| May 1940 | World War II | German Action/Plans against Switzerland | Switzerland | Swiss Operational Planning |
| 10.05.1940 | German attack on France | Swiss Air Force (Fl Kp 21, Bf-109 E) intercepts a single Do-17 and damages the plane which has to land in Germany. | ||
| 11.05.1940 | ||||
| 12.05.1940 | ||||
| 13.05.1940 | Crossing over Meuse at Sedan secured by Army Group A | |||
| 14.05.1940 | Dutch surrender, French counterattack at Sedan | |||
| 15.05.1940 | German breakout | |||
| 16.05.1940 | Swiss Air Force (Fl Kp 21, Bf-109 E) intercepts a single He-111 D and damages the plane which has to land in Switzerland (Ottikon E of Kempthal). | |||
| 17.05.1940 | Study by Col Germann mentions a central redoubt. | |||
| 18.05.1940 | ||||
| 19.05.1940 | ||||
| 20.05.1940 | German tanks reach the Atlantic | |||
| 21.05.1940 | ||||
| 22.05.1940 | ||||
| 23.05.1940 | ||||
| 24.05.1940 | Attack on Dunkirk stopped by Hitler | |||
| 25.05.1940 | As a reply to Germann's report Guisan gives orders to the Chief of Staff to look for alternatives for the defense (including a retreat towards the Alps). | |||
| 26.05.1940 | Allied Evacuation begins | |||
| 27.05.1940 | Calais falls | |||
| 28.05.1940 | Belgium surrenders | |||
| 29.05.1940 | ||||
| 30.05.1940 | ||||
| 31.05.1940 | ||||
| June 1940 | World War II | German Action/Plans against Switzerland | Switzerland | Swiss Operational Planning |
| 01.06.1940 | Swiss Air Force (Fl Kp 6, Bf-109 E) shoots down one He-111 H and (Fl Kp 6 and Fl Kp 15, Bf-109 E) shoots down another He-111 H. | |||
| 02.06.1940 | Swiss Air Force (Fl Kp 15, Bf-109 E) intercepts one He-111 P which has to land in CH. | |||
| 03.06.1940 | "…, since we cannot expect any significant help from France anymore …" (UC Front Gugger) | |||
| 04.06.1940 | Air Battle with German 29 planes and 12 Swiss planes (10 Bf-109 E of Fl Kp 6 and Fl Kp 15, 2 Morane of Fl Kp 13 and two C 35 of Fl Kp 2). 2 Me-110 are shot down. One Swiss Bf-109 D lost. | |||
| 05.06.1940 | Germans renew their offensive | German diplomatic note handed to Swiss government | ||
| 06.06.1940 | Swiss AA (Flab Det 20, Flab Det 80) shoots at foreign plane which has to land in France. | |||
| 07.06.1940 | ||||
| 08.06.1940 | Air Battle with German 32 planes and 12 Swiss Bf-109 E (Fl Kp 6, Fl Kp 15 and Fl Kp 21). 3 Me-110 are shot down. 1 C-35 of Fl Kp 10 is lost. 1 Swiss Bf-109 E pilot lands his plane safely despite severe wounds. | |||
| 09.06.1940 | Germany recalls journalists, Hitler takes care of the air incidents personally | |||
| 10.06.1940 | Italy declares war | |||
| 11.06.1940 | ||||
| 12.06.1940 | ||||
| 13.06.1940 |
Detailed study by Col German is submitted to the general. "... a position which should be the centre of the country, the pre-alpes, covering the area of the Gotthard" (Note by Guisan) |
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| 14.06.1940 | ||||
| 15.06.1940 | ||||
| 16.06.1940 | Raynaud resigns. Pétain takes office | Hitler orders the encirclement of CH | Swiss army orders high readiness. | |
| 10 Germans sent to Switzerland to sabotage Swiss air force | ||||
| 17.06.1940 | France asks conditions | 29 Inf Div (mot) reaches Swiss border at the Doubs | Swiss Air Force command orders that only closed groups of 3 or more planes should be attacked. | |
| 18.06.1940 | Letter by Ob Frick (7. Div) to ObKKdt Labhardt (4. AK). | |||
| 19.06.1940 | Hitler orders Lyons to be taken | Second German diplomatic note - a threat: "the government of the Reich would no longer use words, but would protect the German interests in an other manner, should such events occur in the future." | ||
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20.06.1940
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Guisan orders a stop of all interception of enemy aircraft over Siwss
territory. French XLV AK (67e DI, 2e DI Polonaise, 2e BS) are interned in CH (29'700 F, 12'000 PL, 1'600 Vehicles) |
