The Eye Of The Hurricane

Despite the voluminous research published about World War II, there has remained a surprising gap; there is little, perhaps nothing, on the role of Switzerland. It was in the neutral Swiss oasis-where a perilous balancing act was required for survival-that a combination of determination and delicate negotiation continued to frustrate the Axis powers. Urs Schwarz cuts through the myths surrounding this period in a narrative based largely on his experiences as both participant and observer. He was a soldier, then a journalist in war-torn Berlin, and, beginning in 1942, foreign editor of the Neue ZÃ-rcher Zeitung. These experiences, and subsequent extensive research, result here in a unique and discerning-and colorful-history.

Urs Schwarz studied law at the Universities of Zurich and Berlin and received the Ll.M. degree from Harvard. He founded (1951) and edited the Swiss Review of World Affairs, served as associate professor of the Graduate Institute for International Studies, Geneva, and was founding director of the International Press Institute.

Also of Interest -- Preface -- Electing the General -- Secret Agreements for Survival -- The Hurricane Breaks Loose -- Fortress Switzerland -- The War Economy -- A Twofold Blockade -- Spies in the Fortress -- A Country's Privilege and Burden -- Stronghold of Humanity -- Negotiating Surrender in Italy -- Deterrence Achieved