Switzerland maintained its stance of armed neutrality throughout World War I, despite its challenging geopolitical position. Surrounded by both Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) and Entente Powers (France and Italy), Switzerland carefully navigated tensions, deploying troops along the Jura region and southern borders to prevent any spillover from the conflict. Though German military plans briefly considered invading Switzerland, the country’s mountainous terrain and well-organized army deterred such action.
Internally, linguistic and cultural divisions mirrored the allegiances of the warring factions. German-speaking Swiss tended to sympathize with the Central Powers, while French- and Italian-speaking citizens leaned toward the Entente, creating internal political tensions, particularly toward the war’s end in 1918. The Swiss economy suffered under the Allied blockade, but neutrality allowed the banking industry to grow as Switzerland became a refuge for foreign revolutionaries and intellectuals.
The Swiss Army mobilized 220,000 troops in 1914 under General Ulrich Wille, though the numbers fluctuated throughout the war. By 1916, troop levels were reduced to 38,000 but increased again during 1917 due to fears of a French offensive. By the war’s end, widespread strikes and economic difficulties had reduced the active force to just 12,500 men. Despite occasional border violations, Switzerland successfully maintained its neutrality.
Switzerland also became a sanctuary for revolutionaries, including Vladimir Lenin, who lived in ZĂĽrich until 1917, preparing for the Russian Revolution. At the same time, the Dada art movement emerged in ZĂĽrich, using abstract art to oppose the war and critique political and social structures.
In 1917, the Grimm–Hoffmann Affair threatened Switzerland’s neutrality when Swiss politician Robert Grimm attempted unauthorized peace negotiations between Germany and Russia. The fallout led to the resignation of Arthur Hoffmann, a Swiss Federal Councillor who had supported Grimm’s efforts.
Switzerland also played a humanitarian role, accepting 68,000 wounded prisoners of war from both sides for recovery in Swiss resorts. This arrangement, coordinated by the Red Cross, offered a neutral space for prisoners no longer fit for combat.