Operational Order #10 "Defense against all sides" |
| 21.06.1940 | Italian attack begins in a narrow sector close to CH border | "… I imagine this position to be based on the Gotthard …" (Labhardt 4.AK, based on the letter by Frick) | ||
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22.06.1940
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French 2nd Army Group surrenders
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Preliminary Study
(Germann) Assessment of the Situation (Gonard, C Op) Proposal (Strüby UC Front) Guisan confers with corps commanders (with the papers above as a basis) Guisan and Huber decide to ask Strüby, Gonard and Germann to do three in depth studies. |
| 23.06.1940 |
13. Inf Div takes Aix-les-Bains - gets stuck N of Chambéry Hitler visits Paris, oders 6. Mtn and 1. Mtn to the Swiss border |
Montbéliard: 29. ID (mot), Morteau: 1. PD, Salins: 2. PD, Pontarlier: XXXIX AK; Besançon: Guderian "To mentally prepare the tasks for 12th Army". List: Personal - Kübler, Bergmann, Fahrmbacher, Schörner |
Guisan orders to stop the work on the fortifications of the "Fall Nord". | |
| 24.06.1940 | 3. Pz Div gets stuck at Voreppe (near Grenoble). German offensive to encircle Switzerland fails. | Lardelli's (1. AK) Letter | ||
| 25.06.1940 |
French capitulation OKH to HGr A, B, C: "... the German Wehrmacht will be re-organised to continue war against England ..." |
First German attack plan
(4 Corps, 9 Divs). Op Abt (I) OKH (von Menges' notes for his presentation). OKH to HGr A, B, C:"HGr C operates in the other parts of France. Tasks: Re-organisation and training of the subordinated units. Preparation for a special task under specific orders." |
President of federal council Pilet-Golaz announces «a partial and stepwise demobilization» and that «... the events march quickly: one has to adapt to their rythm». | Prisi's (2. AK) Protocol |
| 26.06.1940 | Wehrmacht regroups. HGr C receives 1st, 2nd and 12th Army "There will be orders for the specific special tasks for these troops" | |||
| 27.06.1940 | ||||
| 28.06.1940 | "It is necessary, that 12th Army assembles quickly" close to the Swiss border | Guisan's order of the day: "The task of the army is not completed" | ||
| 29.06.1940 | ||||
| 30.06.1940 |
Study Germann incl a detailed analysis of the area Pragel - Zugersee |
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| July 1940 | World War II | German Action/Plans against Switzerland | Switzerland | Swiss Operational Planning |
| 01.07.1940 |
6 ID 2 Geb D 4 Panzer D 2 ID (mot) assembled close to CH Report of the OKH about the Swiss fortifications. |
Swiss reply to the German note of the 19.6. |
Study Gonard (chief
operations) Study Strüby (subchief of UG Front) |
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| 02.07.1940 | Hitler informs Goebbels about details on the Swiss-French agreement (Plan "H") |
"... to
maintain the independence of the country and to maintain the integrity of
the territory by using all military means ..." (Federal Council to the
General) Guisan's order of the day: "We will fight, even if victory will not be ours. We will fight for each foot of our country and to uphold of the honor of our army and our country." |
Huber's (Chief of
Staff) Letter Huber submits the three studies to the general. |
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| 03.07.1940 | Fort de l'Ecluse surrenders | |||
| 04.07.1940 | The general and the chief of staff meet Strüby, Gonard and Germann. | |||
| 05.07.1940 |
Barbey submits an evaluation of the three reports. He considers, that the
plan Strüby can be implemented with the shortest delay. The other plans
would take longer. The chief of staff Huber gives orders to prepare detailed orders for the plan Strüby. |
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| 06.07.1940 |
