Shot from the Sky: American Pows in Switzerland

by Cathryn J. Prince

"Shot from the Sky is about one of the great, dark secrets of World War II: Neutral Switzerland shot down U.S. aircraft entering Swiss airspace and imprisoned the survivors in internment camps, detaining more than a thousand American flyers between 1943 and the war's end. While conditions at the camps were adequate and humane for internees who obeyed their captors' orders, the experience was very different for those who attempted to escape. They were held in special penitentiary camps in conditions as bad as those in some prisoner-of-war camps in Nazi Germany. Ironically, the Geneva Accords at that time did not apply to prisoners held in neutral countries, so better treatment could not be demanded. When the war ended in Europe, sixty-one Americans lay buried in a small village cemetery near Bern." Details of this little-known episode are brought to light by Cathryn Prince, who tells what happened and examines the argument the Swiss used to justify their policy. She shows that while the Swiss claimed they satisfied international law, they applied the law in a grossly unfair manner. No German airmen were interned, and Nazi aircraft were allowed to refuel at Swiss airfields. The author draws on first-person accounts and unpublished sources, including interviews with eyewitnesses and surviving American prisoners, and documents held by the Swiss government and the U.S. Air Force. Although these events have been briefly alluded to in other books, this is the first time that the complete story has been presented.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction

248 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 8

Reviews

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched book about a little known part of the World War II: that of American internees in Switzerland. Numbering about a thousand, the air crews either crash-landed on Swiss soil after their planes were disabled by the Germans, or, driven off course because of German flak damage or mechanical problems were shot down by the Swiss themselves; Switzerland, of course, was 'neutral' but favored its powerful neighbor Germany, (whose fliers were not interned if they ended up in Switzerland.) The Swiss treated the internees roughly, unlike other neutral countries, and penalties for trying to escape were extremely harsh. 61 of the internees ended up dying in Switzerland; the Swiss were not signees of the Geneva Convention dealing with POWS, as ironic as that sounds since the treaty was negotiated in their country.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review and partly because there are passages in it about my father and quotes from him. He is the second figure from the left on the cover.
Most of the information contained in it were stories I grew up with. However, it is tougher on the Swiss than my father was until he was a POW in Wauwilermous. The majority of his time before and after being a prisoner of war was in the Nevada Palace Hotel in Adelboden.

He was a waist gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress and headed for the Messerschmitt works at Augsburg, Germany. He was one of three of the 10-man crew to survive. Sugarfoot got into a dogfight with German fighters and, by the time the battle was underway, was hit by bullets and exploding shells and was on fire. Three of the men were able to bail out and not know whether they were over Germany or Switzerland. It was noted later the Swiss were also shooting at the plane from the ground as they did with all foreign planes entering their airspace. Sugarfoot crashed inside Switzerland near Bad Ragaz.
My father spent some time in Waueilermous prison after he tried to escape and rejoin his unit. Approximately 187 of the over 700 men who tried to escape were captured and put into prison camps inside Switzerland.

Part of the problem I have with this book is it does not explore the political climate of Switzerland as does the book I read next called Refuge from the Reich by Stephen Tanner. The Swiss, relying on all outside nations in trading for necessities for its citizens, had to walk a fine line in strengthening the country's defenses and treating all nations the same to ensure their neutrality.
This book does not go into that part of the war as deeply as Refuge from the Reich and states the Swiss were anti-American and targeting American planes more than those of Germany. Germany was breathing down Switzerland's neck and the Swiss greatly feared an invasion by that country.

There is much in this book and for those who do not know about Switzerland's part in World War II. From internees and how they were treated to those who became POWs in Wauweilermous, readers would find this book interesting. However, I would recommend following it with Refuge from the Reich for a deeper look.
Up until 2014, there was no recognition of American POWs held by neutral or non-enemy forces. Through the long, and untiring efforts of Dwight Mears of the United States Air Force, these men were honored in a ceremony which only eight could attend. Many, like my father, had died and some were too ill to make the trip to Washington, D.C.
In a footnote, my father suffered a debilitating stroke Oct. 1, 1994, which was 51 years to the day Sugarfoot was shot down by the Germans, as he contended, or the Swiss, as they claimed. He died Oct. 9, 1994, without knowing his efforts for his country were to be honored.

[David]

Recommended and provided by Robert Scearce

[Adelbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information about a little known, publicized event of WWII history.
Jumped around a lot and would circle back around on a subject.