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Back in Switzerland

Homecomers to Switzerland were not always given a warm welcome, as a small selection of historic pictures from the Ringier archives show.

During the Second World War camps were set up for young and destitute Swiss coming home in an effort to occupy them, but also to keep them away from the strained labour market.

As part of a medical check-up at the border they were put in quarantine for up to three weeks. Those without relatives or jobs were housed in special accommodation.

The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) was founded in 1916 and represents the political interests of the increasing expat community of more than 700,000 people.

The historical pictures are kept by the Aargau Cantonal Archive.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR