'évolution de la politique de neutralité armée de la Suisse à l'époque de la guerre froide (in French) (243). Revue Historique des Armees: 71–88. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Self Sabotage: The Swiss Strategy of Rigging Vital Infrastructure to Explode
- ^ The Secret Military Plans Switzerland Put In Place to Survive the Cold War
- ISBN 2-908182-97-1.
- ^ "Museo Forte Airolo (Militärhistorisches Museum in Airolo)" (in German). Ospizio San Gottardo. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ a b c Kauffmann pp. 157-158
- ^ a b "Das Fort Airolo am St. Gotthard" (PDF) (in German). Associazione Amici del Forte Airolo.
- ^ Schneider, Hans Rudolf. "Artilleriewerk Forte Airolo". festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Altre opere del San Gottardo" (PDF). Monumenti militari nel Cantone Ticino (in Italian). Swiss Ministry of Defense, Public Protection and Sports. p. 38. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "Artilleriewerk Forte Airolo" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans Rudolf. "Artilleriewerk Motto Bartola" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ "Sbarramento San Gottardo – Motto Bartola" (PDF). Monumenti militari nel Cantone Ticino (in Italian). Swiss Ministry of Defense, Public Protection and Sports. p. 34. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "Artilleriewerk Motto Bartola" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Schenider, Hans Rudolf. "A8370 Artilleriewerk Foppa Grande" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ Burkhardt, Hansjakob. "AW San Carlo". Monumenti militari nel Cantone Ticino (in German). Swiss Ministry of Defense, Public Protection and Sports. p. 34. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Schenider, Hans Rudolf. "A8390 Artilleriewerk San Carlo" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ Schenider, Hans Rudolf. "A8350 Artilleriewerk Stuei" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ "Sbarramento San Gottardo - entrate gallerie" (PDF). Monumenti militari nel Cantone Ticino (in Italian). Swiss Ministry of Defense, Public Protection and Sports. p. 32. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Museo Forte Ospizio San Gottardo" (in German). Ospizio San Gottardo. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ Schenider, Hans Rudolf. "A8385 Artilleriewerk Sasso da Pigna" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ "Sasso San Gottardo". www.museums.ch. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "Gotthard-Südportal (Airolo)" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ "Sbarramento al passo del San Gottardo" (PDF). Monumenti militari nel Cantone Ticino (in Italian). Swiss Ministry of Defense, Public Protection and Sports. p. 36. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "A8675 Artilleriewerk Bühl" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "A8665 Infanteriewerk Altkirch" (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "Artilleriewerk Bäzberg" (in German). festung-oberland.ch. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "Artilleriewerk Stöckli" (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "Oberalp UR" (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "A8685 Artilleriewerk Gütsch" (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Schneider, Hans-Rudlf. "A8630 Artilleriewerk Fuchsegg" (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ "Le dispositif fortifie" (in French). Association Fort de Litroz. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ "Swiss Reveal Secret World: Their Defense From Nazis". New York Times. July 25, 1999. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^ Herren, Andreas P. "Swiss Fortress Sargans (Festung Sargans) - May 10, 1940". Tannenbaum 1940. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^ a b c Stephens, Thomas (October 22, 2010). "Military bunkers face their Waterloo". swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ Solomon, Christopher (January 19, 2011). "Swiss Weigh Future Role of Bunkers in the Alps". The New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ a b Multiple Swiss sites finally rid of tons of TNT
- ^ "Uhotw". www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ "Faulensee | Bernese Oberland, Switzerland | Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ "Andermatt Concert Hall: case study". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ "In alten Armee-Bunkern spriessen Shiitake-Pilze". 20 Minuten (in German). 2017-07-31. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ "Seiler Käserei AG investing 6 million Swiss francs in expansion". S-GE. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ SwissCommunity. "Jost Auf der Maur | Travelling to the lower levels of Switzerland". swisscommunity.org. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ "Saint-Gotthard: Ideal for high-security vaults". Swiss Gold Safe. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ISSN 1424-7755.
- ^ "Switzerland Reintegrates Bunkers into the National Defence Strategy due to Russo-Ukrainian War - Finabel". finabel.org. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ Miller, John (December 7, 2020). "Swiss villagers face 10-year evacuation in $1 billion bomb removal plan". Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ "Le Parlement donne son feu vert au crédit de 2,6 milliards pour le déminage de Mitholz". rts.ch (in French). 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ "Mitholz: How does the clearing of the former ammunition depot affect the residents of the village?". Centre for Development and Environment (CDE). 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
References
- Kauffmann, J.E., Jurga, R., Fortress Europe: European Fortifications of World War II, Da Capo Press, USA, 2002, ISBN 0-306-81174-X.
German-language references
- Hans-Rudolf Maurer (Hrsg.): Geheime Kommandoposten der Armeeführung im Zweiten Weltkrieg: Projekte, Bauten und der Mobile Kommandoposten. Verlag Merker im Effingerhof, Lenzburg 2001, ISBN 3-85648-120-6
- Willi Gautschi: General Henri Guisan: Die schweizerische Armeeführung im Zweiten Weltkrieg. 4. Auflage. Verlag NZZ, Zürich 2001, ISBN 3-85823-516-4
- Roberto Bernhard: Das Reduit. Mythen und Fakten ; militärischer Notbehelf, Rettungsanker der Nation, Mythos, Gegenmythos. Institut Libertas, Biel/Bienne 2007, ISBN 3-9521464-4-7
- Inventar der Kampf- und Führungsbauten. Bern: Eidg. Dep. für Verteidigung, Bevölkerungsschutz und Sport, Bereich Bauten. 11-teiliges Werk, erschienen zwischen 1999 und 2006.
- Individual portions are on line at armasuisse.ch, for example the cantons of Glarus, AI/AR and St. Gallen n Archived 2007-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
- Hand Rudolf Fuhrer, Walter Lüem, Jean-Jacques Rapin, Hans Rapold, Hans Senn: Die Geschichte der schweizerischen Landesbefestigung. Zürich: ISBN 978-3-280-01844-6
Further reading
- John McPhee (1984). La Place de la Concorde Suisse. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374182410.
External links
- www.fort.ch
- Festung-Oberland.ch (in German)
- links Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
- Fortress Saint-Maurice
- Association Saint-Maurice d'Études Militaires (in French)
- Schweizer-Festungen
- Fort Champillon