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00:00When we think of Switzerland, we think of the magnificent Alps, tranquil lakes, retro
00:05villages, sophisticated cities, and colossal castles. It is also known for its chocolate,
00:11cheese, its banking system, and watches. The country also has its own currency, the Swiss
00:17Franc. If you look at the map, you'll see that Switzerland is located right in the middle
00:22of the European countries. It is a landlocked, mountainous country that shares its 1,935
00:29square kilometer border with these European countries, Austria, France, Germany, Italy,
00:35and parts of Liechtenstein. There are three distinct geographical regions in the country.
00:41The Alps, which cover roughly 58% of the country, followed by the Central Plateau, which accounts
00:47for 31%, and the Jura, which accounts for about 11%. It also has 49 mountain peaks that
00:54are 4,000 meters or higher in elevation. But how did a country with a land area of
00:5941,285 square kilometers manage to remain neutral and unaffected, particularly during
01:06World Wars I and II? Did anyone try to conquer it? And if they did, how come they did not
01:12succeed? In this video, we are going to share 8 reasons why Switzerland is practically untouchable
01:18even today.
01:20Number 1. Its Military Power
01:23You wouldn't believe it, but just this year, Switzerland was ranked 32nd out of 142 countries
01:29in terms of a military power ranking. Considering that the country only measures 41,285 square
01:36kilometers, it sure says a lot about them. So, how did Switzerland come to be where they
01:42are now? The army of the country had a reputation, which they solidified during the Napoleonic
01:48Wars. After this period, this lovely and peaceful country began to organize its military.
01:54Even though Switzerland did not participate in World War II, they were required to main
01:58vigilance, so they used Type 41 patrol boats that were armed with machine guns to keep
02:03their territory safe. Even then, the country went to commission nine ships during the years
02:081941 and 1944. Sooner or later, these ships were upgraded in 1964 with advanced radars,
02:16radios, and modern armament, and remained in service until the late 1980s. The Swiss
02:22army also uses advanced riverine patrol boats called the Patrouillenboot 80 to patrol the
02:27lakes Geneva, Lucerne, Lugano, Maggiore, and Constance. Motorboat Company 10 was in charge
02:34of one of these, which was a Corps of Engineers vessel. But later in June of 2019, Marine
02:39Alutek, a Finnish shipbuilder, delivered the first four of the 14 Patrouillenboot 16, the
02:45successor of the Patrouillenboot 80, to the flotilla as a mark of heritage. These were
02:50just a few demonstrations of how the Swiss took to defending their country.
02:54Today, every physically fit male Swiss citizen is conscripted into the army, with the majority
02:59serving in the reserves. Usually, when the men reach the prime age of 19, they are recruited.
03:06Recruits who do not speak the local language will be taught in their native tongue, except
03:10for a small number of Roman-speaking recruits who will be taught in German. Officers are
03:14not usually careering regulars, as they are in most other comparable armed forces. Once
03:20they are all taken in, the soldiers would be required to complete an 18-week recruit
03:24school. This was established as part of the country's recent army reform. Not everyone
03:29makes it through the screening process. Those found unsuitable for military or civil protection
03:34services or are incapable of performing those services are exempt from serving, but they
03:39must pay a 3% annual income tax until they reach the age of 37 unless they are disabled.
03:46If a male candidate does not want to opt for military service, there are other options
03:50available. If the conscripts are found to be physically fit for regular military service
03:55but object for religious reasons, they can apply for civilian service instead. This was
04:00a rule implemented in 1996. While serving civil service, the conscript has to undertake
04:07a variety of social services, such as cultural site reconstruction, elderly assistance,
04:12and other non-military activities. Though these services are 340 days longer than military
04:18training, they must complete them. Others who don't want to apply for civil service
04:23and are found to be unfit for regular military service have to work as assistants in the
04:27police department, fire department, or health departments as laid out by the Swiss government.
04:33They can also choose natural disaster relief and crowd control operations amongst these.
04:38When it comes to women, they are not required to serve in the military, however, they can
04:43volunteer for any position. In 2016, 18,000 women soldiers had to be conscripted because
04:49of a shortage in the annual number. When women join the military services, they automatically
04:55have the same rights and responsibilities as men in the military, and they can join
04:59any service, including combat units.
05:03Some Important Timeless We Must Know About Switzerland's Military
05:07In March of 2007, the Swiss Federal Assembly approved a resolution to eliminate the requirement
05:12to keep weapons at military bases. Since then, soldiers no longer need to carry any ammunition
05:18during guard duty. Soldiers who wish to avoid carrying arms are allowed to sign up for unarmed
05:24service. However, they must still wear a uniform and keep themselves ready to defend Switzerland
05:28if needed. On September 22, 2013, a referendum was held
05:34in Switzerland to abolish conscription. Over 73% of those who voted against eliminating
05:39conscription with a turnout of 47% voted no. The Swiss Armed Forces had 120,496 active
05:48duty personnel as of 1 March 2017, with 9,163 professionals and the rest being conscripts
05:56or volunteers. Women made up 929 of the total military volunteers, accounting for less than
06:031% of the total, with over 25% serving as officers.
