What is Digg?166 Comments
- RuffRidr, on 10/12/2007, -20/+279In related news France, fearing they were next, has already surrendered.
- Coven, on 10/12/2007, -2/+182I guess they forgot to bring the knife with the compass this time...
- aliengoods, on 10/12/2007, -11/+146I just waiting for the Germans to accidentally invade France, through Belgium.
It should be a reflex by now. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+128I accidentally invaded Liechtenstein, myself, one time. It's an easy mistake to make.
- Disclaimer, on 10/12/2007, -5/+96I'd be worried too if a brigade of soldiers carrying swiss army knives came at me...
- graystar, on 10/12/2007, -4/+81Yeah, because when the US army gets lost it just happens to jump across two continents and land in the middle east. Oops.
- karmic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+76Swiss imperialists out of Liechtenstein NOW!!!!
- thcobbs, on 10/12/2007, -9/+77I guess they got tired of sending surrender notices to Euro-Disney due to the nightly fireworks display.
- neuroticus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+62"If I recall correctly, I don't think Switzerland has ever been invaded successfully."
The Swiss are armed to the teeth. Their army creates 'kill zones' in mountain valleys to bottleneck invading armies and massacre them. They seem to be paranoid, and after dealing with France, Italy and Germany on their borders for centuries, that paranoia kept their republic from being crushed. Did I mention, I love the Swiss? :) - Skizza, on 10/12/2007, -1/+56Interesting fact: The Swiss are the most heavily armed people in the world per capita. Every man is expected to do National Service and virtually everyone has at least one gun at home.
- mage1129, on 10/12/2007, -1/+56As soon as the soldiers realized they entereted the country and thus tripled the countries population the swiss voted themselves as head of Liechentsein and surrendered to Switzerland. The Chinese took note of this strategy.
- weister42, on 10/12/2007, -2/+55Let's invade Canada and toss snowballs at their citizens. Long-term snowball war is the *****.
- Feanor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+49canti32:
Actually, I thought the you were required to keep an automatic weapon in your house.
Yep. Here it is. You would have a tough time taking over Switzerland due to this fact.
" To this day, every male, when he turns 20, is issued a full automatic military rifle and required to keep it at home. Universal service in the Militia Army is required. When a Swiss is no longer required to serve, he may keep his rifle (converted from automatic to semi-automatic) or his pistol (if he served as an officer)."
http://diodon349.com/Attack_on_America/swiss_guns.htm - eastinlet, on 10/12/2007, -3/+49That's funny! Somehow reminiscent of the movie, 'The Mouse that Roared".
- halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+46@disclaimer
I'd be less worried about the Swiss Army knives than the Swiss Army guns!
Two pistols, an automatic machine gun, ten extra ammo clips for each and a small RPG launcher are all in one device the size of a standard AK-47!
To make matters worse, the troops were set up with the Swiss Army Helmet, which includes Night Vision, infrared, a comm system and a few other classified devices.
What, you thought that crazy degree of integration just went into their knives??? - acdcfanbill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+35If I recall correctly, I don't think Switzerland has ever been invaded successfully.
- nyx210, on 10/12/2007, -2/+35The Swiss are so l33t that they don't even need ammo for the guns when they're invading...
- Aliasing, on 10/12/2007, -0/+28I like you guys and all, but we would own you so hard at snowball fighting, you have no idea.
- blackjack75, on 10/12/2007, -1/+29"Ya, they are all quite armed, plus they are in a fairly easy to defend position. Plus I believe they had explosives wired up to roads and such during WW2 in the even that Germany was silly enough to invade."
Yes, I was told that myth in school, here in Switzerland too. But honestly if the Germans wanted to send troops they would have wiped us away in one day. The only place that's hard to conquer is the mountains, but you know, apart from ski stations... there's no much reason to even try to go there. In modern history books Switzerland is considered to be part of the Axis. Neutral my ass. Belgium was neutral.
