Zürich15°Partly cloudy
Filtered by Topic
Latest History news and updates from Switzerland. AI-curated articles covering History topics.
← Show All NewsSwitzerland
Swiss historian Sacha Zala has been elected president of the International Council of Historical Sciences, the global organisation’s first Swiss leader in the current cycle. The article should explain Zala’s role, the significance of his work at the Dodis research centre and what his election says about Switzerland’s contribution to international historical scholarship.
4 days ago · 1 source
Politics
A review of archival files from the 'Secret Files Scandal' era has revealed that Swiss police secretly monitored at least 39 individuals who would later serve as government ministers, including prominent figures like Ruth Dreifuss and Christoph Blocher.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Politics
Switzerland acts as the 'depositary state' for 75 international treaties, including the renowned Geneva Conventions. But what does this responsibility entail? This article explains the unique diplomatic function and its significance for international humanitarian law.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Swiss National Day
As August 1st approaches, a new poll shows a majority of Swiss associate the nation's birth with the 1848 federal state, rather than the 1291 pact. This evolving sense of identity comes as the Swiss president's annual address emphasizes enduring values during times of crisis.
The Local Switzerland · +2 more
History
A significant archaeological find in Windisch, Aargau, has uncovered the first Roman camp wall from the early reign of Emperor Tiberius. The discovery provides new insights into the military history of the ancient settlement of Vindonissa and its expansion.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Archaeology
Archaeologists in Windisch, canton Aargau, have made a landmark discovery: a timber-and-earth wall from the first Roman military camp in Vindonissa, dating back to the reign of Emperor Tiberius. The find provides unprecedented insight into the early Roman presence in the region.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Culture
In a significant act of cultural restitution, three Swiss museums have officially returned 18 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. The artifacts were looted by British colonial troops in 1897 and had been in Swiss collections for years.
SWI swissinfo.ch
History
The town of Murten marked the 550th anniversary of its pivotal 1476 battle, a victory that cemented the Swiss Confederacy's military reputation in Europe. The event, attended by thousands, highlights the battle's surprising and lasting legacies on Swiss identity and history.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +1 more
History
In a historic act of rehabilitation, Switzerland has officially repealed the convictions of 466 Swiss citizens who were sentenced for fighting in the French Resistance during World War II, formally correcting a controversial chapter of its past.
The Local Switzerland
History
In a symbolic act of reparation, the town of Yverdon-les-Bains will rename a street after Pauline Buisson, a domestic worker brought to Switzerland in 1776, to posthumously grant her the social recognition she was denied in life and shed light on a hidden part of Swiss history.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Culture
A British silent film from 1900, 'Diving for Treasure', long thought to be lost, has been discovered and restored by the Cinémathèque suisse. The short film, attributed to pioneering director Robert W. Paul, is considered a major find for cinema history.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Environment
The major project to clear a World War II ammunition depot in Mitholz, Bernese Oberland, has been delayed by two years to 2047. The setback is due to unexpectedly high levels of contaminated material, which complicates the excavation and treatment process and extends the required evacuation period for local residents.
SWI swissinfo.ch
History
The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service has granted access to its file on Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele, a move applauded by the International Auschwitz Committee. The documents are expected to shed new light on the notorious doctor's post-war movements.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +1 more
Arts
The SKKG Foundation in Winterthur will return the Ferdinand Hodler painting 'Lake Thun with Blüemlisalp and Niesen' to the heirs of its former Jewish owner, Martha Adrianna Nathan, who was forced to sell the artwork due to persecution by the Nazi regime.
SWI swissinfo.ch
History
The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service is granting public access to its previously classified file on notorious Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele, revealing new details about his time in and connections to Switzerland after World War II.
SWI swissinfo.ch
History
In a solemn and historic act, the Swiss House of Representatives has officially recognized the 20th-century state-sponsored practice of forcibly removing children from Yenish and Sinti families as a crime against humanity, expressing national regret for the suffering caused.
SWI swissinfo.ch
History
On the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, a look back at how fear of radioactive fallout swept across Switzerland, leading to public confusion, warnings about produce, and pushback from vegetable growers against federal health advice.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Politics
The Federal Commission for Women’s Issues has awarded its first-ever prize to former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss, recognizing her significant and lasting contributions to equality policy and women's rights in Switzerland over several decades.
SWI swissinfo.ch
History
A rare archaeological discovery in Windisch, the site of the Roman settlement of Vindonissa, has yielded the charred remains of a 2,000-year-old flatbread. This unique find offers new insights into the daily life and diet of the ancient Roman legionary camp.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Archaeology
New analysis of a well-preserved Neolithic settlement discovered in Biel/Bienne reveals the village existed for less than five years before being devastated by a severe storm and flooding in 3838 BC.
SWI swissinfo.ch
