Swiss Army

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SwitzerlandSwitzerland Swiss Army
Armée suisse ( French )
Esercito svizzero ( Italian )
Armada svizra ( Rat. )
Swiss Army logo

Swiss Army logo
guide
Commander in Chief : The Federal Council (peace)

A commander-in-chief elected by the Federal Assembly = general (mobilization)

Defense Minister: Viola Amherd , Head of VBS
Military Commander: KKdt Thomas Süssli , Chief of the Army
Military strength
Active soldiers: 140,304 (2019)
Conscription: 18–23 weeks of basic training, a total of 245 days (for soldiers)
Resilient population: Age 18–49:
1,852,580 men
1,807,667 women
Eligibility for military service: 18–33 years
household
Military budget: 5.12 billion CHF (2020)
Share of expenses from tax revenue: 6.4% (2018)
Share of gross domestic product : 0.654% (2018)
history

The Swiss Army ( French Armée suisse , Italian Esercito svizzero , Romansh Armada svizra ? / I , English Swiss Armed Forces ) is the armed force of the Swiss Confederation . As a landlocked country, Switzerland has no navy . The patrol boats on the (border) lakes are subordinate to the engineering troops . A special feature of the Swiss Army is the militia system . Corps Commander Thomas Süssli has been Chief of the Army since January 1, 2020 . Audio file / audio sample

Official names

Up until the end of 2003 ( Army 61 and Army 95 ) the Swiss Army was spoken of. The Swiss Army has been the official name ever since . The designation has not changed in the other three national languages. In French it is called Armée suisse , in Italian Esercito svizzero and in Romansh Armada svizra . In English , the army appears as Swiss Armed Forces .

assignment

Swiss Grenadiers

The Swiss Armed Forces are given the following tasks by the Federal Constitution and the Military Act:

The army has the mandate:

a. to contribute to the prevention of wars and the maintenance of peace;
b. defend Switzerland and protect its people;
c. to contribute to peacebuilding in an international context;
d. to support the civil authorities in the event of serious threats to internal security and, in particular, in dealing with disasters at home and abroad, if their resources are no longer sufficient.

Defense is the army's core mission . The army is supposed to secure and defend the territory of Switzerland . To do this, Switzerland relies on the deterrent effect of the Swiss Army's constant readiness to fight. In this context, the term “high entry price” is used, which a potential attacker would have to pay if he attacked Switzerland, occupied the territory or tried to force a march through.

Support to civil authorities forms the bulk of the army's current operations. In the event of natural disasters , the army can deploy disaster relief battalions. This includes in particular the standing order for embassy and consulate security, as well as deployments in favor of major events such as the G8 summit , the World Economic Forum in Davos , the Expo.02 or various sporting events.

Peacebuilding is a very small area in terms of personnel. Switzerland provides the UN with unarmed military observers (officer rank). In addition, there are currently only two armed units abroad: Swisscoy, which has been subordinate to KFOR since 1999 and has up to 220 members of the armed forces, and since autumn 2004 around 25 members of the armed forces as part of the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina .

Swiss Army soldiers have been part of the Neutral Monitoring Commission in Korea (NNSC) since 1953 . With its presence on the inner-Korean demarcation line , the Commission shows that the ceasefire agreement is still valid and must be respected.

The weighting of these orders is subject to changes resulting from the security situation. In June 2007, for example, the National Council decided to double the size of the peacebuilding team. The competence center Swissint is responsible for the planning, provision and management of the peacebuilding missions abroad .

structure

The Swiss Army is divided into the Operations and Training Commands, the Army Staff, the Army's logistics base and the command support base.

A special feature of the Swiss armed forces is the militia system . There are only about five percent professional and contract soldiers . All other members of the army (AdA) are conscripts between the ages of 18 and 34, in staff and special functions up to 50 years of age, who only serve for the duration of the training service of their division.

Because of the militia system, the Réduit established during World War II and the globally unique form of popular armament in which members of the army keep their uniforms and personal weapons at home, the phrase "Switzerland has no army, Switzerland is an army!" .

After the end of the Cold War , the army reforms gradually reduced the number of crews, but the militia principle and general conscription were retained , in contrast to most of the surrounding European countries, which have created purely professional armies . The majority of the Swiss population is in favor of general conscription, as was most recently made clear by the referendum on September 22, 2013.

Army XXI

Structure of the Swiss Armed Forces after completion of the “Further Development of the Armed Forces ” reform in 2018

A major army reform is under way under the name Army XXI , with which the Swiss armed forces are constantly being adapted to changing security policy conditions. The associated new military law was adopted by the people and the cantons after a referendum on May 18, 2003 .

The team strength was reduced from 400,000 ( Army 95 ) to around 200,000 members of the Army. Of these, 120,000 are divided into active units and 80,000 into reserve units.

The 120,000 active members complete three (for soldiers ) or four (for cadres ) weeks of refresher courses (FDT, training service for the troops) every year . As a rule, the reserve units do not offer any repetition courses, but if the security situation changes, they can be obliged to do so by a Federal Council resolution.

Some of the equipment in these reserve units only exists on paper. Although the Swiss Army has a large number of modern and functional material, such as Pz 87 Leopard 2 battle tanks, due to the halving of its inventory, reserve units are only delayed or not equipped at all when new acquisitions are made. Due to the budget constraints, these reserve units are therefore only partially ready for use.

The Swiss Army currently has 134 Leopard 2 battle tanks (of the 380 tanks originally procured, only 134 were preserved in value in 2006) and 483 armored command, reconnaissance, command, communication and genius vehicles. The vehicles are divided between two tank brigades of 10,000 men each.

In view of the fact that Army 61 still had 625,000 army members, the Army 95 and Army XXI reforms represent a drastic reduction in stocks. This development reflects the changed security situation in Europe after the end of the Cold War. This reduction did not come about by lowering the number of recruits, although these are declining due to more thorough selection, but rather by shortening the duration of compulsory service.

The recruit school ( basic training ) no longer takes 15 weeks, but 18 or 23 weeks, depending on the role. In addition, not all members of the army do a complete RS.

With the Army XXI it became possible to complete the entire service period in one go. This service as a so-called full servant lasts 300 days for normal soldiers, 430 days for NCOs, 500 days for senior NCOs and 600 days for subordinate officers . During VBA 2, these full-time servants are mainly used on a subsidiary basis, for example for embassy guarding. After the days of service, the soldiers are released into the reserve. For them the annual WK is no longer applicable, they only have to participate in the compulsory shooting until they are finally discharged from the army at the age of 30 (higher for officers).

Swiss women are now allowed to exercise any function in the Swiss Army. In the past it was not possible for them to join combat units. Since 2007 women have had to perform the same physical work as men (unlike in the Austrian Armed Forces ; see military women's service ). The proportion of women (as of 2012) is 0.6 percent.

The survey ( sampling ) was extended from one to two (but a maximum of three) days to enable better selection. Cadet candidates are already marked at the recruitment stage.

