Switzerland History

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Switzerland stayed neutral during WW1 and only became involved in relation to the organisation of Red Cross units during the war. During WW2 however Switzerland's involvement has now become infamous having laundered money for Nazi Germany. It is also now known to have shut its borders to Jewish refugees and forcibly repatriated many of those who escaped Nazi-occupied Europe. In 1998, as some recognition for its acts of quiet anti-Semitism during the war, the Swiss government agreed to pay compensation to relatives of Holocaust victims whose funds were deposited in Swiss banks.

After the war, Switzerland was able to expand further its already powerful commercial, financial and industrial base. Zürich became an international banking and insurance centre, while many international bodies, such as the World Health Organisation, set up their headquarters in Geneva.

Switzerland joined the EEA (European Economic Area) but it declined to become a member of the United Nations or NATO since it was afraid that its neutrality might be compromised. It did join EFTA (the European Free Trade Association).

In 2002 Switzerland finally became a member of the United Nations and a year later Switzerland part of the EU's passport-free zone which pushed Switzerland closer to the EU in matters of crime and asylum. A few months later the country opened its job-market to 10 of the newest EU member countries.

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