Swiss Passport

During the national general strike (Landesstreik) of 1918, workers demanded more rights. What was one consequence of the national strike?

Beim Landesstreik 1918 forderten die Arbeitenden mehr Rechte. Was war eine Folge des Landesstreiks?

Correct answer: A

  1. A The 48-hour week was introduced.Die 48-Stunden-Woche wurde eingeführt.
  2. B Workers could travel to work by train free of charge.Die Arbeitenden konnten mit der Eisenbahn gratis zur Arbeit fahren.
  3. C Workers got 6 weeks of holiday.Arbeitenden bekamen 6 Wochen Ferien.
  4. D The factories became state property.Die Fabriken wurden Eigentum des Staates.

Why

The 48-hour week was one of the nine demands of the national general strike. It was introduced as early as 1919; before that, many people worked almost 60 hours a week.

Common mistakes

C: Workers got 6 weeks of holiday.
Holidays were not a main demand; even today, there is no legal right to 6 weeks of holiday in Switzerland.
D: The factories became state property.
The factories stayed in private hands; Switzerland did not nationalise its industry.

Topic

National general strike of 1918

During the First World War (1914 to 1918), many workers in Switzerland were badly off. Prices rose sharply, wages hardly at all. There was not enough food. Many people worked ten hours a day, six days a week. Many families could hardly pay for rent and food. The soldiers at the border also received little pay. Discontent grew, and there were more and more strikes.

Timeline of Swiss history
  1. 58 BCHelvetii and Romans
  2. 1291The Rütli and William Tell
  3. 1515Marignano
  4. 1523The Reformation
  5. 1798The French and Napoleon
  6. 1815Neutrality
  7. 1848Sonderbund War and the federal state
  8. 19th c.From agrarian state to industrial state
  9. 1918National general strike
  10. 1939–1945Second World War
  11. 1948Prosperity and AHV
  12. 1970Immigration and the Schwarzenbach initiative
  13. 1971Women's suffrage and equal rights
  14. 1979The youngest canton: Jura

History of Switzerland
The 20th century

Sources

Last checked: September 2026

Question 211 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.

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