The nation Hitler feared conquering
Why Hitler never occupied Switzerland: The power of armed neutrality
by Felix Abt*
(27 June 2025) Switzerland’s survival was no accident – it was a masterpiece of military deterrence and strategic manoeuvring. Switzerland’s survival during the Second World War was not by chance, but the result of a deliberate and calculated strategy of armed neutrality. While Hitler conquered most of Europe, Switzerland remained independent, unoccupied and defiantly neutral, despite being surrounded by hostile Axis powers.