Swiss Passport

Neutrality since 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.

Neutral does not mean that Switzerland stays alone. It concludes many treaties with other states, including states at war. It is a member of the UN and trades with the whole world. It also offers «good offices», for example as a venue for peace talks.

After the Napoleonic wars, the European great powers reorganised Europe. This happened at the Congress of Vienna in 1814 and 1815. There they established that Switzerland should remain neutral. On 20 November 1815 in Paris, the great powers recognised Switzerland's «perpetual neutrality». At the same time, Geneva, Valais and Neuchâtel joined as new cantons.

Memory aid: 1815 in Vienna: the great powers say «neutral», and Switzerland has stayed that way ever since.

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

Key terms

Neutralität
Neutrality: a state does not take part in wars between other states.
Wiener Kongress
Congress of Vienna: conference of the European powers in 1814/1815 that reorganised Europe after Napoleon.
bewaffnete Neutralität
Armed neutrality: Switzerland is neutral but defends itself with its own army.

Exam questions on this topic

  1. Switzerland is neutral. What does that mean?Correct answer: C, It does not get involved in armed conflicts between other states.
  2. What did the European powers establish for Switzerland at the Congress of Vienna in 1815?Correct answer: A, the observance of neutrality

Sources

Last checked: September 2026