12th Army HQ arrives in Dijon A German officer (47. Pz J Abt / 6. Geb Div) is shot a by Swiss soldiers when he crosses the Swiss border close to the Col d'Aiguillon. |
Switzerland demobilizes from 450'000 to 150'000 men | ||
| 07.07.1940 |
Guisan confers with
corps commander - three layer concept discussed Germann: Entrance to the Bernese Oberland |
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| 08.07.1940 | ||||
| 09.07.1940 | Assembly of 12th Army (Dijon) completed (9 divisions. 250'000 men) | The general staff works on the redoubt plan (Protocol of Gruppe Front) | ||
| 10.07.1940 | Battle of Britain starts, Convoy attacks, Kanalkampf | Guisan issues formal orders to Huber for the re-grouping of the army. He assumed, that it would take 15 days for the army to regroup. | ||
| 11.07.1940 | ||||
| 12.07.1940 | Note to the Federal Council on the creation of the central redoubt |
Operational Order #11 "Preparations for the Central Redoubt" |
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| 13.07.1940 | First date of possible German attack | Germann: Zugersee - Hohgant | ||
| 14.07.1940 | Reconnaissance of the approach to CH (21. ID) | |||
| 15.07.1940 |
Reconnaissance of the approach to CH (XXXIII) Himmler visits Swiss border near Les Verrières |
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| 16.07.1940 | Hitler orders preparation of invasion plan against Great Britain | von Weizäcker informs the Swiss ambassador in Berlin Frölicher, that the response to the note of the 19.6. was accepted and that the "dispute has been settled". | ||
| 17.07.1940 | OKH: Order for the preparations of an attack against Great Britain. |
Operational Order #12 "The Central Redoubt" |
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| 18.07.1940 | ||||
| 19.07.1940 | Hitler offers peace to Great Britain "Appell an die Vernunft" | |||
| 20.07.1940 | Situation report no 404 of the OKH mentiones that strong Swiss forces are bound by guard duty by the interned Polish and French troops. | |||
| 21.07.1940 | ||||
| 22.07.1940 | ||||
| 23.07.1940 | ||||
| 24.07.1940 | 1. Geb Div is allocated to "Seelöwe" | |||
| 25.07.1940 | 6. Geb Div is allocated to "Seelöwe" | Rütlirapport: The General announces the concept of the Réduit National to his officers. | ||
| 26.07.1940 | ||||
| 27.07.1940 | OKH: First order of battle for "Seelöwe", the invasion of England. | OOB for Order #12 | ||
| 28.07.1940 | ||||
| 29.07.1940 | ||||
| 30.07.1940 | OKH: Meeting on the detailed planning for "Seelöwe". | Situation report no 406 of the OKH mentions that the Swiss forces are now at 220'000 men. | ||
| 31.07.1940 | ||||
| Aug 40 | World War II | German Action/Plans against Switzerland | Switzerland | Swiss Operational Planning |
| 01.08.1940 | ||||
| 02.08.1940 | ||||
| 03.08.1940 | Hitler tells v. Brauchitsch and Halder about his plans for "Barbarossa" |
Report about changes in Switzerland: Demob identified, interned troops. Orders to 12th Army to rework the attack plan |
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| 04.08.1940 | ||||
| 05.08.1940 | ||||
| 06.08.1940 | ||||
| 07.08.1940 | ||||
| 08.08.1940 |
2nd
Refined German attack plan. Op Abt (I) OKH (von Menges). Réduit National not recognized. Germans still believe that main Swiss forces are located on the Swiss plateau. |
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| 09.08.1940 | ||||
| 10.08.1940 | OKH: Order on the training for "Seelöwe" | |||
| 11.08.1940 | Adlertag, Adlerkampf (Eagle Fight) against British aifields close to the coast | |||
| 12.08.1940 | 2nd Refined German attack plan reworked by von Menges. | |||
| 13.08.1940 | ||||
| 14.08.1940 | ||||
| 15.08.1940 | Biggest Day of the Battle of Britain. Luftflotte 5 is retired (Norway) | |||
| 16.08.1940 | Situation report no 411 of the OKH: Light division indentified. | |||
| 17.08.1940 | Div 6 moved to the Alps | |||
| 18.08.1940 | Hardest Day. Subsequently the Stukas are retired | |||
| 19.08.1940 | ||||
