Sortie scolaire au Musée Fort de Chillon : le général Guisan et la résistance suisse (introduction pédagogique)

School trip to the Fort de Chillon Museum: General Guisan and the Swiss resistance

During World War II, General Henri Guisan became the symbol of Swiss resistance. Discover his role as commander-in-chief, the Grütli Report, and why he embodies Switzerland's determination in the face of encirclement.

A commander in times of crisis

Henri Guisan was elected commander-in-chief of the Swiss army on August 30, 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. When Switzerland found itself surrounded by the Axis powers after the fall of France in June 1940, he organized the national defense and rallied the population around an unwavering will to resist. A symbol of unity, Guisan embodied Swiss determination in the face of the threat of invasion.

The Grütli Report (July 25, 1940)

On the legendary Rütli meadow, Guisan gathered 650 senior officers to explain his doctrine: strategic retreat to the Alps via the known as the National Redoubt,, to wage a prolonged resistance there. This “Grütli Report” became a defining moment, strengthening the cohesion of the army and the nation in the face of adversity.

In connection with the Fort de Chillon Museum

The Fort de Chillon Museum illustrates Guisan's pivotal role: built as part of the National Redoubt, the fort protects a strategic bottleneck and embodies the general's defensive vision. The tour explains to students how structures such as Chillon are a concrete expression of this strategy of deterrence and survival.

For teachers

This article serves as a basis for preparing for a school trip to the Fort de Chillon Museum and does not claim to be exhaustive. It can be supplemented in class by studying the National Redoubt, the militia army, and Switzerland's role in 20th-century Europe.