Switzerland’s so-called Spiritual National Defence was one of the country’s most influential cultural-political movements in the 20th century. Through feature films like «Gilberte de Courgenay» (Franz Schnyder, 1941), the film industry also contributed to strengthening notions of Swiss identity. The short films in this programme are less known today, but they, too, reinforced the guiding principles of the Spiritual National Defence by perpetuating national historical myths, emphasizing humanitarian traditions, and warning against authoritarian forms of government.
Demokratie in Gefahr
Kurt Früh / Switzerland 1949 / 13'59" / DCP / black & white / German / Fic
In a nightmare, Jakob Rüegg (Schaggi Streuli) wakes up in a dictatorship. His freedoms are severely restricted: there is only one political party, the media are censored, and citizens live in constant fear of surveillance and denunciation. The film was commissioned by the Federal Department of Home Affairs and the city and canton of Zurich to warn the population of the dangers of totalitarian regimes and promote the values of democracy. Sadly, the theme is all too relevant again today.
Scènes de notre histoire
Charles Blanc-Gatti / Switzerland 1940 / 4'28" / colour / German / Ani/Doc
Commissioned by the Swiss National Donation Programme and the Red Cross, «Scènes de notre histoire» seeks financial support for soldiers and their families. Drawing on national founding myths, this short animation invokes Switzerland’s defence capabilities and national cohesion: «Our motto: one for all, all for one».
Auch Fabriken wollen essen
Julius Pinschewer / Switzerland 1941 / 4'44" / black & white / German / Ani/Doc
«Collect paper! Metals! Rags! Tubes!» While humanized factories are diligently fed in peacetime, the economy is restructured following the outbreak of war. The film was commissioned by the Waste Management Section of the War Industry and Labour Office. It promotes the collection and recycling of waste for use as new raw material.
Flüchtlinge in der Schweiz
Victor Borel / Switzerland 1947 / 47'41" / black & white / German / Doc
With Leopold Lindtberg’s 1945 classic «Die letzte Chance» («The Last Chance»), Praesens-Film produced an internationally successful feature film about the arduous journey of refugees to Switzerland. Two years later, the lesser-known documentary «Flüchtlinge in der Schweiz» («Refugees in Switzerland») followed, which is now once again available thanks to a restoration completed in 2024. The film looks back at the arrival, accommodation, and economic integration of refugees since 1933. Invoking Switzerland’s long-standing humanitarian tradition, it portrays the country as a place of refuge during the Second World War. It does not mention, however, that numerous people were also turned away at the Swiss border.