| 20.08.1940 | ||||
| 21.08.1940 | ||||
| 22.08.1940 | ||||
| 23.08.1940 | ||||
| 24.08.1940 | Attack against all airfields | Report by the German military attaché in Bern about the readiness of Swiss defenses. | ||
| 25.08.1940 | British Bombing of Berlin | |||
| 26.08.1940 |
Situation report no 413 of the OKH: Swiss forces now at 130'000 men. Halder (OKH) gives the order for the planning of an operation against Switzerland |
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| 27.08.1940 | HGr C gives orders to 12th Army to do the operational planning | |||
| 28.08.1940 | Operations departement of 12th Army sends plan to HGr C "Fall Grün" (works with 24 divisions). | |||
| 29.08.1940 |
HGr C replies that 15 divisions will be available. 10 ID and 3 Pz Korps are sent to the East |
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| 30.08.1940 | ||||
| 31.08.1940 | ||||
| Sep 40 | World War II | German Action/Plans against Switzerland | Switzerland | Swiss Operational Planning |
| 01.09.1940 | Quartermaster of the Heer: Planning of the logistic support for "Seelöwe" | German plan now called "Tannenbaum" | ||
| 02.09.1940 | ||||
| 03.09.1940 | ||||
| 04.09.1940 | ||||
| 05.09.1940 | ||||
| 06.09.1940 | 12th Army submits Operation "Tannenbaum" to HGr C (12th Army asks 15 to 17 divisions, HGr C adds another 6 to 7). | |||
| 07.09.1940 | ||||
| 09.09.1940 | Situation report no 414 of the OKH: Changes in Swiss readiness. | |||
| 10.09.1940 | ||||
| 11.09.1940 | ||||
| 12.09.1940 | ||||
| 13.09.1940 | ||||
| 14.09.1940 | ||||
| 15.09.1940 | ||||
| 16.09.1940 | ||||
| 17.09.1940 | ||||
| 18.09.1940 | Operations Heer: Timeline for the preparations for "Seelöwe". | |||
| 19.09.1940 | ||||
| 20.09.1940 | ||||
| 21.09.1940 | ||||
| 22.09.1940 | Situation report no 417 of the OKH: "Central redoubt" identified wrongly (=Advanced position). | |||
| 23.09.1940 | ||||
| 24.09.1940 | ||||
| 25.09.1940 | ||||
| 26.09.1940 | ||||
| 27.09.1940 | ||||
| 28.09.1940 | ||||
| 29.09.1940 | ||||
| 30.09.1940 | ||||
| October 1940 | World War II | German Action/Plans against Switzerland | Switzerland | Swiss Operational Planning |
| 01.10.1940 | ||||
| 02.10.1940 | ||||
| 03.10.1940 | OKH: Preparation time for "Seelöwe" is no longer 10 days, but 20 days. | |||
| 04.10.1940 | HGr C sends the plan "Tannenbaum" to the OKH (21 divisions). | |||
| 05.10.1940 | ||||
| 06.10.1940 | ||||
| 07.10.1940 | ||||
| 08.10.1940 | ||||
| 09.10.1940 | Op Abt (I) OKH states that 11 divisions should be enough. | |||
| 10.10.1940 | ||||
| 11.10.1940 | ||||
| 12.10.1940 | ||||
| 13.10.1940 | ||||
| 14.10.1940 | ||||
| 15.10.1940 | OKH: "preparations for an invasion of England have to be maintained as a means of political pressure only". | |||
| 16.10.1940 | ||||
| 17.10.1940 | Halder notes on the statement of the 9.10. that he agrees with the 11 divisions. | |||
| 18.10.1940 | ||||
| 19.10.1940 | ||||
| 20.10.1940 | ||||
| 21.10.1940 | ||||
| 22.10.1940 | ||||
| 23.10.1940 | ||||
| 24.10.1940 | ||||
| 25.10.1940 | ||||
| 26.10.1940 | ||||
| 27.10.1940 | ||||
| 28.10.1940 | ||||
| 29.10.1940 | ||||
| 30.10.1940 | ||||
| 31.10.1940 | ||||
| Nov 40 | World War II | German Action/Plans against Switzerland | Switzerland | Swiss Operational Planning |
| 01.11.1940 | ||||
| 02.11.1940 | ||||
| 03.11.1940 | ||||
| 04.11.1940 | ||||
| 05.11.1940 | ||||
| 06.11.1940 | ||||
| 07.11.1940 | ||||
| 08.11.1940 | ||||
| 09.11.1940 | ||||
| 10.11.1940 | ||||
| 11.11.1940 | OKH: Operation against Switzerland no longer urgent. | |||
| 12.11.1940 | ||||
| 13.11.1940 | ||||
| 14.11.1940 | ||||
| 15.11.1940 | ||||
| 16.11.1940 | ||||
| 17.11.1940 | ||||
| 18.11.1940 | ||||
| 19.11.1940 | ||||
| 20.11.1940 | ||||
| 21.11.1940 | ||||
| 22.11.1940 | ||||
| 23.11.1940 | ||||
| 24.11.1940 | ||||
| 25.11.1940 | ||||
| 26.11.1940 | ||||
| 27.11.1940 | ||||
| 28.11.1940 | ||||
| 29.11.1940 | ||||
| 30.11.1940 |
[Last Update 30.08.2010]