Philipp Etter

During World War II, he took a decidedly conservative, adaptable friendly policy toward Nazi Germany and a particularly considerate attitude towards Italy.

His political work was characterized by its central Swiss homeland and his Catholic-conservative world view which, among other things, was permeated by anti-Jewish and anti-Semitic stereotypes.

Etter, who represented the idea of a Christian, corporatist authoritarian state, was one of the most important and most prominent political figures of Switzerland in the 20th century.

One of the most shameful aspects of Swiss behaviour during the war was their treatment of Jews seeking refuge from Nazi persecution.

Two months later he attended a meeting of the Assembly to discuss whether they should launch a public appeal to all the belligerents reminding them of humanitarian principles.

In the words of David Forsythe: “The ICRC therefore caved in to Swiss national interests as defined in Berne, sacrificing the independence and humanitarian values of the organisation[1]”