Last modified: 2002-01-12 by pascal gross
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During WW II a Swiss Naval Ensign was adopted with the proportions 2:3.
The National Flag of Switzerland is square.
Nick Artimovich, 12 February 1996
It is used only by the Swiss
commercial fleet outside Switzerland. On the lakes the usual square flag
is used.
Harald Müller, 12 February 1996
Switzerland does have a small navy of sorts. Lakes Konstanz and
Leman (Geneva) form international frontiers, and their navies consist
of a few patrol craft. Switzerland also has a major Rhine commercial
fleet (you can see the Swiss flag flying all the way to the Netherlands),
which military patrol craft in time of war. Both the navy and air force
are branches of the army (like the infantry and artillery). The air
force is 1st in Europe -- so good that Israel used it as their model.
T. F. Mills, 12 February 1996
One of three extracts from a memorandum sent to the Marine Department of the Board of
Trade in connection with revisions to the pages of national ensigns in the International
Code List published in 1879. [Public Record Office MT 9/183]
Switzerland.
Proposal of the Government of Switzerland to establish a Swiss maritime flag.
1864. "Switzerland has no distinctive maritime flag. Her Majesty's Minister in Berne
observed to the President of the Confederation that in the case where the merchant marine
would not have the protection of a military one, the measure might lead to political
complications in that while the position of Switzerland and her guaranteed neutrality
induced all Foreign Powers under existing circumstances to extend to her citizens
protection and goodwill, yet the use of the flag afloat might bring them into altercations
with belligerent Powers."
The question was referred to Admiral Harris who replied that "HM Government could only
view with satisfaction on the ocean, and in the ports of the British Empire the flag of an
industrious and friendly power, and that in time of peace no question were likely to arise
which would not admit of easy adjustment. However graver questions might arise in time of
war in consequence of Switzerland possessing no port of her own, and from the ships
bearing her flag hailing from ports of a belligerent. Neutrality guaranteed to the
territory of Switzerland could not be held to afford exceptional privileges to the
merchant vessels of Swiss citizens, and the power proposed to be given to Swiss consuls to
register vessels provisionally was considered likely to give rise to grave international
difficulties. The question of enforcement of S