Around 100 people took part in a ceremony in Lausanne on Saturday to pay tribute to Swiss volunteers who served alongside French forces during the First World War.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone SDA/sb
This weekend ceremonies are being held around the world to mark 100 years since the end of World War I. The Lausanne tribute, organised by French veterans, was held at the Bois-de-Vaux cemetery.
Dominique Vanthier, President of the Union of former French Combattants in Switzerland, said this is the first time such a ceremony had been held in Switzerland. According to research carried out by the association, 2,939 Swiss volunteers died while fighting on the French side during the First World War.
The tribute was attended by the Vaud State Councillor Béatrice Métraux and Anne-Marie Glady, deputy to the French Military Attaché in Switzerland. Several senior Swiss army officers were also present, including Divisional Commander Yvon Langel.
The ceremony was marked by a reading by students from Lausanne’s French School of letters and poems by Charles Péguy, who died on the front in September 1914. A Swiss guard of honour and a brass band were also present in Lausanne.
In addition to these Swiss volunteers, many foreigners lived in Switzerland who left in August 1914 to fight for their countries of origin. After the war, various communities of foreigners in Switzerland erected monuments to honour their fighters.
During the First World War, Switzerland also welcomed more than 65,000 prisoners of war for humanitarian reasons from 1916 to 1919. They were either seriously ill or wounded or relatively old. A number of them died in Switzerland, where they are buried.
More
More
Switzerland’s armistice memories, carved in stone
This content was published on
On Sunday, many countries are celebrating the centenary of the end of the First World War. Monuments to the fallen have a special place.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
This content was published on
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Swissinfo's parent company, must restructure due to financial pressures and to stay competitive in the fast-moving media environment.
This content was published on
There has been a sharp decline in the consumption of single-use disposable plastic bags and reusable plastic bags in the Swiss retail sector.
This content was published on
A biometric Swiss identity card (ID) is expected to be available in Switzerland by the end of 2026. The Federal Office of Police and its federal and cantonal partners are working on a new ID card that features a chip.
Heatwave reduces output at Swiss nuclear power plant by 50%
This content was published on
The ongoing heatwave has forced the Beznau nuclear power plant, which relies on water from the River Aare, to halve its output.
Swiss continue to enjoy high social mobility, study shows
This content was published on
Opportunities for upward social mobility have remained intact in Switzerland since the 1980s. Social mobility is exceptionally high by international comparison, a study shows.
Swiss government affected by cyberattack on health foundation
This content was published on
Switzerland says a ransomware attack on the non-profit health foundation Radix that involved data being stolen and encrypted had also affected the federal administration.
Federal Council agrees to investigation into alleged Swiss-Russian spying affair
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland can open spying investigations into the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS).
Appeal launched against Starlink satellite antennae project planned in Swiss village
This content was published on
A group of Swiss citizens has filed an appeal against plans to install 40 Starlink satellite antennae in the mountain village of Leuk in southern Switzerland.
UBS launches buyback scheme for up to $2 billion in shares
This content was published on
UBS is starting a share buyback programme for up to $2 billion (CHF1.6 billion) in shares, in line with a plan approved at its annual general meeting (AGM) in April, the Swiss bank said on Monday.
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
When Switzerland opened its arms to POWs
This content was published on
Based on agreements with the belligerent nations, who paid the costs, 68000 sick and wounded British, French, German, Belgian, Canadian and Indian prisoners were interned for several months in sanatoria and hotels. These were mainly located in Alpine tourist resorts, thus supporting an industry lying idle due to the great war. The programme underlined the…
This content was published on
The First World War, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, saw thousands of Swiss join up to fight alongside the French. From Blaise Cendrars and Valdo Barbey to Edouard Junod, many left poignant accounts of life in the trenches.
This content was published on
Troop numbers varied depending on the potential threats over the border. In August 1914, there were around 220,000 soldiers called up, but only 12,500 by the end of the war. Most men spent on average 500 days serving. The Swiss army didn’t take part in any fighting, but approximately 3,000 men died because of accidents…
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.