Swiss Nuclear Weapons-A history

Switzerland today is perhaps best known for it's pacifism, banking, and knives. So many, especially outside of diplomatic and alternate history circles, would be suprised to hear that it had a nuclear weapons program. However, such a program did exist, as will be shown below.

Switzerland first formed a commitee to evaluate the potential of nuclear weapons in 1946, in the SKA. Over the years, the program would be reevaluated, go through several starts and stops, and eventually be shut down. However, there is little doubt that nuclear weapons were a serious option for Switzerland. At some point after the British test in 1952, Swiss officials seriously considered creating nuclear weapons, hinging on the condition that nuclear proliferation took off. In 1958, the Swiss general staff released a statement which included the following:

In agreement with our centuries-old tradition of defensive fortification, the Federal Council of Ministers is therefore of the opinion that the army must be given the most effective weapons for the preservation of our independence and for the protection of our neutrality. This includes nuclear weapons.

more information can be found here.

The swiss were capable of producing weapons; their first reactor came online in 1960. They drew up plans for a 250 weapon arsenal, including 100 missiles. And the swiss were most likely never entirly confortable in the early decades of the cold war. NATO and the warsaw pact both considered nuclear weapons viable options in the event of a conventional war in Western Europe. The late 50s and early 60s were full of potentially destabilizing events. and Swiss leaders would have grown up or begun their climbs to power at the height of Nazi germany, when Switzerland was the target of drafted german invasion plans. One can forgive them from becoming jumpy.

So let's say Swiss leaders become a little more paranoid. OTL goes basically according to schedule, but with a slightly stronger swiss military. The British and French invade the Suez, Russia threatens war. Hungary goes through a peaceful transformation, and the Soviets invade. France tests the bomb in 1960. The Berlin Wall goes up, there is an incident at Checkpoint Charlie, and the CUban missile crisis happens. CHina detonates a bomb.

So the Swiss Cabinet, general staff, and SKA (nuclear advisor group) call a meeting sometime between late 1961 and early 1965. They decide that there is a good chance of war in Europe, and either through warsaw pact invasion or nuclear conflict in Germany and western europe, Switzerland is threatened by said confrontation. So they approve the proposed arsenal of 100 nuclear bombs (60-100 kt), 50 artillery shells (5 kt) and 100 missiles (100 kt), to be completed within 15 years. The First Swiss nuclear test takes place in late 1968.



How plausible is this? What does the world do next? And should I make a proper timeline out of this?
 

Glen

Moderator
Switzerland today is perhaps best known for it's pacifism, banking, and knives. So many, especially outside of diplomatic and alternate history circles, would be suprised to hear that it had a nuclear weapons program. However, such a program did exist, as will be shown below.

Switzerland first formed a commitee to evaluate the potential of nuclear weapons in 1946, in the SKA. Over the years, the program would be reevaluated, go through several starts and stops, and eventually be shut down. However, there is little doubt that nuclear weapons were a serious option for Switzerland. At some point after the British test in 1952, Swiss officials seriously considered creating nuclear weapons, hinging on the condition that nuclear proliferation took off. In 1958, the Swiss general staff released a statement which included the following:



more information can be found here.

The swiss were capable of producing weapons; their first reactor came online in 1960. They drew up plans for a 250 weapon arsenal, including 100 missiles. And the swiss were most likely never entirly confortable in the early decades of the cold war. NATO and the warsaw pact both considered nuclear weapons viable options in the event of a conventional war in Western Europe. The late 50s and early 60s were full of potentially destabilizing events. and Swiss leaders would have grown up or begun their climbs to power at the height of Nazi germany, when Switzerland was the target of drafted german invasion plans. One can forgive them from becoming jumpy.

So let's say Swiss leaders become a little more paranoid. OTL goes basically according to schedule, but with a slightly stronger swiss military. The British and French invade the Suez, Russia threatens war. Hungary goes through a peaceful transformation, and the Soviets invade. France tests the bomb in 1960. The Berlin Wall goes up, there is an incident at Checkpoint Charlie, and the CUban missile crisis happens. CHina detonates a bomb.

So the Swiss Cabinet, general staff, and SKA (nuclear advisor group) call a meeting sometime between late 1961 and early 1965. They decide that there is a good chance of war in Europe, and either through warsaw pact invasion or nuclear conflict in Germany and western europe, Switzerland is threatened by said confrontation. So they approve the proposed arsenal of 100 nuclear bombs (60-100 kt), 50 artillery shells (5 kt) and 100 missiles (100 kt), to be completed within 15 years. The First Swiss nuclear test takes place in late 1968.



How plausible is this? What does the world do next? And should I make a proper timeline out of this?

Yes. Yes. And YES!!!!

I think it wouldn't change much in the end, but it would be really, really COOL to have SWISS NUKES!!!
 

Archibald

Banned
Nuclear test below the Alps ? can't really imagine an atmospheric test considering the size of the confederation...
 
Yeah, but are the launch codes in Italian, German, or French?:eek:

The command codes of the Air-Force used to be in Italian (clearest pronounciation - thus (hopefully) least missunderstandings - so this would likely be the same with the nukes...

Yes...depending on the canton! :p

Well, not really - the cantons have a lot of power, but the Army is a sole Federal matter since the 1870's....
 
If they're developing weapons from the late 1960s onward, it'd make sense to conduct the tests underground. Switzerland is a party to the Partial Test Ban Treaty, and it'd be prohibited from detonating a weapon aboveground anyway. Sub-surface weapons are generally clean and easily contained.
 
Nuclear test below the Alps ? can't really imagine an atmospheric test considering the size of the confederation...

Not sure about atmospheric tests, but the Swiss did conduct a search for isolated, uninhaited regions for test sites. The idea was to find 2-3 square miles that could be sealed off. and they found several potential test sites (something like 5).
 
How would this affect NPT? Is Switzerland recognised as NWS? Likely. Would Sweden follow? seeing how they have similar policy and simialr perceived threats they could go down same path. "Volvo Coupe. Accessories include radio, ABS and nuclear weapons launcher."
 
How would this affect NPT? Is Switzerland recognised as NWS? Likely. Would Sweden follow? seeing how they have similar policy and simialr perceived threats they could go down same path. "Volvo Coupe. Accessories include radio, ABS and nuclear weapons launcher."

An interesting twist would be a joint Swiss/Swedish program. I think the possibility of these nations and france having a multinational project was discussed in the 50s, so it's not that far-fetched.
 
An interesting twist would be a joint Swiss/Swedish program. I think the possibility of these nations and france having a multinational project was discussed in the 50s, so it's not that far-fetched.

I doubt Swiss would go with joint French project. Vice versa maybe but not necessary. IMO swiss gov't would see such project as violation of it's neutral policy while france wanted independant weapons, though this coul mean independant from US.

Joint Swiss-Swedish project is interesting though. Though I see simialr obstacles as with France..
 

Glen

Moderator
The command codes of the Air-Force used to be in Italian (clearest pronounciation - thus (hopefully) least missunderstandings - so this would likely be the same with the nukes...



Well, not really - the cantons have a lot of power, but the Army is a sole Federal matter since the 1870's....

Interesting. And rather practical.
 
Top