Other changes affect disciplinary sanctions, ranks, badges, length of service and other areas.

structure

Swiss soldiers on military bicycles , Basel Tattoo 2011

The Ordinance on the Army Organization (AO) defines the following structure for the Swiss Army:

  • Army staff (created from the planning staff of the army (PST A), staff CdA and staff Deputy CdA), command staff of the army (FST A) and the army staff units (Astt); Sanitary.
  • Command training ( higher cadre training of the army (HKA) , 5 training associations, personnel of the army, training center of the army);
  • Operations Command (Army, Air Force, Military Intelligence Service, 4 Territorial Divisions, Military Police, SWISSINT Competence Center, Special Forces Command);
  • Army (3 mechanized brigades, competence center for command and control systems);
  • Air Force (Air Force Staff, Air Force Education and Training Brigade, Aviation Medical Institute, Aviation Defense Training Association 33, various military airfields):
  • Logistics base of the army (LBA) ( logistics brigade 1 (Log Br 1) ; 5 army logistics centers; road traffic and shipping office of the army; center for electronic media);
  • Command Support Base (FUB) ( Command Support Brigade (FU Br 41 / SKS) );
  • the troops: battalions (Bat), divisions (abbot), grenadier command (Gren Kdo), airfield commandos (Flpl Kdo), squadrons (Fl Geschw, Dro Geschw);
  • the troop units: companies (Kp), batteries (Bttr, designation of the Kp in the artillery), squadrons (St, designation of the Kp for the flying parts of the Air Force), columns (Kol, designation of the Kp in the Train).

For training purposes, the troops and units are subordinate to a brigade or a teaching association.

The organization of the Swiss Armed Forces with regard to military types, professional formations and branches of service is based on Article 7 of the Federal Assembly Ordinance on the Organization of the Armed Forces (AO). Military branches are defined there as «elements of the army for whose training recruit schools are held. There are no recruiting schools for the service branches ».

The Swiss Army consists of

Compulsory service

All male Swiss citizens living in Switzerland are required to do military service . In principle, dual citizens are required to serve in the military. Swiss citizens who can prove, however, that they are citizens of another country and that they are fulfilling their military obligations there, have performed civilian service or have rendered alternative services, are not required to do military service in Switzerland. On the other hand, they are subject to the obligation to report and the obligation to pay compensation in accordance with the provisions of the compulsory military service . They are called up for military recruitment at the earliest at the age of 18 and at the latest at 25 years of age (mandatory position). For women and Swiss abroad, this is done on a voluntary basis. Around 60 percent pass the military recruitment and are fit for duty and therefore compulsory military service. Unfit for service are written for those who are not fit for service if they are physically or psychologically insufficient for military service. Unfit for duty can be classified as fit for protection duty and serve in civil defense . Around half of those unfit for service are provided by civil protection, whose service time is offset against the compulsory military service levy. Because anyone who does not do military service, with the exception of disabled people, has to pay an annual compulsory military service contribution of three percent of taxable income.

Military service providers who do not want to do military service can apply for admission to alternative civilian service at any time, and those required to provide service after attending the orientation event of the military authority. This constitutionally guaranteed right has only existed since 1992; before that, military service could only be refused (which inevitably led to a conviction). If the application is accepted, civilian service is to be performed, which takes half longer than the military service. If the request is not granted and the person obliged to do military service refuses to serve in the military, a judgment is made by a military court, which can impose a prison sentence.

Alternatives are unarmed service in the army or retirement from the blue route due to unfit for service (see above).

Recruit school

Soldier armed with the Stgw 90. The white adhesive strips on the weapons are used to seal weapons that are aimed at people for training purposes. They are thus marked as uncharged.

The basic training in the Swiss Army is known as the recruit school ( RS for short ). It is completed by all service providers and takes 18 weeks. It takes much longer for special functions, e.g. B. Grenadiers 23 weeks.

The RS is generally divided into three phases. The general basic training lasts three to seven weeks, the function-related basic training two to three weeks and the association training five to eight weeks.

General basic training

In the general basic training (AGA), the recruits are taught basic skills in matters of service , personal weapons, etc. a. the assault rifle 90 , medical service / comrade help , NBC protection , combat technology are taught and their physical condition is strengthened. The general basic training lasts depending on the branch of service from three to seven weeks and will - also depending on the training unit - by time and professional soldiers guided and supported. In principle, however, the principle «militia trains militia» applies.

Function-related basic training

In the function-related basic training (FGA), the recruits are familiarized with the main task of their function. Here z. B. the infantryman with the bazooka , with the light machine gun or with explosives, the gunner to operate his artillery , the medical soldier to rescue and care for the injured, the directional beam and transmission pioneer to set up the directional beam or radio antennas and to configure the devices etc. etc.

The function-related basic training lasts seven to ten weeks, is led by militia cadres and, as in the previous phase, is supported by temporary and professional soldiers . At the end of this phase, the remaining recruits are promoted to soldiers . At the end of the FGA, the militia cadres are promoted to their effective cadre level (Wachtmeister / Hauptfeldweibel / Fourier / Leutnant).

Association training

The recruits who have been promoted to soldiers usually spend the period from the 13th week to the end of the RS (18th week) at a different location than in the previous phase. In these last few weeks it is a matter of performing services at company and battalion level with all soldiers , NCOs and officers . Realistic exercises are in the foreground.

The final week of each RS consists of handing over the infrastructure, training material and vehicles and getting them ready for the next school.

At the end of the recruiting school, the trained soldiers are divided into their units. There they will hold their advanced training courses together with soldiers of all ages.

Forces Training Services (FDT)

Every member of the Swiss Armed Forces (AdA) has to work a certain number of days of work after the recruiting school. They generally do this in annual courses, which are now known as FDT (training service for the troops), but mostly called WK (repetition courses) according to the earlier term . FDT is the generic term for training services for formations (ADF), special services (Beso DL) and additional training services (ZAD). The team and cadre usually complete their refresher courses with their unit, into which they were divided according to the recruit school. Personal postponements are possible, but the annual courses are usually completed with the same unit.

For members of the team (soldier to corporal), the WK takes three weeks according to the Army XXI model . For NCOs, the duration depends on their function and rank. Members of the company cadre ( group leader, Feldweibel, Fourier, platoon leader and the company commander himself) move in up to a week before the start of the regular WK and perform the so-called cadre preliminary course (KVK). Members of the team who are transferred to the staff of a department or to other management support functions can also be called up for the KVK of their superiors. This will be counted towards their compulsory service.

In Formation Training Services (ADF), the focus of training is on repetition and consolidation of general basic training in association training. Hence the name «Association training 2», which is partly supported by the professional military.

