Der Schweizerische Generalstab 10

During the entire period depicted, there was a fierce dispute between the general staff and politics regarding the concept of Swiss national defense. How should Switzerland defend itself against the red threat, the only identifiable opponent? With light or heavy tanks? With fighter or ground attack aircraft? Or even with its own atomic bombs? The Mirage affair of 1964 was the climax of these conflicts: it cost a federal councilor his position. From this crisis situation, the broadly supported concept of "defense" emerged in 1966. This Swiss form of warfare shaped the country's security policy until the end of the Cold War. The profound historical account of these events serves as an important starting point for later research on Switzerland during the Cold War.