Schweizer Heldengeschichten - und was dahintersteckt

Foreign Guardians: Perpetual Neutrality as a Special Case in Europe. National conservative politics draws from a toolbox of Swiss myths to foster current identity formation and European policy. Such keywords come into sharper public focus in 2015, as the battles of Morgarten in 1315 and Marignano in 1515, as well as the Congress of Vienna in 1815, are commemorated. Thomas Maissen, who achieved great success in 2010 with his "History of Switzerland," takes a sober look at Swiss heroic tales, the federal oath and Réduit, humanitarian traditions, and the nation of will in 15 chapters. He explains how these keywords have emerged historiographically and what we know today about the real historical context. In doing so, he provides guidance in a time when Switzerland must question its historical narratives.