Swiss war memorials on Swisstopo
The Swiss Armed Forces have compiled an inventory of existing army and war memorials in Switzerland and published it online. The directory provides an overview of around 900 memorials in digital form.
In many places in Switzerland there are numerous sculptures, obelisks and commemorative plaques commemorating battles at the time of the Old Confederation, European wars or the presence of the army. Only a few of them are well-known, such as the Forch Monument in Küsnacht or the Lion Monument in Lucerne. Most of the commemorative signs, however, stand inconspicuously on roadsides or hang on the walls of houses.
An inventory now compiles these monuments for the first time and gives them visibility in an overall view. Monuments that refer to battles of the old Swiss Confederation or to the active services of the army have been presented and categorized. But also memorials in memory of military units, personalities of military history or army accidents are listed. Almost 300 monuments also recall the presence of foreign troops in Switzerland.
The inventory is on the website of the Swiss Army published. The monuments are divided into categories and recorded photographically. A short report contextualizes and explains the inventory. The Federal Office of Topography Swisstopo has also transferred the monuments as a layer on the national map.
The inventory of army and war memorials is connected with the memorial place for the deceased of the army. This will be built in the next few years at the Army Training Center Lucerne (AAL). In this context, the inventory will also become a virtual space of remembrance and thanksgiving for the members of the armed forces who served in the service for the security and freedom of Switzerland.
Source: The Federal Council
