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Schweizerischer Vaterländischer Verband


Schweizerischer Vaterländischer Verband (French: Fédération patriotique suisse, Italian: Federazione patriottica svizzera) (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 by Dr. Eugen Bircher to oppose 'international emigration', which in effect became anti-Semitism, with the group holding as fact, alongside a similar work Aufklärung zur Flüchtlingsfrage (Shedding Light on the Refugee Question). 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. Although not specifically Nazi in its outlook, it nonetheless sought to maintain cordial relations with Nazi Germany.

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. 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. It was not dissolved until after it got caught up in a bribery scandal in 1948.


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