In retraining courses (UK; count as ZAD), units can also be retrained on new equipment or vehicles if necessary. In addition, the FDT weeks also serve for subsidiary missions, such as B. for embassy guarding. Often, however, troops are also used to support civil organizations. Examples of this are the Federal Yodelling Festival , the Lauberhorn race or in disaster situations at the request of the cantons and municipalities .

equipment

Personal firearm

Stgw 90
Pocket ammunition

Every soldier is equipped with the assault rifle 90 ( SIG SG550 ) as a personal weapon. The exceptions are the grenadiers of the military police, hospital soldiers, dog handlers, airfield security soldiers and the secretary soldiers of the command support, who receive a pistol 75 ( SIG SAUER P220 ) of 9 mm caliber. Officers and senior non-commissioned officers are also equipped with the 75 pistol. At the KSK , training on the 04/07 assault rifle ( SIG SG553 ) and the 2012/2015 pistol ( GLOCK 17 ) takes place.

Army members can take home their personal weapon between services. From 1952 on, everyone also took so-called pocket ammunition . This was intended to enable the individual soldier to fight his way to his place of entry in the event of a mobilization . In 2007 it was decided to withdraw the pocket ammunition and leave it only for the alarm formations ( above all military security). The personal weapon can still be taken home. Since 2010, military personnel can use their service weapon free in the armory store. Anyone who wants to keep the weapon after the service, requires a weapon acquisition license.

The possibility that retired soldiers can take over their personal weapon in their property has resulted in Switzerland having a high density of firearms. According to the army logistics base, there were a total of 654,562 army weapons at home with the men and women on November 30, 2010.

Abuse of these personal weapons is relatively rare in relation to the large number of weapons available (with an estimated 2.3 to 4.5 million weapons in private hands). The most common use is in the case of suicide. In the period between 1996 and 2005, 3,410 suicides were committed using firearms in Switzerland. According to various studies, over 40 percent of these gun suicides were perpetrated with army weapons. The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) came in the "Fact Sheet Suizide" based on the evaluation of four scientific studies on a value of 49 percent. Shortly afterwards, the FOPH removed the “Suizide fact sheet” from the website. The Federal Statistical Office states on its website that in 2009 only 9 percent of all firearms suicides were perpetrated with army weapons (assault rifles and army pistols). A controversy arose around this information, as the assignment of the weapons to the various categories does not seem conclusive, and the Federal Statistical Office itself also points to problems with the completeness and quality of the information.

In 2004 the Swiss Army procured 20 PGM Hécate II . These are called the precision rifle 04 ( 12.7 mm PGw 04). The LTE J10 F1 8-10x from Scrome is used as a rifle scope. The precision rifle 04 is used by the special forces command . In 2004 the Swiss Army procured 196 TRG-42 rifles. These are called sniper rifles 04 (SSGw 04) and the ammunition is called Gw Pat 04. The 3-12x50 PMII from Schmidt & Bender is used as a telescopic sight. The sniper rifle 04 is used in the support companies of the infantry battalions and by the special forces command. The Panzerfaust 3 is used as an anti-tank weapon . The FN Minimi is used in the Swiss Army as the Light Machine Gun 05.

uniform

The uniform and equipment show a high degree of uniformity across all branches of service and ranks. From the recruits to the corps commanders, all AdA generally wear the same uniform. Only in the case of specialists and in special missions are parts of the uniform adapted to the intended use.

Most soldiers on duty wear camouflage suits ("TAZ 90"), which are trousers and jackets with a camouflage print. Mechanized troops wear a one-piece suit (Combinaison) with a sewn-in harness, which makes it easier to rescue them from vehicles. In addition, there is a hat or helmet (with camouflage cover) or the beret , the color of which depends on the type of military , as headgear .

The name tag as well as the rank and function badges on the combat suit are made of fabric with an olive base color. They are attached with Velcro in the designated places on the collar or on the left chest. The badge , the association badge (usually of the battalion level), is worn on the right sleeve, the badge of the large association on the béret.

The starting uniform 95 ("Ausganger") consists of a light gray shirt combined with a dark gray jacket and light gray trousers with a black seam strip on the side about 3 mm wide. In the case of general staff officers , this strip is about 5 cm wide. Senior staff officers (from “1-star general” / brigadier ) wear two such wide black stripes, one on the left and one on the right of the trouser seam.

Swiss Army tanks

This is a list of tanks (types) that are or have been in service in the Swiss Army or have been evaluated for it.

image tank origin Type Version (s) number Indienst-
position 		Retired Remarks
Light tank RENAULT FT 17.jpg Renault FT FranceFrance France Light tank II 5 1921 1944
Carden-Loyd Mk.VI Strängnäs 08/12/11 (3a) .JPG Vickers Carden Loyd United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom tank I, 33, 34, 35 8th 1931 1948
Strv m33.png Landsverk L-60 SwedenSweden Sweden tank 1 1936 ? test
Armored car 39 'PRAGA'.jpg Tank 39 Czech RepublicCzech Republic Czech Republic tank LTL-H 24 1939 1950
Renault Panzerjäger.jpg Renault R-35 FranceFrance France Light tank 12 1940 ? test
Nahkamofkanone I pic04.JPG Melee cannon 1 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Tank destroyer 1 1944 1947 test
Melee cannon II 'Gustav' Military of Switzerland.jpg Melee cannon 2 Gustav SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Tank destroyer 1 1946 1947 test
Cruiser tank United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom tank RAM Mk.II 2 1947 1968 test
Panzerjäger G 13.jpg Tank destroyer G13 Czech RepublicCzech Republic Czech Republic Tank destroyer G13 158 1947 1973
AMX 13 pic05.JPG AMX-13 FranceFrance France Light tank 200 1954 1980
M47 Patton (Jeff Kubina) .jpg M47 Patton United StatesUnited States United States Medium tank M Pz M47 2 1952 1954 test
Centurion MK III side - Swiss Army - Steel Parade 2006.jpgCenturion Mk VII (Panzer 57) pic03.JPG 55 Centurion tank United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom tank Pz 55 Mk3 100 1955 1991
tank Pz 55 Mk5 100 1955 1991 from South Africa
tank Pz 57 Mk7 100 1957 1991
tank Pz 67 Mk12 12 1975 1991 from Canada
Centurion bergingstank recovery of the Dutch army.jpg Relaxation tank 56 United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom Relaxation tanks Entp Pz 56 30th 1956 1991 19 sold to Sweden in 1991.
Centurion-Bridgelayer-Dutch-latrun-2.jpg Bridge armor 55 Centurion United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom Bridge armor Bru Pz 2 1963 1966 test
Panzer 58.jpg Medium tank 1958 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Medium tank MPz 58 12 1958 1964
Pz 61 Page - Swiss Army - Steel Parade 2006.jpg Tank 61 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Medium tank Pz 61 150 1964 1994
Main battle tank 68-88.JPG Tank 68 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland tank Pz 68
1st series		 170 1971 1999 all modernized to AA3.
tank Pz 68 AA2 50 1974 2003
tank Pz 68/75 170 1978 2003
tank Pz 68 AA5 220 1988 1999
tank Pz 68/88 195 1993 2003
Relaxation tank65.jpg Relaxation tank 65 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Relaxation tanks Entp Pz 65 69 1970 2008
Brü Pz 68-88 - Swiss Army - Steel Parade 2006.jpg Bridge armor 68 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Bridge armor Brü Pz 68 30th 1974 2005
Panzerkanone 68 page.JPG Panzerkanon 68 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland artillery Pz Kan 68 4th 1972 1975 test
Anti-aircraft tank 68 SPAAG pic03-1.JPG 35 mm Flab tank B22L SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland AA B22L 2 1979 1980 test
Zielpanzer68.JPG Target tank 68 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Target tank 10 1974 2007
MOWAG Shark front.JPG Mowag Shark SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland various 3 1981 1981 Test: APC, Tank, AAA, Anti Tank
MOWAG PIRANHA 10x10 front.JPG Mowag Piranha IIIC 10 × 10 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland various IIC 10 × 10 1 1994 1994 test
M109kawest.JPG M109 self-propelled howitzer 66 United StatesUnited States United States howitzer M109 KAWEST 577 1974
Pz 87 Leopard - side - Swiss Army - Steel Parade 2006.jpg Leopard 2 Panzer 87, Pz 87 WE GermanyGermany Germany tank A4 380 1987 Reduced to 224, 134 modernized Pz 87 WE.
Leopard 2 driving school tank GermanyGermany Germany Trainer 3 1988 2002
Relaxation tank at LSMD.jpg Armored recovery vehicle Buffalo GermanyGermany Germany Relaxation tanks BPz3 25th 2004
Pionierpanzerseite.JPG Kodiak (tank) GermanyGermany Germany / Switzerland
SwitzerlandSwitzerland  		pioneer Kodiak 12 2010
Armored Rapid Bridge Leguan.jpg Armored Rapid Bridge Iguana GermanyGermany Germany Bridge armor 12 Existing, surplus Leopard 2s are to serve as the carrier vehicle

