Schweizerischer Vaterländischer Verband

Schweizerischer Vaterländischer Verband (French: Fédération patriotique suisse, Italian: Federazione patriottica svizzera)^[1] (Swiss Patriotic Federation or SVV) was a right wing organisation influential in Swiss politics before World War II.

The SVV was set up on 5 April 1919 ^[2] by Dr. Eugen Bircher to oppose 'international emigration', which in effect became anti-Semitism, with the group holding The Protocols of the Elders of Zion as fact, alongside a similar work Aufklärung zur Flüchtlingsfrage (Shedding Light on the Refugee Question).^[3] Bircher's position as a colonel in the Swiss Army was such that he was able to bring many high-ranking officers in to the SVV, with Henri Guisan amongst those to join up.^[3] Although not specifically Nazi in its outlook, it nonetheless sought to maintain cordial relations with Nazi Germany.^[3]

It was effectively open in its existence, but its membership was largely a closely guarded secret and as such the group became influential in driving government policy.^[3] Its influence was such that it was the only organisation with Nazi sympathies that was not closed down by the Swiss Federal Council in 1945.^[3] It was not dissolved until after it got caught up in a bribery scandal in 1948.

References

1. Fédération patriotique suisse
2. Linhardt, Andreas (2002). Feuerwehr im Luftschutz 1926 - 1945: Die Umstrukturierung des öffentlichen Feuerlöschwesens in Deutschland unter Gesichtspunkten des zivilen Lutschutzes. p. 469. ISBN 978-3831137381.
3. Alan Morris Schom, 'A Survey of Nazi and Pro-Nazi Groups in Switzerland: 1930-1945'