Back then we pretended not to be a part of the Reich just like we pretend today not to be part of the European Union. But in both cases we acted as if we did, because otherwise we'd be crushed by the surrounding forces.
As for the 'armed to the teeth'. I know those terrible soldiers, they're my pals. You're just given a weapon that you put in a cupboard until you take it out to fire a few shots every year, while drinking beer and smoking pot. That doesn't exactly make you an elite soldier. - KnytFyre, on 10/12/2007, -3/+31Hence the reason they can be such a tiny, nuetral country without ever having problems. Who wants to invade a country where every citizen could potentially be a trained soldier, and the ones that aren't soldiers are probably packing.
- canti32, on 10/12/2007, -11/+38@newdiggdude
I was wondering. Do you have a mullet, an old pick-up truck, and a confederate flag stitched onto your boxers?
If not, I suggest you fix your sarcasm module. It's a little on the fritz. - JOjimBO, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27In other news: The Salvation Army accidentally invades local Gap, great values and poor taste ensued.
- stubear, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27@Biuku,
The French Government surrendered to the Germans to avoid having their cities bombed back to the stone age. The government went into exile, but was ultimately a largely ineffective part of the Allied operations in Europe. There was a French Resistance that was responsible for aiding Allied troops during WWII but they were not part of the French Army or government. Ordinary French citizens were a big part of this network. Eisenhower notified DeGaulle, the leader of the exiled French Government, prior to the D-Day invasion in hopes that he would offer official assistance. He did not but neither did he divulge the plans to the Germans, a definite concern the planners had and one of the reasons why Eisenhower was counseled to not inform DeGaulle until the plan had been executed and was underway so any leaks would have minimal impact on the operation. - hackwrench, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25That's why you need big big countries like the U.S and Russia. That way when your army gets lost, they can have plenty of room before they accidently cross a border into a neighboring country.
- robogobo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+24@DrNemo, check your facts, bud. Compulsory service ended years ago, and women are in the military too. And yes, they do have guns at home. It's not difficult to own weapons In Switzerland. You just have to be smart and careful, two characteristics gun owners should have.
You're probably confusing Switzerland with Sweden. Most Americans do that. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23The don't need weapons.
GOD MODE TURN ON - Gir53457, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21That would be awesome! Have a national Invade Canada day and assault them with snowballs! Then they get to siege Boise with a bunch of beavers!
- aywwts4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18Best comment and reply in the link's own discussion thread.
"the swiss are fine soldiers and their main mission is national defense. [...] they also guard the pope at the vatican. "
The reply...
"That's the Swiss Guard. Different. They can be visually identified by subtle differences in uniform, oh and the swiss army doesn't employ the PIKE as an armament." - dongiaconia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17Probably because Liechtenstein is just a single city.
Neat fact: Their 'borders' are pretty much non-existent in terms of border security. In order to get your passport stamped there, you actually have to pay for it. But you aren't required to do so. It's basically like a touristy thing--but it is a very cool seal (comparatively speaking) and double the size of most other countries. http://www.gimmelwald.com/europe/liechtenstein.html [not my site, but this guy has a picture of it] - neuroticus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17"this sounds like texas"
I think the Swiss would be very offended by that comment. - Gir53457, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17It's like punching the Hulk.
- blackjack75, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16"Think about it. The NAZI Military left Switzerland alone. They conquered most of Europe, a chunk of Africa and were carving into Asia and they still considered Switzerland to be too tough to go after."
Sorry to break your dreams but Switzerland, was not invaded by Germany for two reasons:
- Being a mostly germanic country they inspired some sympathy. An invasion would be more like that of Austria. A peaceful annexion. Believe or not Hitler wasn't hated by everyone.
- They collaborated with the german as much as necessary to avoid invasion. Considering Germany happened to occupy ALL the surrounding countries. doing otherwise would be suicide. In 1938 the swiss authorities UNILATERALLY decided that all jews fleeing from Germany would have a lovely 'J' stamped on their passports.