06:082. Switzerland's Economic System Because of its small size and closeness to
06:15the rest of Europe, the Swiss economy is strong. Its small population ensures steady growth,
06:21and its geographic location allows it to take advantage of open borders with neighboring
06:27The banking system in Switzerland is also efficient and stable with the added benefit
06:31of having a strong stock market foundation. The tax system in the country is also very
06:36competitive which attracts foreign investors. Exports are important to both large and small
06:41businesses in the country. These characteristics lead to a strong economy and prosperity.
06:47Furthermore, because Switzerland is located in Europe, it will always have market access
06:52and competition. It has excellent infrastructure as well as a stable political environment.
06:58As a result, the country provides an appealing environment for new businesses looking for
07:02a low-cost base of operations. Meanwhile, Switzerland's tax system is decentralized,
07:08meaning that each canton sets its taxes. This allows each canton to create its tax policy,
07:14and that's fantastic. Switzerland's labor market is also stable,
07:18with the lowest unemployment rate in the entire world. The reason for this is that
07:23the country has a large workforce that is both skilled and educated. Strikes are also
07:28uncommon due to the country's social partnership between employees and employers. Because of
07:34the favorable economic climate, many multinational corporations have set up their businesses
07:39in Switzerland. We've all seen it in the movies that if someone
07:43wants to hide their stash of cash, they go to the Swiss, and there's a reason why.
07:48The Swiss financial sector, after all, is a global leader in transaction financing,
07:53as well as a major center for insurance and reinsurance. That is why you will find a large
07:58number of banks and insurance companies in Switzerland. The main financial hubs are Zurich
08:03and Geneva, both of which have an international reputation, with Lugano coming in third. You
08:09will be amazed to know that the Swiss financial sector is an important part of the Swiss economy
08:14as it contributes roughly 10% to its GDP. It's no surprise that the Swiss take their
08:20money very seriously. In addition, the country has advanced financial policies that work
08:25in conjunction with international tax, anti-money laundering, and anti-terrorist financing
08:31to maintain financial market stability. These financial policies also have an appropriate
08:36legal and regulatory framework, such as removing barriers to market access for fintech firms
08:42That allows their financial sector to provide high-quality products and services while remaining
08:47innovative.
08:48The Swiss are also known to have the highest income rates in the EU. But with high wages,
08:54the cost of living is also high. So where do the Swiss spend most of their money? They
08:59usually spend nearly one-third of their total income on social security, taxes, and health
09:05insurance. The reason for this is to get additional benefits. Also, they believe in saving around
09:1110% of their income just in case of any emergencies.
09:16Number 3. Advanced Telecommunications
09:20What do you think makes Switzerland a highly attractive location for technological business?
09:25Its ultra-modern radio and television, mobile and fixed networks, and broadband infrastructure
09:30are the reason for this. It is also one of the reasons why you will find big IT companies
09:35like Google, Facebook, and more in this place.
09:39How did things get to this point? A lot has changed since the first national medium-wave
09:44radio transmissions in the early 1930s. Today, the Swiss are known to have cutting-edge telecommunications
09:50systems. You will be surprised to know that Switzerland is one of the first countries
09:54in the world to implement the new 5G wireless technology. In Switzerland, other fixed networks
10:01and broadband infrastructure are constantly being upgraded. It's no surprise that there
10:05are world-class telecommunications companies there. These businesses can also take advantage
10:10of Switzerland's extensive fiber-optic network.
10:14Number 4. Energy and Weaponry Systems
10:17It's interesting to note that non-renewable or imported energy accounts for roughly 80%
10:24of Switzerland's energy consumption. Oil, nuclear and hydroelectric power and natural
10:30gas have long been Switzerland's primary sources of energy. The country wanted to do
10:35something different about climate change. They thought of changing the way they used
10:39energy. In 2011, they began an energy transition to decrease their reliance on fossil fuel
10:45imports. In came the Energy Strategy 2050. This plan was launched by the Federal Council
10:51in 2011. Its main motive was to reduce consumption and promote the use of more environmentally
10:57friendly energy sources. The new Energy Strategy, which is already being implemented in stages,
11:03also aims to significantly reduce non-renewable energy consumption and increase the share
11:08of renewables in Switzerland's energy mix by 2050. Additionally, the Energy Strategy
11:14also stated that when the country's nuclear power plants reach the end of their useful
11:18lives, they will be decommissioned.
11:21The weaponry system in Switzerland is also impressive. According to the Stockholm International
11:26Peace Research Institute, or the SIPRI, it is currently the 14th largest exporter of
11:32weapons. The amount of weapons they export has an impact on the country's GDP. The
11:37weapons and firearms sector alone contributed 2.5% to the country's GDP in 2020. When
11:43you consider that Switzerland is a small country, that is a huge number.
11:48In 2020, Swiss companies exported $965 million worth of military equipment to 62 countries.
11:57The following year, global military spending surpassed $2 trillion for the first time ever,
12:02setting a new high. When measured in global terms, this amount accounts for roughly 0.7%
12:08of all official military equipment exports.
