switzerland army

[kopend]

does switzerland have an army and if so have they ever gone to war

[reportmonkey]

Yes they do and I think they successfully fought a war of independance against the holy roman empire.  The Swiss were considered formidable fighters and the Pope's Vatican Guard were originally swiss mercenaries which is why they are all dressed in Swiss Livery today. 

[jno]

Switzerland has a militia army, and all adults have to do annual military service. (There's a conscientious objectors' option.) As I recall, every household has to have a gun. American gun nut websites love to point this out, saying 'See, some Europeans have them too and look how safe they are!'

[kaktus]

I know someone who know someone (sorry) that was in their bicycle brigade, or whatever it's called. Isn't that great? Soldiers on bicycles!!

[Loosehead]

And they've got a navy!

[Booldawg]

they have a 'swiss army knife' but i know what you mean, I was sure there is a european country that didnt have an army and thought Switzerland was that country

[kopend]

thanks booldawg. i thought the same as you. could the country be sweden or finland

[Xollob]

kopend, both Finnland and Sweden have an army.
(I've just discovered that you can be dismissed from the Finnish army for web addiction.)

The European country without armed forces of its own is Iceland (although the US maintain a military base in Keflavik).

[Octavius]

The Armed Forces of Switzerland is a unique institution somewhere between a militia and a regular army. It is equipped with modern, sophisticated, and well-maintained weapons systems and equipment.  The Swiss military consists of:

Army (including a small Navy patrolling Lake Geneva and Lake Constance)
Air Force
Frontier Guards (under the control of the Financial Department)

Declaring neutrality in WW1 & WW2 they haven't so much 'gone' to war, although historically they have taken part in the following wars/battles:

The Battle of Morgarten in 1315, the Swiss defeated the Habsburg army and secured quasi-independence as the Swiss Confederation.

Various territorial conflicts during the 15th Century, including victories over Charles the Bold of Burgundy during the 1470s.

The Swiss victory in a war against the Swabian League in 1499 amounted to de facto independence from the Holy Roman Empire.

The success of Zwingli's Reformation led to inter-cantonal wars in 1529 and 1531 (Kappeler Kriege). The conflict between Catholic and Protestant cantons persisted, erupting in further violence at the battles of Villmergen in 1656 and 1712.

In 1847, a civil war broke out between the Catholic and the Protestant cantons (Sonderbundskrieg). Its immediate cause was a 'special treaty' (Sonderbund) of the Catholic cantons. The war lasted for less than a month, causing fewer than 100 casualties. Apart from small riots, this was the latest armed conflict on Swiss territory.

Alist of countries without an army can be found here

[claireybear]

reportmonkey, I think you will find the the Pope's army are actually still chosen from the best young men of the Swiss army! The uniform they wear is a uniform designed by Michaelangelo and unchanged since then!

[Octavius]

Not entirely correct claireybeary, originally though they were made up of a constant core of mercenaries, but mercenary service is now outlawed in Switzerland.  And, if you click the link that is on the page I gave above you will also find that ...

The Swiss Guard is not considered to belong to any larger force, but is instead the army of the sovereign state of the Vatican. The force is specifically limited to one hundred soldiers and currently consists of 4 officers, 23 NCOs, 70 halberdiers, 2 drummers, and a chaplain, all with an equivalent Italian army rank. Although the guards are fully trained and equipped in modern weaponry and tactics, they also receive instructions in using the sword and halberd.

The guards must be Roman Catholic males with Swiss citizenship who have completed basic training with the Swiss military and can obtain certificates of good conduct. Recruits must be able to speak five languages, be between 19 and 30 and at least 174 cm (5ft 9in) tall.

The term of service is between two and 25 years. The official dress uniform�a jumpsuit of blue, red, orange and yellow with a distinctly Renaissance appearance�dates to 1914. (A common misconception is that the dress uniform was designed by Michelangelo, but there is little evidence to support this claim.) The working uniform is more functional and consists of blue coveralls and a black beret.

There is more on the page if you click the link....

[Octavius]

And for even more information on the Swiss Guard (Vatican site) for those that are interested can be found here:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/index.htm

[reportmonkey]

Ok perhaps the livery isn't swiss but their war gear, halbard, pike etc are.

Essentially there were a foreign auxillia perhaps designed to emulate the varangian guard of the Byzantine Emperor.  The Pope was and is still the head of the Western Roman Empire, spiritually, if not physically.   

[NapoleonSolo]

When I was based  RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire in the early 90's I thought some one was taking the p*ss when they told me the Swiss air force was coming over. But sure enough they turned up with their F16's ( which if you know your aircraft is/was one of the best combat aircraft around) .They used to come over for one month every year ( and as far as I know still do) to use the ACMI air combat facility located at Waddington (http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwaddington/acmi.html). ACMI tracks aircraft over a combat Range in the North Sea calculating who would have shot down who, I think the Swiss got around the Neutral country on a NATO base bit as the Facility was run as commercial venture by British Aerospace

[sistar]

Cant let this go without the old joke, the swiss army dont go to war because by the time they'd fought the right attachment on their knives, it would be too bloody late!

(sorry, I'm so ashamed,I'll crawl back into my corner now)