I live in Switzerland and it's a pretty cool place, and so is Germany today, but now that most of the old people who lived those times are either dead or dying we can face the truth. - geekwithsoul, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15Once is an accident .. twice seems like preparation for world domination :)
- Ibanezfoo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16There was a movie like this... and the kids dog died when the snow fort crushed it.
- aviazn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17Amusing movie! Watch it back to back with Dr. Strangelove, and you'll get to see Peter Sellers in six roles in two movies. I tried directing the play it's based on with a seventh grade class a few years back. The political stuff kinda went over their heads, though. Wouldn't try that again.
- MrMullen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15I know what you mean. Here in Southern California, every Swiss person I have met (Probably about 7 in my life) have been so nice that I am ready to move to Switzerland just based on that.
- zephc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15The people of Liechtenstein welcomed the Swiss army as liberators!
- zephc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15@DrNemo:
When your country doesn't have a tradition of warmongering or being aggressive, I can't imagine there's much complaint or worry about required service - it's basically a chance to get away from work and family for a little while and do some P.T. - Ibanezfoo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17French fries actually come from Belgium dumbass.
And don't confuse the French people with the French government. I have a good portion of family still in France....
And realize all the really cool violent and warlike creations the French had.... the guillotine, cartridges with built in primer (the modern cartridge), etc. - Kugellehr, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17first war switzerland is involved in in 500 years they do it accidentally LOL
- MrMullen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12I believe the British did the same thing to Spain a few years back. They were doing training in the art of beach invasions in Gibraltar and ended up on the wrong side of the beach by a few years or so. Guess the story is they got mixed up in bad weather in the harbor they share with the local Spanish town.
Here is the story on CNN:
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/02/18/britain.marines/index.html - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12I think this is the strategy the U.S. will use. Run a training exercise in Iraq & accidentally invade Iran?
- halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14@graystar
Shhhh! Don't give The Shrub any ideas!
"US forces on a routine training exercise near Iraq's border with Iran accidentally invaded Iran, razing 10 villages to the ground." - halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -6/+17@hilldu
Not quite. Texans are underarmed and terrible shots by comparison.
You know all that "Don't mess with Texas" attitude? It's well deserved in the Americas, but the Swiss are the best shots in the world, and most men have a semi-automatic weapons in their home, which they were trained to use in the military.
Shooting ranges dot the landscape the way Starbucks or McDonnalds dots the landscape in the USA.
Think about it. The NAZI Military left Switzerland alone. They conquered most of Europe, a chunk of Africa and were carving into Asia and they still considered Switzerland to be too tough to go after. When the US first entered the war they just gave a hearty laugh, and if they hadn't invaded Russia (thus spreading their resources too thin) they might have taken the UK.
And during all of this they maintained the mentality of "Dude, keep the Hell out of Switzerland. We do NOT want to go there." - SickBoy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11No one expects the Spanish - err - Swiss infantry!
- dbalaski, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13This isn't a first for the Swiss Army -- It happened before in the early '90s with another country (i cannot remember which one ) -- but it was reported in Chuck Shepard's News of the Weird.
- ToastyBagel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10I dunno, we may be in over our heads taking Canada on in an international snowball fight. I mean, if they didn't invent the snowball, they sure as hell have had PLENTY of time to perfect it. I mean other than riding moose, playing hockey and drinking beer, what else do they spend time on?
- elnerdo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10It's a good headline.
- aywwts4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9PS:
Swiss Guard: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050508/wd2.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Swiss_Guard.jpg
Swiss Army: http://www.greendevils.pl/armie_swiata/swiss-army-22.jpg - acdcfanbill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Ya, they are all quite armed, plus they are in a fairly easy to defend position. Plus I believe they had explosives wired up to roads and such during WW2 in the even that Germany was silly enough to invade.
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