why wasnt Switzerland invade by ther germans during WWII?? I just found out,, they arm every male and give them basic training. SO the country , in every houshold,, had something with a rifle, and the know how how to use it. A 30 - 45 year old defending their country is something the german army didnt want to take on apparntly. Hmmm,, wonder why the US wants to take away our guns? ANother point,, has anyone seen the "new" history books?? some dont even have the second admendment within the bill of rights. And George Washington didnt do anything for the revolutionary ... things to consider

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 11, 2001

Answers

Stan, would you check that info, I remember a top age of 55, if memory serves correct.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), November 11, 2001.

The Swiss would have blown up all tunnels and passes. Hitler at least had enough sense to know that he would be bogged down with the Swiss. He had bigger fish to fry and he felt a nuetral Switzerland was not a threat.

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), November 11, 2001.

What are the new history books? Do you know the textbook names or something so we could check into this? Publisher maybe? I would like to know more specifics. It would seem weird to mention the rest of the amendments without the Second! Thanks.

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), November 11, 2001.

Hitler is reputed to have said he could have taken Switzerland with the Berlin fire brigade. Are you even sure the policy of training and arming every male citizen was even in force in 1939?

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), November 11, 2001.

I read about switerland at Backwoods magazine.,, the "new text books",, I read about at, www.mynra.com in the JAMES MADISON RESEARCH LIBRARY

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 11, 2001.

here's a book about Switzerland's rediness: "TARGET SWITZERLAND" Swiss Armed Neutrality in World War II By Stephen P. Halbrook Published by Sarpedon Publishers, 1998 Switzerland was a nation of shooters, fully prepared to turn the Alps into a deathtrap for the panzers, if the Germans had dared to attempt a conquest.

-- TomK(mich) (tjk@cac.net), November 11, 2001.

You should probably ask this question to the Taliban who are currently getting their butts kicked big time.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), November 12, 2001.

The Nazis heirarchy had bunch money stashed away in Switzerland. Why would they attack their own money? Switzerland also turned away or turned over to Nazi border guards those trying to escape into Switzerland. Also apparently Swiss banks collaborated with Nazis in that many Jewish bank accounts mysteriously disappeared from Swiss banks during the war. I think Switzerland was probably scared silly they would become another Austria and cooperated as much as possible with Nazis to avoid this. In fact I think Nazis knew there was more benefit in keeping an independent nominally neutral Switzerland. They could always take it later if their other exploits were successful and they no longer needed it as a financial intermediary or safe haven for their plunder.

-- hermit john (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), November 12, 2001.

I agree with hermit john, Switzerland was hardly neutral!!! They turned away the Jews as well as turning in lots of folks trying to escape the Germans in WWII, despicable behavior if you ask me, and they pretty much financed many of the Germans operations as well as reaping the rewards of tons of "medical research" done on the Death Camp inmates, and getting "free labor" courtesy of the same. VW and many other large companies in Switzerland as well used this labor and research pool.

I have no respect for the Swiss and their so called neutrality.

Stan, the government has no intention of taking away our guns, hand guns I don't care about, no one NEEDS those things, unless you let them by continuing to vote for the idiots currently in office, try the Libertarian Party for a change to folks that have every intention of protecting your Rights under the Constitution. The R and D don't give a rat's ass about your rights anymore, they just continue to scheme on how to take them away with the least possible notice to us!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), November 12, 2001.

Switzerland had Little Stratigic value, would have been a pain to take due to alps. A country full of trained and arm citizens. On top of that many germans had money stashed away in switzerland

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), November 12, 2001.

I saw a program on the history channel one night ( TV does have it's good points...at times)and they were saying how the Germans used the Swiss women to have German babies for the "superior race" theory. But after the war the babies were really abused and treated unfairly because of their German fathers we were mostly from the soilders. Now the babies born in Germany with this same idea were treated very well. Something about the Germans wanting the blue eyed, blonde hair people...don't understand that either. It was really an interesting show and really showed how "into" being the one world power Hilter had thought they could be. He had a Thousand Year plan for Germany. Only one thing went wrong with his idea...he lost the war. It scares me to think how people can treat other people so very horribly. But what scares me more...is have we learned our lesson ???

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), November 12, 2001.

In response to the "new History" books. One advantage ( of many) to homeschooling is we can use books that are correct in content but does not have to be politically correct. I have found that the two usually don't go together. We also happen to be studying the Constitution as a separate class (including ALL of the Amendments).

-- Lou Ann (homes_cool@msn.com), November 12, 2001.

Annie Miller in SE OH you said "the government has no intention of taking away our guns, hand guns I don't care about, no one NEEDS those things" I DISAGREE

My friend's wife would have been raped and probably killed if not for a handgun. She was entering the mall and 3 black males jumped her. They tore off her blouse and would have continued but she pulled her 380 auto and shot 2 of them. There was a 26 year old lady returning to her office in town. When she turned on the lights a 250 lb male lunged at her with a crowbar. Her small 32-auto was all that saved her. Even with the handgun she still received a broken sholder. With out it she would have received death. Annie that's just 2 people that I know that used a handgun correctly and saved their life. I don't know about Ohio but here in NC you can't carry a rifle or shotgun into public buildings. And even if you could I doubt anyone would.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001.

stan some time between the ages of 17 & 19 all male citizens in Switzerland have to report for compulsory training followed by 20 yrs in the Home Guard. upon completion of training they take their service weapon home and are require to qualify with it semiannually. they are also required to keep a minimum amount of ammunition on hand (200 rnds, i think). after the 20 yrs are up volunteers who continue to meet the qualifications are authorized to keep their service rifles. there are exceptions for convicts and such but pretty much all men have a fully automatic weapon at home and most cantons allow citizens to carry sidearms without a permit. until a few years ago foriegners could too. could you imagine every law abiding man in America being in the National Guard, keeping his M16 at home with ammo and having to prove twice a year that he can use it. there is a story that two ambassadors were at a function in Spain. the german ambassador asks the swiss ambassador what would they do if germany invaded with an army 3x the size of switzerlands army. without batting an eye the swiss ambassador says each swiss soldier would shoot 3 times.

-- Pops (pops762@hotmail.com), November 16, 2001.