Criticizing the Mercenary Business

Allegorically, the painting denounces the greed common to the mercenary service and highlights the political dependencies of the Swiss Confederacy. Anonymous, around 1625. Swiss National Museum

Waiting and Helping

In 1914, thousands of Italian workers crossed Switzerland to return to their country. The Red Cross and the Swiss army looked after those waiting. August Gansser, Refugees from Alsace, Basel, 1914. Swiss National Museum

Soldier on Active Duty

The items used by gunner Willy Keller from Teufen included uniform elements, mess kit, regulations, and personal effects. Kit used by gunner Willy Keller, standard army issue 1914–1949

© Swiss National Museum

Gymnastics Festival

Until the 1960s, the gymnastics movement remained strongly influenced by military and patriotic ideals. Gymnastics was seen as a modern expression of Swiss martial virtues. National gymnastics festival, 1959

© Swiss National Museum / ASL

Civil Defence and Gas Warfare

The Swiss army did not issue gas masks to frontier garrisons until 1917. It began producing gas masks for civilian use in 1937. Gas mask for air-raid protection and civilian use, 1939–1945

© Swiss National Museum

Swiss dagger

As early as the 16th century, the story of William Tell also decorates the sheaths of Swiss daggers. Swiss dagger with sheath, knife and spike, around 1570

© Swiss National Museum

Antisemitic policies

In October 1938, Germany introduced the so-called “Jewish stamp” under diplomatic pressure from Switzerland. Passport issued to Agathe Süss, with “J” stamped on it, 1938

© Jüdisches Museum Schweiz

Camouflage draft

Camouflaging military installations was one of the duties of the artist Hans Erni in World War II. Hans Erni, draft MM5 camouflage, Rynächt incl. ramp, 1940

© Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv, E27#1000/721#19108*

Europe and neutrality

In 1815, the Congress of Vienna recognized Switzerland’s “perpetual neutrality”. Swiss Neutrality thus became an element of the European balance of power. Recognition and guarantee of Switzerland’s perpetual neutrality and the inviolability of its territory by the Allied Powers, 8 / 20 November 1815

© Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv, K0#1000-1402#72

The three Tells

The “three Tells” carried out an assassination attempt on a delegation of the Lucerne council during the Peasants' War of 1653. Two died fighting, the third was executed. Martin Disteli, Unternährer and Hinterueli, the Last Free Inhabitants of Entlebuch, 1840. Grafiksammlung der Zentralbibliothek Solothurn, a 295

Battle of Pavia

This tapestry shows the defeat of the Swiss Confederates at the Battle of Pavia. It contrasts with the myth that later emerged of the glorious mercenaries. Jan and Willem Dermoyen, after a drawing by Bernard van Orley, The Breakout of the Besieged Imperial Troops and the Rout of the Swiss Soldiers, 1528–1531, wool and silk with gold and silver threads, embroidery

© Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte, Napoli

Back home

Johann Baptist Kirner depicts a Swiss Guard, back home again, describing the July Revolution in Paris in 1830. Johann Baptist Kirner, 1831. Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe

Artist on duty

On active duty in Uri during World War II, the artist Hans Erni painted a fresco titled Muni mag 5 in a soldier’s mess. Hans Erni, Muni mag 5, around 1944, fresco

© Hans-Erni-Stiftung Luzern

Unyielding Helvetia

Helvetia is holding the federal treaty of 7 August 1815 in her hands while leaning on a cannon. The Bernese traditional dress and the alpine scenery embed the figure within the national visual language. Edouard Castres, Switzerland in Arms, 1895

© Bernisches Historisches Museum, Bern. Foto Stefan Rebsamen

«Wars and us» at the National Museum Zurich

A view of the exhibition

© Swiss National Museum

«Wars and us» at the National Museum Zurich

A view of the exhibition

© Swiss National Museum

«Wars and us» at the National Museum Zurich

A view of the exhibition

© Swiss National Museum

«Wars and us» at the National Museum Zurich

A view of the exhibition

© Swiss National Museum