12:12Number 5. The Industrial Strength
12:16When it comes to machine and electrical engineering and the metals industry, Switzerland is the
12:21largest employer and exporter. To date, there are a total of 500,000 people who work in
12:27the machine, electrical engineering, and metal industries. In 2015, Swiss exports in this
12:33industry accounted for 31% of total exports, while the European Union as a whole accounted
12:39for 60%. This means that Switzerland accounts for nearly half of the total exports produced
12:45by Europe. Now that's impressive!
12:48This was not always the case in Switzerland, however. The industry began taking shape after
12:53the textile manufacturing revolution during the 19th century. Swiss companies began automating
12:58production around this time. They began developing their machines to avoid having to rely on
13:04their English competitors for the necessary machinery. Chemical and metal companies in
13:08Switzerland, particularly machine tool and textile and printing machine manufacturers,
13:13are among the most competitive in the world today. In terms of volume, Switzerland is
13:18among the top 10 exporters of machinery in the world. There are over 2,500 companies
13:24represented, including major brands like ABB, Alstom, Liebherr, George Fisher, Sulzer, Buecher
13:32Industries, Buehler Holding, and Schindler.
13:366. Advanced Mobility
13:39Because of its central location in Europe, Switzerland plays a significant role in the
13:43cross-Alpine transportation of people and goods. As a result, they have constructed
13:48the world's longest railway tunnel. The Swiss have also built several roads and railway
13:53tunnels to cross the Alps along Europe's north-south axis, but when it comes to transportation,
13:59they would always choose rail over other options. Switzerland's economy, like all economies,
14:05relies on rail, road, and air transportation. However, rail is considered one of the pillars
14:10of Swiss mobility in Switzerland. The Swiss love their trains. You'll be surprised to
14:15learn that they are the world leaders in train travel, and they regard trains and railways
14:20as the most important mode of transportation. The Swiss are also environmentally conscious,
14:25so they choose their modes of transportation carefully. Currently, Switzerland is pursuing
14:30a policy of shifting freight transport from road to rail to reduce the impact on the population
14:35and the environment. You might also be surprised to learn that each resident of Switzerland
14:41travels by rail, covering an average of 2,400 kilometers per year.
14:477. Bomb Shelter and Anti-War Housing
14:52The world was crippled as a result of World War II. Even though Switzerland did not participate
14:57in the war, it began constructing homes with 40-centimeter-thick concrete ceilings to help
15:02its citizens survive firebombings such as the ones that destroyed Hamburg and Dresden.
15:07They started building radiation and blast shelters in the 1960s that could withstand
15:121 to 3 bars or 100 to 300 kPa of pressure from a nuclear explosion. Blast shelters,
15:20which can accommodate 114% of the Swiss population, must first be built following the country's
15:26building codes. There are also large underground parking garages in small towns that could
15:30serve as sealed community shelters. In addition to this, the country has hospitals and command
15:36centers in place to keep the country running in the event of an emergency. However, how
15:41does the country ensure that these are maintained? Every family or rental agency in Switzerland
15:47has to pay a replacement tax to support these shelters. If they couldn't, they could own
15:51a personal shelter in their home.
15:54Number 8. Prepared for Combat
15:58The Swiss are always well-prepared. Even throughout history, they have always found a way to reclaim
16:04their lands. During the Cold War, Switzerland was prepared for a Russian invasion. The reason
16:09for this is that the Soviet Union associated it with NATO despite the country's declaration
16:14of neutrality. The goal of an invasion, according to the Swiss government, would be to control
16:20the economically important transport routes through the Swiss Alps, specifically the Goddard,
16:25Simplon, and Great St. Bernard Passes. As a result, the country prepared for it without
16:30hesitation. Are you curious as to what steps were taken? Let's look at what we know about
16:36Switzerland's battle-ready plans.
16:38If an invasion were to occur from the country's borders, the Swiss armed forces would retreat
16:43to the mountains and engage in guerrilla warfare. Furthermore, nearly every land entry into
16:49the country is rigged with explosives, not to mention the AA and anti-tank guns hidden
16:54in the mountains that only the Swiss army knows about. They also constructed permanent
16:59fortifications in the Alps to serve as bases for fighting enemies in the fertile valleys.
17:04The Swiss have also built camouflaged cannons and fortifications near the Firka Pass in
17:09the Goddard region. The fortifications at St. Maurice, the Goddard Pass area, and Sargens
17:15are said to be the best built in the country as these are the country's entry points.
17:20Though the army hasn't used the fortification on the west side of the RhĂ´ne at St. Maurice
17:24since the early 1990s, the east side, also known as Cetan, is still in use. Tunnels,
17:31highways, railroads, and bridges are usually planned by a military officer because they
17:36are built with tank traps and demolition charges to be used against invading forces.
17:42Guns are a common thing. The purpose of this was to prevent enemy forces from attempting
17:46to rebuild. If there were attacks through airspace, the aircraft, crew, and supporting
17:52equipment are housed in the caverns that are adjacent to normal runways. This makes it
17:57easier for the Swiss army to fight without losing much time.
18:02I hope these reasons have justified why Switzerland is untouchable. If you think we've missed
18:07out on a few, do let us know in the comment section below. If you liked our content, you
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