Jacqueline Plum

Jacqueline Plum is a historian and author and advises non-profit organisations on fundraising and communication.

The Swiss Embassy in Berlin – symbol of continuity

Jacqueline Plum 07.09.2022 It’s hard to miss the red flag with a white cross, perched on the building of the Swiss embassy in Berlin’s government district. Thanks to good luck, the historic Stadtpalais acquired by Switzerland in 1919 hasn’t burned down, been demolished or sold on in the last 100 years. Its story is full of twists and turns.

The Swiss Embassy in the bend of Berlin’s River Spree, showing the old and new buildings.

Smuggling in the tri-border area

Jacqueline Plum 17.03.2021 Especially in times of scarcity, smuggling has been an important activity for people in the tri-border area. The complicated lines of the border separating Germany, France and Switzerland made the illegal transport of goods easier.

The Swiss border may have been well-guarded during World War II, but there were always ways to slip across.