Peter Huber12.11.2026Around 30 Swiss fought for General Franco in the Spanish Civil War. What made them go to Spain, and why did the Swiss authorities often show them such amazing understanding?
Reto Bleuer10.11.2026Christian Bühlmann invented the Velogemel, a cross between a bike and a sledge, in 1911. Intended as a practical means of making his way home through the snow in winter, this solution born of necessity has since become a true icon of Grindelwald.
Danielle Berthet05.11.2026About 300,000 American military personnel enjoyed organised holiday tours in Switzerland between July 1945 and March 1949 as part of the ‘Leave Action’ programme. Lucerne was a preferred destination among the visitors.
Daniel Di Falco03.11.2026What did banking secrecy look like before it fell out of general favour? The images portrayed in advertising for Swiss banks reveal a great deal about the sector’s history, reflecting both the international rise of the financial centre and its unparalleled consolidation.
Adriano Bazzocco29.10.2026Border guard Ovidio Maggi was shot dead by Italian smugglers in late October 1945. After the Second World War, the spiral of violence at Switzerland’s southern border escalated. With fatal consequences.
Thomas Bürgisser27.10.2026In 1996, a Swiss foreign minister was Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the first time. Switzerland, which was not a member of the UN, NATO or the EU, was therefore able to make its presence felt on the international stage.
Christoph Kummer22.10.2026When Switzerland realigned its defence strategy during the Cold War, it produced a camouflage pattern that refused to blend into the background. The Alpenflage became the most visible attempt at reinventing invisibility.
Patrik Süess20.10.2026In July 1876, two inmates broke out of Basel’s ‘Schällemätteli’ prison, killing three guards in the process. Their escape attempt was prompted in part by the dire living conditions in the penitentiary.
