![Portrait of General Guisan. The print dates from 1939.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/guisan-titel-300x225.jpg)
Resistance and vanity
As a general, Henri Guisan led Switzerland through World War II. His public image alternated between resistance and diligent personal propagandisation.
![Frowned upon by the General’s staff: Guisan with a cigarette in press photographs.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/guisan-schreibtisch-300x205.jpg)
![At Henri Guisan’s request, censorship of his image was intensified in October 1941.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/presse-guisan-230x300.jpg)
![In 1943 the rules were made even tighter. This directive replaced that of October 1941.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Weisung1943-208x300.jpg)
![Everywhere and at all times, Guisan (right) exemplified Switzerland’s willingness to defend itself.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/feldstecher-300x200.jpg)
In cinematic footage too, care was taken to ensure the staging sent the right messages. Movie in German. SRF
The General’s secret diplomacy
![Not friends: Henri Guisan and Marcel Pilet-Golaz in December 1939.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/guisan-pilet-300x280.jpg)
![Publication prohibited! Reason: Guisan, who – so it appears, in any event – had been watching a Disney film in the cinema, looks as if he’s been caught in an illegal act.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Disney-259x300.jpg)
There was also a little bit of propagandisation
![Publication prohibited! Reason: The kissing General and the women.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/nein1-198x300.jpg)
![Publication prohibited! Reason: The smoking General and the women.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/nein3-300x210.jpg)
![Again and again, the directive was: Publication of any kind prohibited!](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/nein4-300x201.jpg)