Lightly armored vehicles

Active units

image Surname origin number Remarks
M113 Kawest sideways.jpg M113 United StatesUnited States United States In use
M548.JPG M548 United StatesUnited States United States In use
Landquart - Bus Stop Station (8185987058) .jpg Mowag Piranha 8x8 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland In use
Pzj Tow PIRANHA - Swiss Army - Steel Parade 2006.jpg Mowag Piranha IB 6 × 6 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland In use
Mowag Eeagle.jpg Mowag Eagle SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland In use
GMTF 11Pl-2t 6x6 GL DURO IIIP (11089643403) .jpg DURO GMTF SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland 220 in RP 2008
70 in RP 2010
130 in RP 2013
Total 430 		In use
Spz 2000 - Swiss Army - Steel Parade 2006.jpg CV9030CH SwedenSweden Sweden 186 in RP 2000 In use
  • The Swiss Army is currently using a Mowag Eagle IV 6x6 with the car number M21763 for experiments with the "Tactical Reconnaissance System" (TASYS).

Former vehicles

image Surname origin number Remarks
Universal carrier (mortar carrier) 9-08-2008 14-53-48 (2) .JPG Universal carrier United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom Was in use
MOWAG Scorpion SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Tested
Mowag 3M1 Pirate 18.jpg Mowag Pirate infantry fighting vehicle SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Document M113
Saurer Tartaruga.jpg Sour tartaruga SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Document M113
MOWAG dummy tank pic1.JPG Mowag tank dummy SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Was in use
MOWAG Puma Page.JPG Mowag Puma 6 × 6 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Tested
MOWAG Shark front.JPG Mowag Shark SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Tested
MOWAG PIRANHA 10x10 backtop.JPG Mowag Piranha IIIC 10 × 10 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Tested
Trojan oblique JPG Mowag Trojan SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland Canceled after order delay

Air Force vehicles

The list includes aircraft in the true sense of the word and ground-based vehicles for air defense and air surveillance.

The Air Force has u. a. currently about the following aircraft types, helicopters and air defense.

Airplanes:

* Of these, 27 were decommissioned from 2019.

Helicopter as of December 31, 2019:

Air defense as of December 31, 2019:

  • 27 medium-caliber anti-aircraft fire units (M Flab) with Skyguard fire control unit and two Flab cannons 63/90 Oerlikon 35 mm each
  • 96 fire units MANPAD with 288 guided missiles (L Flab Lwf) STINGER and 24 tactical radar ALERT
  • 60 fire units of the guided missile anti-aircraft system (Mob Flab Lwf) RAPIER

The rest

The pocket knife for the Swiss Army, handed in until 2009, with an aluminum instead of plastic cover
Swiss military chocolate and biscuit

In addition, every soldier's equipment includes:

  • the basic carrying unit , a kind of belt with ammunition pockets and a large pocket for
  • the protective mask .
  • small pockets for hearing protection (Pamir), torch, compass etc.
  • a bayonet if the soldier is equipped with an assault rifle.
  • the identification tag («tombstone»)
  • a Swiss Army Knife . Every soldier receives the same model; there is no special officer's knife. Since March 2009 the recruits have been given a new soldier's knife. It is a so-called one-hand knife, i. H. it has a special hole on the top of the blade near the handle so that it can be opened with the thumb. In addition, the handle scales have got an olive green color.

history

Draft for the new federal flags 1840/41
Federal military camp in Wohlen 1820
Cantonal troops of the Canton of Zurich with federal armband 1854
General Guillaume-Henri Dufour and the Federal General staff during the Sonderbund War, 1847
Artillerymen of the Solothurn militias during the battle near Gisikon in 1847
Swiss Army snipers 1862
General Hans Herzog , 1870, with a federal armband
Corps commander Ulrich Wille 1909
Imperial maneuvers, artillery of the 5th division in the maneuvering area on September 4, 1912
Security service: Use of the army against striking workers in Zurich, 1918
The new field gray uniforms with steel helmets introduced after the First World War, worn until the 1960s
Combat suit of the Swiss Army from the 1960s to the 1990s, so-called "four fruit pajamas "
General Henri Guisan's cap . This form of the officer's cap is popularly known as the "stiff hat".

Helvetic and mediation

The first federal army was founded in the Helvetic Republic in 1798 . On the basis of general conscription it was divided into a standing army, the "Helvetic Legion", and a militia army. In addition, the Helvetic Republic was obliged by an alliance treaty with France to provide the republic with around 18,000 men as mercenaries (33 battalions of infantry, 3 squadrons of cavalry, 1 battery). The army was deployed within the country several times, for example in 1802 against rebellious cantons under General Joseph Leonz Andermatt .

