Refuge from the Reich: American Airmen and Switzerland During World War II

by Stephen Tanner

Imagine the courage of a U.S. aircrew whose plane is rocked by explosions at 26,000 feet. The engines smoking, wounded crying, pilots desperately trying to control the falling craft, secretly unsure whether to shout the dreaded order: "Bail out!" A final moment of terror occurs when fighter planes suddenly appear alongside the stricken craft-and then a sigh of relief. The agile fighters are marked with the white cross of Switzerland. The crippled bomber is escorted to an airfield, and to safety.By 1943, a multitude of U.S. airmen who just months earlier had been farmboys, clerks or students were soaring over Germany, braving the vicious wrath of the Luftwaffe and storms of enemy flak. Thousands of flyers died; thousands more fell into Nazi hands. But for over 1,700 U.S. airmen, salvation came from a small, surrounded country that defied Hitler throughout the war. Refuge from the Reich is the story of how the world's two oldest democracies came into contact amid the raging inferno of Nazi-held Europe.Having parachuted or crashlanded into Switzerland, U.S. airmen encountered a world they were unprepared for: a country where food and heat were rationed and every man was a soldier, subject to instant mobilization to counter the German threat. There were clashes of culture, as well as episodes of high drama. And, by the end of the war, there was an overriding sense of warmth and respect between U.S. airmen and the Swiss who had given them shelter.Refuge from the Reich tells the gripping story of U.S. flyers waging history's greatest air campaign, while providing a firsthand, insiders' view of the small democracy that was able to offer safety to our airmen, while facing dangerous odds of its own.

262 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Switzerland as a neutral country surrounded by Axis powers walked a tightrope during World War II to sustain its citizens and preserve its neutrality.
Airmen from every nation in its airspace were given signals to land and the invading force was expected to return that signal unless the fighters and bombers were so damaged as not to be able to do so. The Swiss, who had no air force of its own contracted early in the war with Germany for airplanes. When damaged American planes entered Switzerland, they were met by Swiss fliers who would tip the wings of the German made planes to show the white cross on a red field -- the emblem of Switzerland.
The Swiss interned soldiers and airmen of every nation. Escapees who failed were taken to prisons and held for various lengths of time according to their crimes.

After the war, there were accusations that fliers landed deliberately in Switzerland to escape the fighting. Tanner notes there was no concrete documented evidence that this happened. Fliers from England and North Africa went into Switzerland in flames, bailing out and crashing. Many did not know in what country they landed. By the dress of the Swiss army, many at first thought it was Germany.

As is unavoidable in war, mistakes were made as American bombers accidentally targeted the Swiss cities of Basel, Rafz, Schaffhausen, Stein-am-Rhein, Vals and Zurich. Maps provided the Air Force were inadequate, weather conditions complicated navigation and war conducted with fighters and bombers were in their infancy. Apologies were made, but that hardly helped Swiss citizens who died or lost family in the bombings.
Switzerland had to trade with neighboring nations to obtain the daily necessities of life for its citizens and, during the war, when the country was expected to host hundreds of downed soldiers from other nations, the need became even more critical. There were periods of time Switzerland feared attacks by Germany.

This book contains many more facts about the air war and it would be impossible to examine them all here. It felt like a balanced look at men and nations in the midst of war living in a country determined to maintain its neutrality.
My father is quoted in this book as well as in Shot from the Sky. This time it was about Wauwilermoos, the roughest of all Swiss prison camps where he was sent after trying to escape to rejoin his unit.
To quote the book: "André-Henri Béguin, commander of Wauwilermoos... was arrested by Swiss authorities" in September 1945 and "charged with administrative crimes, adultery, embezzlement, withholding complaints from prisoners and dishonoring Switzerland. His sentence consisted of numerous fines, a dishonorable discharge from the army, loss of civil rights for seven years, and three-and-a-half years in prison.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. I originally picked up the book because my Grandfather's story is told, but I had a great time reading and learning. Not only did I learn more about Switzerland's history (extra because I had a Swiss kid living with me when I started it) but I also learned a few things about my Grandpa that I did not know before. Stories that he hasn't told me before or facts that I didn't know.