War graves monument with Nazi links found in Switzerland
The controversial monument to German war dead is one of many memorials around Switzerland that have provoked heated debate.
Volksbund German War Graves Commission
A monument to German war dead, which has links to Nazi sympathisers, is the source of embarrassment in a city in southeast Switzerland.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
The large stone monument has been discovered by Swiss public television SRF in a cemetery in Chur, where it was erected in 1938.
It was built by the German War Graves Commission to commemorate soldiers lost during World War I. The problem is that the War Graves Commission was deeply influenced by Nazi philosophy in the 1930s.
More
More
Up in arms: controversial legacies in Switzerland
This content was published on
The debate on how to deal with racist monuments and symbols has been reignited in Switzerland.
The organisation had hoped to erect a number of monuments in German-speaking Switzerland in the same era, but the plan was stopped by adverse public sentiment, according to SRF.
After World War II, Switzerland purged Nazi groups and their supporters from the country. But the monument was left behind and forgotten about until now.
Several monuments linked to slavery and racism in different locations have come under the spotlight.
More
More
Switzerland joins debate about removing controversial memorials
This content was published on
Global anti-racism protests after the death of George Floyd have reignited the debate about contentious monuments in the US and Europe.
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Switzerland to give millions to three UN organisations
This content was published on
Switzerland is supporting Unicef, UN Women and the UN Population Fund this year with a total of CHF39 million ($47 million).
Electricity reserves still needed in Switzerland in midterm
This content was published on
Switzerland's energy supply remains uncertain. Electricity reserves are still needed in the medium term, the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom) said.
ICRC says next few days will be ‘decisive’ for aid to Gaza
This content was published on
The next few days will be absolutely decisive if the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to continue providing aid in the Gaza Strip, said its director-general Pierre Krähenbühl.
Switzerland unveils a national drought-detection system
This content was published on
Switzerland launched on Thursday a new national system for detecting drought and warning the population and authorities in advance.
Federal coffers to get CHF100 million boost from Swiss Post
This content was published on
Swiss Post will pay a dividend of CHF100 million ($121 million) to the Confederation this year, the company announced on Thursday.
Swiss Federal Railways satisfied with bodycams for transport police
This content was published on
Since the introduction of body-worn cameras, the frequency of assaults on Swiss Federal Railways transport police has fallen by 25%.
Zurich cantonal government to compensate victims of forced labour
This content was published on
Victims of past forced labour measures in canton Zurich could soon apply to receive a one-off solidarity compensation of CHF25,000 ($30,255).
Risk of a real-estate bubble in Switzerland grew in first quarter
This content was published on
The risk of a bubble in the Swiss property market increased slightly in the first three months of the year compared with the previous quarter, says UBS.
French authorities order Nestlé to remove its filtration system
This content was published on
Authorities in the south of France have served formal notice to Nestlé Waters, a subsidiary of the Swiss food giant, to "withdraw within two months" its microfiltration system for its Perrier mineral water.
Switzerland says pushbacks at border by Germany are unlawful
This content was published on
Switzerland considers Germany's planned systematic pushbacks at the border to be contrary to existing law, the department of justice has said.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland joins debate about removing controversial memorials
This content was published on
Global anti-racism protests after the death of George Floyd have reignited the debate about contentious monuments in the US and Europe.
This content was published on
Which monuments shape the public sphere is determined by tradition and administration. This should change, argues a group of academics and curators.
Johann August Sutter: a Swiss pioneer with a dark side
This content was published on
From hero of the old West to racist colonialist: opinion on Swiss pioneer Johann August Sutter has changed in recent decades.
Zurich’s historical ties to slave trade are exposed
This content was published on
As a result, the city’s authorities are examining several statues to see if they are suitable monuments and are looking into ways to highlight its murky past. The University of Zurich study highlights several investments, direct holdings and trade links between the Swiss city and slavery, mainly in the 18th century. The city itself bought…
University of Geneva removes controversial building name
This content was published on
The University of Geneva has decided to remove the name of “Carl Vogt”, a 19th-century naturalist accused of holding racist views, from a building.
Switzerland calls ban of Memorial International a violation of freedom
This content was published on
The Alpine nation raised concerns about the dissolution of Russian human rights NGO Memorial International by the Supreme Court.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.