The Helvetic Military Organization was repealed by the act of mediation in 1803. The only permanent central authority was now the Federal General Staff , which was supposed to coordinate and manage the contingents provided by the cantons in the event of an exit. In 1805, the first federal service regulations were issued, which were intended to improve cooperation between the cantonal troops through a certain standardization of service operations. Even during the mediation period, Switzerland remained linked to France through an alliance treaty and placed four regiments in French service, which suffered heavy losses, especially in Spain and Russia , during the Napoleonic Wars . During the reign of the Hundred Days , Switzerland took part in the war against France and the federal army under General Niklaus Franz von Bachmann advanced into the Free County. The campaign failed, however, due to the poor organization and coordination of the cantonal troops.

Military regulations from 1817

With the second Peace of Paris in 1815, Swiss neutrality was recognized by the great powers. The federal treaty of 1815, which replaced the mediation act, also did not provide for a federal army, but left military sovereignty with the cantons. In 1817, the Federal Diet decided to create a federal army with joint military regulations. The militia principle was established, only the instructors were professional soldiers. The federal army was set at 32,886 men. The army units were recruited in the cantons, whose contingents were set out in Section 2 of the federal treaty. In principle it was intended that two men should be placed for every 100 inhabitants. The recruits were determined in different ways, mostly through a lottery procedure, whereby the men could buy themselves out or provide a substitute. A general as high commander was only elected by the daily statute in the event of a mobilization of the federal army.

As the first permanent military authority, the Tagsatzung created the Military Supervision Authority in 1817 under the chairmanship of the suburb , which consisted of the Oberstquartiermeister, the Oberstarterillerieinspektor and the Oberstkriegskommissär. When the troops were mobilized, this authority formed the so-called council of war. While initially only the armband with the Swiss cross was set as a binding identification element for the cantonal troops, uniforms and equipment became more standardized over time. In 1840 the federal flag replaced the cantonal standard. The Swiss Federal Military School founded in Thun in 1819 , joint training camps, and associations throughout Switzerland (officers' association, founded in 1833) made an important contribution to the development of Swiss national awareness.

In the first half of the 19th century, the Swiss defense system still relied heavily on the experience and training of officers in foreign armies (→  Foreign Services ). Virtually all major senior militia and professional officers during this period had experience abroad, e.g. Sometimes also in wars. The Federal Constitution of 1848, however, forbade the cantons to conclude military surrenders. that is, Swiss regiments could no longer be formed. The last Swiss regiments were used in the Italian Wars of Unification. After the revision of the military criminal law in 1927, entry into "foreign services" was also forbidden for individuals, although the Federal Council can make exceptions (e.g. for the Swiss Guard). Since then, it has no longer been possible for Swiss people to legally gain military experience abroad, although a few soldiers who returned from the French Foreign Legion , the Spanish Civil War or the Waffen-SS made their war experience usable for training the army. There are sometimes special regulations for citizens who have both Swiss and another citizenship.

When, on November 4, 1847, the Diet decided to forcibly dissolve the Sonderbund , Guillaume Henri Dufour was appointed general of the federal troops, while the Sonderbund troops appointed Johann Ulrich von Salis-Soglio as general of their troops. In the short Sonderbund War , the last war on Swiss soil, Dufour retained the upper hand thanks to his rapid and decisive action, so that after a few fighting the Sonderbund surrendered 26 days after the start of the war. Parts of the Sonderbund cantons were briefly occupied by around 16,000 men from the liberal cantons. The war costs of around six million francs had to be borne by the Sonderbund cantons. In 1848 the liberal majority rejected an alliance request from King Karl Albert of Sardinia-Piedmont to take part in the war against the conservative Austrian Empire in Lombardy with an auxiliary army of around 50,000 men . So the Sonderbund War was the last military deployment of the Swiss Army.

Military organization 1850

The federal constitution of 1848 and the military organization of 1850 newly established general conscription and established a certain centralization of the military system. At the same time, the cantons retained important competencies in the defense sector. The military supervisory authority was replaced by the military department and the federal government took over the entire higher education of officers and non-commissioned officers as well as the training of all branches of arms except the infantry, which, however, had the largest inventory. The cantons still had to procure and pay for their soldiers' equipment. Even after 1848, in contravention of the Federal Constitution, recruitment took place through a quota, which was slightly increased compared to 1815, so that the total number of federal troops now amounted to around 100,000 men. Furthermore, the recruitment remained differently regulated in the cantons. In 1862 the federal government founded the Federal Shooting School as another central institution, which was located in Walenstadt in 1875 . In 1857 the position of chief instructor of the infantry was created, who headed the federal staff. In 1865 the Federal Office of Staff was set up. After the border occupation of 1870/71 on the occasion of the Franco-German War , Federal Councilor Emil Welti tried to bring about a complete centralization of the defense system in view of the weakness of the previous organizational form, but his project failed in the referendum in 1872 (→  Switzerland in the Franco-German War ).

Military organization in 1874 and 1907

The revision of the Federal Constitution of 1874 nevertheless brought about a further centralization of the military system while maintaining the militia system. The federal government now had sole authority to enact laws in the military sector, but implementation remained with the cantons. The contingent system was abolished, but infantry and cavalry remained divided into cantonal troops. The new military organization enforced general conscription and ended the practice of placement quotas. Fitness alone now decided on the recruitment of men in the regional divisions. As a result, the army rose to around 215,000 men. However, the military system remained a division of labor and expenditure between the Confederation and the cantons. While military instruction was centralized and armament and equipment of the army became a federal matter, the cantons procured clothes and personal equipment for their soldiers and kept the corps material of the cantonal troops. The army was now divided into eight divisions or 16 brigades or 32 regiments in peacetime. After an extended recruiting school with different duration depending on the type of weapon, repeat courses were held every two years. Financing the army was initially problematic in view of the new federal tasks and was only secured from 1878 through the introduction of a military compulsory replacement tax. Further stages in the modernization of the defense system were the organization of the Landsturm in 1886 and the division of the army into four corps in 1891.

In view of the worldwide military developments, tensions arose in Switzerland at the end of the 19th century within the officer corps and politics over the further development of the army based on the Prussian model. The focus was on professionalising the officer corps and strengthening the education of citizens to become soldiers through drill and discipline. The opponents complained about the undemocratic "Verpreussung" of the army and "soldier drag" in the training. However, the further centralization of the defense system failed again in the referendum in 1895 and the revised military organization of 1907 and the troop order of 1911 were fiercely opposed by the workers' parties, especially because of the increasing use of the army against strikers. Under pressure from the reform-oriented forces, the reforms essentially resulted in an extension of the recruits' and cadre schools and the refresher courses. The cantons continued to provide the companies and battalions of the infantry and the squadrons of the dragoons and appointed their officers. The reorganization of the structure of the army now provided for three army corps with a total of six divisions or 18 brigades or 36 regiments. From the brigade level, the militia principle applied to the officers.

First World War

In 1914, the Swiss "Flugwaffe" and motor vehicle service were improvised under the command of General Ulrich Wille on the occasion of the occupation of the border during World War I. During the war there were also tensions between the army and the workers, especially on the occasion of the national strike in 1918.

