What did the European powers establish for Switzerland at the Congress of Vienna in 1815?
Was haben die europäischen Mächte am Wiener Kongress 1815 für die Schweiz festgelegt?
Correct answer: A
- A the observance of neutralitydie Befolgung der Neutralität
- B the abolition of customs duties at the Swiss bordersdie Aufhebung der Zölle an den Schweizer Grenzen
- C the renunciation of mercenary serviceden Verzicht auf das Söldnerwesen
- D the separation from Austriadie Loslösung von Österreich
Why
After Napoleon, the great powers wanted a neutral zone in the middle of Europe. At the Congress of Vienna they established neutrality, and on 20 November 1815 they confirmed Switzerland's «perpetual neutrality».
Common mistakes
- C: the renunciation of mercenary service
- Swiss mercenaries served in foreign armies for a long time after that; mercenary service was only banned in 1859.
- D: the separation from Austria
- Switzerland was not part of Austria; there was nothing it had to separate from in 1815.
Topic
Being neutral means: Switzerland does not get involved in armed conflicts, in other words wars, between other states. It does not help any warring party with soldiers. It does not let foreign troops pass through its territory. Switzerland protects its neutrality with its own army. That is why people speak of armed neutrality.
- 58 BCHelvetii and Romans
- 1291The Rütli and William Tell
- 1515Marignano
- 1523The Reformation
- 1798The French and Napoleon
- 1815Neutrality
- 1848Sonderbund War and the federal state
- 19th c.From agrarian state to industrial state
- 1918National general strike
- 1939–1945Second World War
- 1948Prosperity and AHV
- 1970Immigration and the Schwarzenbach initiative
- 1971Women's suffrage and equal rights
- 1979The youngest canton: Jura
History of Switzerland
Reformation, Napoleon and neutrality
Sources
Last checked: September 2026
Question 234 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.