The Swiss Patriotic Federation (german: Schweizerischer Vaterländischer Verband (SVV); french: Fédération patriotique suisse; it, Federazione patriottica svizzera (FPS)) was a

right-wing Right-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position on the basis of natural law, economics, authorit ...

political organisation in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

between 1919 and 1948. The SVV was set up on 5 April 1919 by Dr.

Eugen Bircher Eugen Bircher (17 February 1882 – 20 October 1956) was a Swiss politician and military leader who became associated with a pro-German position in the inter-war years. Military and political career Bircher came to prominence in the army where ...

as a reaction to the Swiss general strike of 1918 and violent and bloody revolutions and suppressions of these revolutions in nearby regions across the border. It also acted to oppose 'international emigration', which in effect became

anti-Semitism Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism. Antis ...

, with the group holding '' The Protocols of the Elders of Zion'' as fact, alongside a similar work ''Aufklärung zur Flüchtlingsfrage'' (''Shedding Light on the Refugee Question''). Bircher's position as a colonel in the

Swiss Army The Swiss Armed Forces (german: Schweizer Armee, french: Armée suisse, it, Esercito svizzero, rm, Armada svizra; ) operates on land and in the air, serving as the primary armed forces of Switzerland. Under the country's militia system, re ...

was such that he was able to bring many high-ranking officers in to the SVV, including General of the Swiss Armed Forces

Henri Guisan Henri Guisan (; 21 October 1874 – 7 April 1960) was a Swiss army officer who held the office of the General of the Swiss Armed Forces during the Second World War. He was the fourth and the most recent man to be appointed to the rarely use ...

. Although not specifically Nazi in its outlook, it nonetheless sought to maintain cordial relations with Nazi Germany. It was effectively open in its existence, but its membership was largely a closely guarded secret and as such the group became influential in driving government policy. Its influence was such that it was the only organisation with Nazi sympathies that was not closed down by the Swiss Federal Council in 1945. It was not dissolved until after it got caught up in a bribery scandal in 1948.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schweizerischer Vaterlandischer Verband Anti-immigration politics in Europe Antisemitism in Switzerland Political organisations based in Switzerland Organizations established in 1919 Organizations disestablished in 1948 1919 establishments in Switzerland 1948 establishments in Switzerland