Between the wars and the Second World War

In the interwar period , the Swiss army was weakened by insufficient financial resources, its cumbersome organization and political battles between the bourgeois parties and the workers' parties. Only after the deterioration of the international situation in 1936 could these rifts be overcome and the new armament and modernization of the army started. The troop organization of 1938 brought a further extension of the training times and a changed structure. The three army corps were given operational tasks, three independent mountain brigades were formed, eight border brigades and motorized units. Switzerland also invested heavily in permanent fortifications (→  List of fortresses in Switzerland ). On the basis of the three fortresses St-Maurice , Gotthard and Sargans , General Henri Guisan designed the Swiss Réduit as a new defense strategy during the Second World War . In contrast to earlier army deployments on the occasion of wars in neighboring countries of Switzerland, from 1939 to 1945 there was no longer talk of “border occupation” but of “ active service ”.

Post War and Army 61

After the Second World War, the Swiss army was massively upgraded, and strong forces within the army even tried to equip the air force with nuclear weapons . As a further development of Reduit strategy, the Swiss army now relied on deterrence (dissuasion). The troop organization of 1961 ("Army 61") created new army units that were adapted to the operational areas (border divisions, field divisions, mechanized divisions, mountain divisions, border brigades, fortress brigades, reduit brigades). Each three divisions resulted in a field army corps and a mountain army corps. The new operational doctrine of the army, the troop leadership in 1969, provided for a comprehensive all-round defense in the event of war through a combination of defense and counterattack, a compromise between static spatial defense and mobile warfare. The number of the militia army rose to 880,000 men due to the extension of the service period. During the Cold War , the Swiss Army was equipped with state-of-the-art weapons systems (e.g. Bloodhound anti- aircraft guided missiles ) with considerable financial resources . The fortress building activity was also continued. Cost overruns in the procurement of army equipment repeatedly led to political affairs, such as B. the Mirage affair . In addition, there was a renewed «democratization» of the army in the post-war period, turning away from Prussian methods such as drill, step, etc. and the introduction of simplified manners. The uniforms were also adapted to the fashionable and military developments. In 1972 Parliament was the last country in Europe to decide to abolish cavalry .

Army 95 and Army XXI

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 heralded the end of intellectual national defense . A debate began within the army, politics and the public about the orders of the army, as well as the necessary armament and manpower. The approximately 36 percent yes-votes for the army abolition initiative in the referendum of November 26, 1989 strengthened the reform-oriented forces in the army. The "Security Policy Report 1990" established peacebuilding and international cooperation as a new task alongside the traditional army tasks. The army also tried to justify its existence by giving priority to domestic assistance services in the event of disasters. The « Army 95 », introduced on this basis as a compromise between reformers and guardians, set the age limit for conscription at the age of 42 and reduced the army to 400,000 men. By shortening the length of service, the army's grip on the male population eased somewhat. The army adapted its organization to changed tactical conditions and developed a new operational doctrine which, in the event of a war, provided for dynamic instead of comprehensive all-round defense and for this purpose initiated a stronger mechanization of the army. With the Army in 95 the mail pigeon service was given up.

Numerous weaknesses in Army 95 and the lack of political willingness to continue to finance such a large army led to another reform step at the end of the 1990s, which was implemented in the so-called Army XXI after fierce resistance within the army and from conservative political circles . The basis for this was the "Security Policy Report 2000", which stated, among other things, that Switzerland's security can only be guaranteed through international cooperation. From 1989 to 2016, the militia army personnel were disarmed from 625,000 to 148,250 men, the main battle tanks from 860 to 134, the mechanized artillery pieces from 473 to 133 and the combat aircraft from 272 to 86. In 2003 the cycling troops were abolished. The Military Women's Service MFD (formerly: Frauenhilfsdienst FHD) existed until 2005. With the Army Reform XXI, women were given access to all functions. The same length of service and training allowed the same personal armament as the men and the participation in foreign missions with Swisscoy . An important difference remained that the women continue to do voluntary military service and thus general conscription does not apply to them even in the event of a defense .

The development of the Army (WEA) is after the Army 95 and Army XXI another reorganization of the Swiss army, which was initiated with the security policy report of 23 June 2010 and the Army report dated 1 October of 2010. This will reduce the target number of soldiers to 100,000 or 20,000 combat troops. On March 18, 2016, the two councils passed the legal basis for the WEA, including the military law.

Because of COVID-19 pandemic of decided Bundesrat in March 2020 that up to 8,000 members of the Swiss army in the assistance service can be mobilized to support the civil authorities. This is the largest mobilization of Swiss Army troops since the Second World War. (→  COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland )

Mobilizations

Since 1907, the Federal Assembly has been responsible for ordering active service and the mobilization of parts or the entire army for active service. The Federal Council can only order active service in urgent cases. If the contingent exceeds 4,000 members of the army or lasts longer than three weeks, the Federal Assembly must be convened immediately, which will decide whether to maintain active service.

The rank and designation of general (four-star general) in the Swiss Army is only given in the event of a war mobilization. The United Federal Assembly elects a general as commander-in-chief of the army (→ List of Swiss Generals ) from among the members of the army (mostly corps commanders, in principle an ordinary soldier can also be elected  ). The Federal Council , however, remains the highest executive and executive authority after the election of the General.

A total of four general mobilizations (GMob; also war mobilization; KMob) took place to protect the integrity and neutrality of Switzerland. The first general mobilization was necessary in 1856 in the Neuchâtel trade due to a direct threat from Prussia . The second general mobilization took place on the occasion of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 under the leadership of General Hans Herzog . As a reaction to the outbreak of the First World War and to prevent a German or French march through Switzerland, the United Federal Assembly decided on August 3, 1914 to renew the general mobilization of the army and elected the German-friendly Oberstkorpsommandant Ulrich Wille as commander in chief and general, see general election of August 3, 1914 . The fourth general mobilization of the army took place on September 1, 1939 in response to the German invasion of Poland . The French-speaking western Switzerland Henri Guisan was elected general and developed during the war years to the main unifying figure of the Axis powers included Confederation.

The Swiss Army was involved in aerial battles with the German Air Force as well as with the US Air Force during World War II , as Switzerland did not want to allow American bombers to fly over from Italy to Germany. Otherwise, the modern Swiss federal state has not been confronted with open attacks by hostile forces terrestrially on its own territory since it was founded in 1848 .

Security service operations in the interior of the country

The Swiss army has repeatedly been used to crush strikes and demonstrations in Switzerland. The best known missions of this type were:

Controversies about the Swiss Army

Post War and Cold War

As early as the late 1950s, opposition to the then planned armament of the Swiss army with nuclear weapons was formed . An initiative from pacifist circles was rejected by the people and the cantons in 1962, and another initiative by the Swiss Social Democratic Party in 1963. The option of a nuclear armament was finally given up only in 1976 with the approval of the Council of States to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty .

