Does switzerland have an army?

• eurofighter

  15 Jul 04, 17:05

  Originally posted by spencer99:

  Brunei got some copters.

  UH-60s and if i am not wrong they do have CN-235 too.
• SingaporeMacross

  15 Jul 04, 23:15

  The last I heard was, Switzerland joined the UN in 2000 and something....
• zenden9

  15 Jul 04, 23:22

  Originally posted by cutebug:

  Brunei has 24 British Hawk. Capable of anti air, land and sea.

  Who operate them? Foreign Talent? They short of man-power even they got the money.
• loudmonkey

  16 Jul 04, 00:07

  Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:

  The last I heard was, Switzerland joined the UN in 2000 and something....

  since 10 sep 2002.
  
  but before that they were already in several UN agancies like UNESCO and WHO, but just resisted full membership, cos they thought by becoming full members, their neutrailty would be compromised.
  
  I dont think they would be looking at joining the EU for a long long time.
• Ponders

  16 Jul 04, 00:38

  Just to add.
  
  The structure of Swiss Law/Government is that their Cantons (very crudely equivalent like that of US states) are highly independant.
  
  Their central government do not have the legal power to declare war or to wage war. Any "major" decision the government wishes to take have to go thru a referendum by the people.
  
  This was last demonstrated during the referendum on whether Switzerland should finally join in UN (also note Switzerland was observer member before this).
  
  that is to also say ah, if other countries want to invade, they need to wait for Swiss to conduct a referendum to whether Swiss should fight back. (just being cocky and joking).
  
  And yes... there is a Swiss Army and there is Swiss Armed Forces (SAF). hahHAHAHAH.
  
  Anyway... the Swiss just adopt a strict policy of neutrality. Historically they actually shot down Nazi planes when they flew past Swiss Airspace (the Nazis thought their sheer size could make the Swiss quiet). Likewise, they also forced US planes to land during WW2 when they too violated the airspace.
  
• sbst275

  16 Jul 04, 14:38

  Originally posted by Ponders:

  Just to add.
  
  The structure of Swiss Law/Government is that their Cantons (very crudely equivalent like that of US states) are highly independant.
  
  Their central government do not have the legal power to declare war or to wage war. Any "major" decision the government wishes to take have to go thru a referendum by the people.
  
  This was last demonstrated during the referendum on whether Switzerland should finally join in UN (also note Switzerland was observer member before this).
  
  that is to also say ah, if other countries want to invade, they need to wait for Swiss to conduct a referendum to whether Swiss should fight back. (just being cocky and joking).
  
  And yes... there is a Swiss Army and there is Swiss Armed Forces (SAF). hahHAHAHAH.
  
  Anyway... the Swiss just adopt a strict policy of neutrality. Historically they actually shot down Nazi planes when they flew past Swiss Airspace (the Nazis thought their sheer size could make the Swiss quiet). Likewise, they also forced US planes to land during WW2 when they too violated the airspace.
  

  That is the full info on Swiss neutrality.
• |-|05|

  17 Jul 04, 01:21

  Originally posted by sbst275:

  Switzerland is a neutral country in this sense
  
  1) Never a member on EU or other organisation
  2) It remains neutral to any war (I.e WW II)
  
  However, it has created a armed forces as a detterance.
  
  Such neutality helps Swiss as it means it will not be involoved in any war
  
  (Sources from Sec 3 Social Studies Textbook Chpt 4, pg 84/ 85
  

  they joined the UN a few years ago
• loudmonkey

  17 Jul 04, 01:53

  Originally posted by sbst275:

  That is the full info on Swiss neutrality.

  Just to add that being neutral does not mean that the swiss did not suffer from the ravages of war, towards the end of the war Allied planes bombed the canton of Schaffhausen (famous for the Rheinfalls).
  
  Schaffhausen is the only canton in Switzerland to have experienced
  bombing during the Second World War. On April 1, 1944 nearly 100 citizens
  of the town of Schaffhausen were accidentally killed by Allied bombers
  who mistook the area as a German target. Less than one year later, on
  February 22, 1945, 16 people in Schaffhausen and nine in Stein-am-Rein
  were also killed in a similar bombing expedition. Some historians have
  theorized that the bombings were not mistakes, and were in response to
  Schaffhausen munitions factories supplying arms to the nearby Nazis.
  This theory, however, has yet to be proven, and records are still sealed regarding these events.
  
  
• Unsung_Hero

  17 Jul 04, 06:01

  Very informative LoudMonkey.
  
  My grandfather was on the German border in WWII defending Switzerland from the Nazi's and was an observer to the bombs that were dropped by Allied forces in Swiss territory. The Swiss could have scrambled squadrons to shoot down the Allied planes in retaliation but choose to suffer the loss of citizens instead; they did not view the Allies with hostile intent.
  
  Having a choice to serve in either the Swiss Army or the SAF, I chose the latter, but I admire their system and the dedication of most of the militia.
  
• Sardaukar

  18 Jul 04, 10:01

  Ah,a fellow mixed blooder.Welcome unsung-hero.
  
  good to have a fellow mixed-blooder in these forums,to represent the eurasians and "others" in the military nuts community.Singaporean Chinese aren't the only ones defending Singapore,despite what the govt and their army ads as well as their ethnic policies may have you think.(btw,I can say whatever the hell I want abt Chinese and criticise them as I am half-Chinese,so have the right to criticise my own ppl)
  
  We should adopt a similar system to the Swiss in allowing our reservists to take home their weapons and keep it under lock-and-key,perhaps send a group of army officers there to study the feasibility of implementing it in Singapore.It would definitely inculcate more martial pride in our citizens,though imagine a 30 year old reservist having to explain to his wife why he is keeping a loaded gun in the closet.
  
  btw,what is the stance on live rounds in the hands of NSmen by the SAF?I hear from friends that after training with live rounds,MPs come around with sniffer dogs to check for live rounds.
  
  
• |-|05|

  19 Jul 04, 14:36

  Originally posted by Sardaukar:

  We should adopt a similar system to the Swiss in allowing our reservists to take home their weapons and keep it under lock-and-key,perhaps send a group of army officers there to study the feasibility of implementing it in Singapore.It would definitely inculcate more martial pride in our citizens,though imagine a 30 year old reservist having to explain to his wife why he is keeping a loaded gun in the closet.
  
  btw,what is the stance on live rounds in the hands of NSmen by the SAF?I hear from friends that after training with live rounds,MPs come around with sniffer dogs to check for live rounds.
  
  

  Impossible...we have not grown in social mindedess(sic) or responsibility to be able to take home weapons.Only 2 countries in the world i know off allow they're soldiers to do that..the Swiss and the Israelis..the Swiss due to culture and Israelis due to the on going war and a NEED.
  Infact it was only 10 odd years ago that our government allowed our reservist to bring home their SBO and stuff...During my father's time only got uniform,boots and gloves.Dont think go helmet also haha not sure about that.