AHC: Break Swiss neutrality

I had this thought the other day.

What would the consequences be of any nation violating Swiss neutrality, and when would be the best time to do so? Now, I realize that that an invasion would require a considerable lack of foresight, but I'd be interested to know how it could affect Europe and the world.

Consequently, the challenge is this:
Either have a foreign power break Swiss neutrality by means of invasion or otherwise and explain the consequences or have the Swiss themselves do it. Both is good, also.

This may help =
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=175135
 
Following the swift destruction of France in 1940, Hitler and Mussolini decide to partition Switzerland. Using Nazi Mobsters like Franz Burri to provoke an incident, the Wehrmacht quickly moves into the German cantons of the North.


There is a dedicated element of Swiss resistance, but Hitler isn't interested in punishing the Swiss, so much as simply taking their considerable wealth and using it to finance his war machine. While Swiss patriots hide in the mountains until the end of the war, Germany and Italy have flat out annexed large portions of the country.


Post WWII, the Allies are torn on what to do about Switzerland. Rumors of Swiss support of Nazi Germany has some evidence in fact; indeed, Franz Burri was made Gauleiter of German Switzerland. As a result of these things, the Swiss come to the conclusion that going it alone will not necessarily avoid war.


While the Swiss will not join in NATO military adventures around the world, they do agree to commit to the Defense of Western Europe outside their borders, and a Swiss division is stationed in Bavaria. They are, therefore, non-neutral in the cold war.
 
World War II seems to be the best time to break Swiss Neutrality in the 20th century barring some post WWIII scenario. The trick would be having Hitler be stupid enough to order an invasion. Let's say that in the heady days of June 1940, the Swiss Air Force continues to vigourously defend it's airspace, shooting down German aircraft even after Hitler makes his threats that caused them to back down in OTL. With the Swiss continuing to be a thorn in his side, Hitler decides to launch Operation Tannenbaum after the armistice is reached with France to eliminate the "pimple on the face of Europe" all the while thinking that the completely surrounded Swiss will fall apart in short order.

Concurrent campaigns in Switzerland and Britain would certainly have knock on effects on each other, especially after the Swiss put up more of a fight. I could see Hitler shifting his emphasis to Switzerland after the BoB begins to turn south.

That being said, as bloody as Operation Tannenbaum will be, I'm having a hard time seeing the Swiss hold out long term in their Reduit. Eventually the Germans might just be able to starve them out, particularly if they show that they're willing to take casualties.

Though an occupied Switzerland might not change the course of the war a whole lot, I'd imagine that the post war situation would be substantially different...That being said, Hitler's attack on such a blatantly neutral country would be excellent fodder for FDR as he's trying to outmaneuver isolationists in Congress. Perhaps such a scenario could lead to the US deciding that they need to begin preparing "like the war began yesterday" resulting in a far more prepared USA in WWII, thus shortening the war.

One interesting knock on effect will be Jewish refugees in this scenario who will be forced to try to flee from Switzerland to Vichy France/Italy. Also without the safe haven of Switzerland, I'd imagine the death toll for TTL's Holocaust might be higher given that a major avenue for escape is now gone.
 
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