At the same time, the Mirage affair caused quite a stir. Due to major cost overruns in the procurement of the Mirage fighter aircraft, the army was forced to reduce the order, which called the entire concept of Army 61 into question. A direct consequence of the Mirage affair was the outsourcing of the war technology department from the army to a departmental group for armaments services (from 1994 armaments group , since 2004 armasuisse ). There were also cost overruns and public controversy with subsequent acquisitions, for example in the case of the Leopard 2 tanks and the new trucks from the Saurer company .

During the Cold War , it was often questioned whether the army could do anything in the event of an expected nuclear war .

Since 1982 the Group Switzerland Without Armed Forces (GSoA) has been pursuing the goal of abolishing the Swiss army. Following their popular initiatives , the Swiss have already been able to vote twice on the dissolution of the army. In the first vote in 1989, the GSoA achieved a respectable success with 35.6 percent yes votes, which contributed significantly to a rethink within the army leadership. After the reform of Army 95 and the terrorist attacks in New York , the result of the second referendum in 2001 to abolish the army was a clear vote in favor of keeping the army with only 23.2 percent yes votes.

After the cold war

When, in the spring of 1992, both chambers of parliament approved the procurement of 34 F / A-18 combat aircraft , the GSoA, according to its own information, managed to collect almost 500,000 signatures within 32 days for an initiative against this project. Army circles also fought this second GSoA initiative. It was called the army abolition in installments . The second GSoA initiative was rejected on June 6, 1993, but 42.8% of those who voted were in favor of abandoning the aircraft.

Deployments of the Swiss Army abroad are controversial both on the civil and on the left. The right argues with the neutrality of Switzerland, the left with a fundamental pacifism. In 2001, the GSoA and the political association Action for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland represented the no slogan in the referendum vote on the possible arming of troops deployed abroad. The people accepted the Federal Council's proposal with 51 percent yes votes.

Since there has been no direct military threat to Switzerland since the end of the Cold War, it is repeatedly questioned whether Switzerland needs an armed force at all.

Regularly gives military justice open to discussion. Sometimes high, supposedly growing incapacity rates (40% of conscripts according to a report on Tages-Anzeiger -Online from September 12, 2006) are used as arguments. One reason for this may be that, due to the new recruitment process that has been in use since 2004, a higher proportion is declared unfit for military service before the recruiting school (2006: 65%, compared to 2001/2002: 80%). The conclusion that is often drawn from this, that fitness is on the decline, is not correct if the values ​​are included after the recruit school. Here the values ​​are stable (2006: 60%, compared to 2001/2002: 58%). Taking into account those eligible for civil protection (2006: 16%), a good three quarters of a year are still fit for service.

Another controversy concerns military personnel's personal weaponry. After several cases of abuse in the media, left-wing national councils demanded in 2006 that the Weapons Law revision banned military personnel from keeping their personal service weapons at home. The bourgeois majority rejected this motion on the grounds that such a measure would impair the mandate of the army. The canton of Geneva then, in a decision not agreed with the DDPS, allowed the voluntary storage of the orderly weapon in the cantonal armory. Since autumn 2007, based on a compromise in parliament, pocket ammunition has only been given to members of special formations who can be mobilized within hours.

In 2009, the brigadier Hans-Peter Wüthrich was dismissed from his position on December 31, 2009 at the age of 61 after more than 33 years as a career officer and senior staff officer by resolution of the entire Federal Council. Then Mr. Wüthrich founded the company "Hans-Peter Wüthrich Education GmbH" (offers coaching, leadership training, advice and mediation), one of his customers was the Swiss Army. The remuneration for this contract could not exceed 45,000 francs. The consulting mandate had not been advertised and was given to Mr Wüthrich as a direct mandate. Ex- Swisscom CEO Jens Alder receives 200,000 francs as head of the IT steering committee. Among other things, an IT system supplied by SAP is to be made ready for use in warfare. The volume of external consultants from Capgemini , BearingPoint , SAP, Abilita and NOVO Business Consultants amounts to over 100 million Swiss francs for 2010.

Annual IT costs are to be reduced by CHF 20 million by 2012, by CHF 40 million by 2013 and by CHF 60 million by 2014.

Misfortunes, accidents and affairs

  • The bunker trial was the legal processing of a building scandal by the Swiss army in the middle of the 20th century. Serious construction defects were found in bunker systems from the Second World War in 1946.
  • On December 19, 1947 at 11:34 p.m., a federal ammunition magazine exploded in Mitholz. Nine people were killed and many buildings were destroyed, including the BLS - Station . The damage totaled 100 million francs (→  Mitholz explosion disaster ). On February 25, 2020, the VBS announced that the around 170 residents of Mitholz would have to leave their home for at least 10 years so that the ammunition still stored in the mountain can be cleared. The actual eviction should begin in 2031. The costs will amount to over 1 billion francs.
  • The Mirage affair was a political affair at the beginning of the 1960s, which, based on the cost overruns in the procurement of a combat aircraft, had far-reaching consequences for Swiss defense policy.

See also

Portal: Swiss Army  - Overview of Wikipedia content on the Swiss Army

literature

  • Hans Senn: Army. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
  • Ernst Willi, Fritz Müller: Mobilization. The mobilizations of the Swiss Army since 1792 . Catalog for the exhibition in the Museum im Zeughaus , Schaffhausen from May 10, 2014 to the end of 2015. Museum im Zeughaus (publisher), Schaffhausen 2014.

Web links

Commons : Swiss Army  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Army in Numbers. Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport, accessed on April 13, 2020 .
  2. ↑ compulsory service. Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport | Swiss Army |, accessed on February 7, 2019 .
  3. ^ "Military Switzerland" , CIA World Factbook, December 4, 2008, accessed December 15, 2008.
  4. ↑ The Army in Numbers. Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport, accessed on April 13, 2020 .
  5. ↑ The Army in Numbers. Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport, accessed on August 27, 2019 .
  6. ↑ gross domestic product. Federal Statistical Office, accessed on August 27, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Article 58 Swiss Federal Constitution
  8. ↑ Quoted according to the service regulations 04
  9. ↑ a b c Order of the Army ( Memento of the original from May 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vtg.admin.ch
  10. ^ Results of the referendum of September 22, 2013 ( Memento of March 6, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
  11. ↑ Sale of surplus Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Canada. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013 ; accessed on March 30, 2014 .
  12. ↑ The same fitness assessment for men and women. Swiss Army, 2007, archived from the original on January 28, 2016 ; Retrieved on December 3, 2011 (TFR = Test Fitness Recruiting): "Since women in all branches of service have to meet the same minimum physical requirements as men, they are now also assessed the same way at TFR."
  13. ↑ Anna Chudozilov: Collecting ECTS points in the military . In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung . September 4, 2012 ( online [accessed March 30, 2014]).
  14. ↑ Art. 6 AO
  15. ↑ Art. 7 AO
  16. ↑ dual citizens. Retrieved January 19, 2020 .
  17. ↑ Compulsory military service levy in Switzerland - www.ch.ch. Retrieved January 19, 2020 .
  18. ↑ compulsory service. Retrieved January 19, 2020 .
  19. ↑ Deposit weapons in the armory free of charge from 2010 . In: NZZ November 27, 2009.
  20. ↑ Overview of weapons stocks (loaned or transferred into private ownership), information on the website of the Armed Forces logistics base (LBA): Pistole 49 ( Memento of the original from October 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (Status: Jan. 31, 2007: 1,360 + 105,620 units), Pistole 75 ( Memento from October 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (Status: Nov. 30, 2010: 26,890 + 92,258 + 1 '187 pieces), Sturmgewehr 90 ( Memento from July 21, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Status: 30 Nov. 2010: 181'872 + 23'829 + 17'738 + 28'654 pieces), Sturmgewehr 57 ( Memento des Originals from July 21, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (As of November 30, 2010: 4,983 + 168,805 + 1,366 units), total: 654,562 units. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lba.admin.ch @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lba.admin.ch
  21. ↑ Domestic violence and firearm as a means of crime . ( Memento of the original from August 25, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF) Information sheet from the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), October 11, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ebg.admin.ch
  22. ↑ Overview of misuse of army weapons outside of military service (PDF) VBS, Oberauditorat, as of June 26, 2006, accessed on January 11, 2011 from the address www.schutz-vor-waffengewalt.ch/fileadmin/pdf/Missusp_von_Armeewaffen_1998-2002.pdf, no longer available on September 24, 2011.
  23. ↑ Final report of the Ordnance Weapons Working Group ( Memento from May 24, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 443 kB) Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS, November 20, 2008, page 29 ff.
  24. ↑ Sad record: suicide with firearms . In: swissinfo.ch , February 8, 2010.
  25. ↑ Thomas Reisch: Switzerland in the happy blind flight . (PDF) In: Schweizerische Ärztezeitung , 2011, 92, p. 1/2.
  26. ↑ a b Missing shot by statisticians . 20 minutes online, February 1, 2011.
  27. ↑ Firearms - Suicides by procedure and weapon type , 2009 ( Memento from November 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel file) Document of the Federal Statistical Office, database status: February 9, 2010 (see also copy in the article by 20M Minuten online from February 1, 2011)
  28. ↑ Federal offices cause confusion about army weapon suicides . In: Tages-Anzeiger , February 1, 2011.
  29. ↑ adapted devices firearm . ( Memento of the original from November 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF) Federal Statistical Office, December 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bfs.admin.ch
  30. ↑ Urs Heller: The tanks of the Swiss Army from 1920 to 2008.
  31. ↑ Jane's Information Group : Switzerland orders Leguan armored bridge layers ( Memento of the original from January 19, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English), accessed January 19, 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.janes.com
  32. ↑ vbs.admin.ch ( Memento of the original from December 19, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF) accessed on June 6, 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vbs.admin.ch
  33. ↑ vbs.admin.ch ( Memento of the original from December 19, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF) accessed on June 6, 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vbs.admin.ch
  34. ↑ vbs.admin.ch ( Memento of the original from March 23, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF) accessed on June 6, 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vbs.admin.ch
  35. ↑ ar.admin.ch ( Memento of the original from August 19, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed June 6, 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ar.admin.ch
  36. ↑ a b c The army in numbers . Swiss Armed Forces. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  37. ↑ Dual Citizens ( Memento of January 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive ), information page on the Swiss Armed Forces website, accessed on April 10, 2013.
  38. ↑ Marc Tribelhorn: Switzerland dreamed of its own atomic bomb until 1988 In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung of July 23, 2018
  39. ↑ Security Policy Report 1990 - «Swiss Security Policy in Transition».  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.ssn.ethz.ch  
  40. ↑ Security Policy Report 2000 - «Security through Cooperation». ( Memento of the original from March 17, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 18 kB) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vbs.admin.ch
  41. ↑ Strategic Studies: Disarmament since 1989
  42. ↑ admin.ch: Further development of the army
  43. ↑ The Federal Council: Coronavirus - Federal Council declares the "extraordinary situation" and tightened the measures of March 17, 2020
  44. ↑ Largest troop contingent for an emergency since the Second World War In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung of March 17, 2020
  45. ↑ Michel Liechti, Giovanni Arcudi, Marisa Vonlanthen: Frontières entre police et armée , Cahier du GIPRI, n ° 2, 2004.
  46. ↑ A short history of the Swiss fighter planes
  47. ↑ Niklaus Ramseyer : The F / A-18 gives Ueli Maurer courage. In: Tages-Anzeiger from September 16, 2013.
  48. ↑ Referendum of 06.06.1993. Template no. 393. In: admin.ch , as of July 7, 2017.
  49. ↑ Tages-Anzeiger Online, September 12, 2006 , accessed on March 19, 2007.
  50. ↑ Army Updates 1/2007  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF)@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.he.admin.ch  
  51. ↑ Gun in the cupboard . Dossier Tages-Anzeiger Online, accessed on May 4, 2007.
  52. ↑ Geneva allows army weapons to be stored in the armory
  53. ↑ That's why the brigadier got consultant wages (Blick, 2010)
  54. ↑ VBS boss Maurer defends high consultancy fees . In: NZZ , 2010.
  55. ^ The SVP demands transparency from Ueli Maurer . In: Berner Zeitung , 2010.
  56. ↑ a b c d e f Contracts awarded 382883 (Simap.ch, 2009)
  57. ↑ Army has to save on IT . news.ch, April 4, 2011, accessed on September 14, 2011.
  58. ↑ Valentin Giterman: On the explosions of Dailly and Blausee-Mitholz
  59. ↑ Mayor Eduard Kleinjenni reports on the explosion in Mitholz from 19./20. December 1947
  60. ↑ Mitholz ammunition store: The whole village has to move for 10 years , SRF, February 25, 2020.
  61. ↑ Because of spilled ammunition: The population of Mitholz should move away for ten years In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung of February 25, 2020
  62. ↑ Accident balance: These Swiss fighter jets had even more accidents than the F / A-18. In the Aargauer Zeitung of August 31, 2016
  63. ↑ The worst accidents in the Swiss Air Force in recent years. In: Aargauer Zeitung from August 31, 2016
  64. ↑ «Broken Wings» All accidents involving the Swiss Air Force (until 2013) Peter Brotschi German Format: 16 × 23 cm. Volume: 368 pages, bound. B / w and color photos throughout, ISBN 978-3-280-06126-8
  65. ↑ Two dead in an army helicopter crash in Switzerland. In: Spiegel Online. September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016 .
  66. ↑ Erich Aschwanden: It was supposed to be an advertising campaign, but then a flight in the Schwyz mountains 80 years ago turned into the greatest disaster in the history of the Swiss Air Force In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung of August 27, 2018