The Other Alpine Redoubt

Strange Maps today has a great post about the Swiss National Redoubt and general plans to defend against a German invasion during WWII.

The Swiss get a lot of abuse about their role in the war. Particularly their policy of not opening bank accounts that most likely hold Nazi loot or the abandoned savings of Jewish victims of the Holocaust is galling to many.

But take a look at these plans to sacrifice two-thirds of their country, including all the major cities and most of the arable land in order hold out against German invasion. Swiss leaders may have been 'bankers to the Nazis' but they were also under a very real threat.

It also seems like their carefully laid plans for an Alpine Redoubt inspired propaganda in Germany and worries in Allied High Command that the Nazi's might follow suit in the mountains near Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest' home in Berchtesgaden.