The folk hero
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Henri Guisan in 1939 at army headquarters in Interlaken, shortly after being promoted to the rank of general. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
Greeting uniformed children in the mountain village of Engelberg, 1943. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
Guisan is elected commander-in-chief of the armed forces by parliament on August 30, 1939. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
Getting a first-hand look at the western Swiss border, October 1944. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
Together with government minister Karl Kobelt (r) at a football match in Bern between Switzerland and Germany on April 20, 1941. The Swiss won, 2-1. The Germans at their sides give the Nazi salute. (RDB) RDB -
The general speaks with a girl dressed as an angel during a Christmas celebration for soldiers on December 24, 1943. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
On July 25, 1940, Guisan summons all high-ranking Swiss officers to the Rütli Meadow, considered the birthplace of the country. Here he orders the defence of Switzerland, now surrounded by the Axis powers. (RDB) RDB -
Guisan gives his autograph to a girl during the traditional shooting competition held on the Rütli Meadow, 1939. (Keystone/Photopress) swissinfo.ch -
Guisan is given a ceremonial send off from the army in front of parliament on August 19 1945. (Keystone/Photopress) RDB -
Portraits of Guisan hung in many public buildings, like this bar in Chardonnay, canton Vaud. (Keystone/Photopress) RDB -
The retired general fishing from the Lake Geneva shore, 1954. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
An early photo of the future army leader showing off his horse-riding skills, 1902. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
Guisan (with cigarette) during a stay in Wildbad, Germany, 1891. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
Guisan's casket is carried by soldiers to the cemetery in Pully near Lausanne. He died on April 7, 1960. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone -
The funeral procession was attended by 300,000 people - making it the largest funeral in Swiss history. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone
Switzerland commemorates its Second World War commander-in-chief.
This content was published on April 7, 2010 - 09:47
General Henri Guisan (1874-1960) personified Swiss resistance during the war. The charismatic general was revered by the Swiss population, and would become a larger-than-life figure. (photo editor: Christoph Balsiger, swissinfo.ch)
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