Switzerland famously remained neutral during World War II, but the incendiary effects of that conflict almost led the landlocked Central European country to create a uranium bomb in the interest of protecting the nation. That was the secret directive Federal Councillor Karl Kobelt gave in 1946, as other nations around the world developed their own nuclear capabilities.
Switzerland’s proposed atomic bomb never came to fruition, but voters did add a civil protection clause to the Federal Constitution in 1959, amid growing Cold War tensions. In 1963, the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection devised a plan to protect Swiss citizens “in the event of major incidents of loss, catastrophes, emergencies, and armed conflicts.”
To this day, Switzerland is home to hundreds of thousands of underground shelters designed to offer protection to the Swiss in the event of war, including a nuclear attack. Under Swiss law, every resident is “guaranteed a shelter in the vicinity of their place of residence.” Many private homes have private bunkers, and there are large underground shelters in urban areas to protect people living in apartments. There are around 360,000 private bunkers and 2,300 large public shelters—theoretically, enough for everyone in the country to have a place (though some urban areas have been criticized for failing to maintain enough spaces). Most Swiss homes built from the 1960s to 1980s have bunkers, though the rules have now been relaxed, and only new residential buildings with at least 38 rooms need nuclear bunkers.
These shelters include features like reinforced concrete walls, massive blast-proof doors, shelves that can be converted into bunk beds, explosion protection valves, emergency exits, backup power supplies, and air filtration systems.
In many Swiss homes, private bunkers are viewed as Cold War relics and are often used as wine cellars, workshops, or storage areas, though they may be officially inspected from time to time. Public facilities are regularly checked and kept stocked with supplies in case of emergency, though these facilities have sometimes found alternative uses, such as serving as military barracks or temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
A sense of security:
- In the event of a national emergency, Swiss residents will be alerted through a series of sirens and alarms, along with the AlertSwiss app; each canton is responsible for notifying its residents of their designated place of shelter.
- Switzerland’s bunkers system also extends to the protection of cultural assets. A facility in Heimiswil in the Emmental region preserves unique, irreplaceable cultural artifacts. Information about important buildings, documents, and works of art is stored on microfilm in steel containers.
- According to one estimate, if all of Switzerland’s shelter facilities were placed end-to-end, they would extend approximately 746 miles (1,200 km).
- Switzerland enforces mandatory military service for all able-bodied male citizens (women may volunteer for service, but are not conscripted). Exemptions and alternatives are in place for those who object on grounds of conscience or are not considered fit for military service.
