Latest History news and updates from Switzerland. AI-curated articles covering History topics.
In a significant act of cultural restitution, three Swiss museums have officially returned 18 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. The artifacts were looted by British colonial troops in 1897 and had been in Swiss collections for years.
The town of Murten marked the 550th anniversary of its pivotal 1476 battle, a victory that cemented the Swiss Confederacy's military reputation in Europe. The event, attended by thousands, highlights the battle's surprising and lasting legacies on Swiss identity and history.
In a historic act of rehabilitation, Switzerland has officially repealed the convictions of 466 Swiss citizens who were sentenced for fighting in the French Resistance during World War II, formally correcting a controversial chapter of its past.
In a symbolic act of reparation, the town of Yverdon-les-Bains will rename a street after Pauline Buisson, a domestic worker brought to Switzerland in 1776, to posthumously grant her the social recognition she was denied in life and shed light on a hidden part of Swiss history.
A British silent film from 1900, 'Diving for Treasure', long thought to be lost, has been discovered and restored by the Cinémathèque suisse. The short film, attributed to pioneering director Robert W. Paul, is considered a major find for cinema history.
The major project to clear a World War II ammunition depot in Mitholz, Bernese Oberland, has been delayed by two years to 2047. The setback is due to unexpectedly high levels of contaminated material, which complicates the excavation and treatment process and extends the required evacuation period for local residents.
The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service has granted access to its file on Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele, a move applauded by the International Auschwitz Committee. The documents are expected to shed new light on the notorious doctor's post-war movements.
The SKKG Foundation in Winterthur will return the Ferdinand Hodler painting 'Lake Thun with Blüemlisalp and Niesen' to the heirs of its former Jewish owner, Martha Adrianna Nathan, who was forced to sell the artwork due to persecution by the Nazi regime.
The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service is granting public access to its previously classified file on notorious Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele, revealing new details about his time in and connections to Switzerland after World War II.
In a solemn and historic act, the Swiss House of Representatives has officially recognized the 20th-century state-sponsored practice of forcibly removing children from Yenish and Sinti families as a crime against humanity, expressing national regret for the suffering caused.
On the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, a look back at how fear of radioactive fallout swept across Switzerland, leading to public confusion, warnings about produce, and pushback from vegetable growers against federal health advice.
The Federal Commission for Women’s Issues has awarded its first-ever prize to former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss, recognizing her significant and lasting contributions to equality policy and women's rights in Switzerland over several decades.
A rare archaeological discovery in Windisch, the site of the Roman settlement of Vindonissa, has yielded the charred remains of a 2,000-year-old flatbread. This unique find offers new insights into the daily life and diet of the ancient Roman legionary camp.
New analysis of a well-preserved Neolithic settlement discovered in Biel/Bienne reveals the village existed for less than five years before being devastated by a severe storm and flooding in 3838 BC.
A federal judge in New York has dismissed a request by Swiss bank UBS to interpret a 1999 settlement as a shield against future lawsuits based on new evidence regarding accounts linked to Nazi Germany, leaving the question of new Holocaust-related litigation unresolved.
A remarkable Roman-era shipwreck has been found at the bottom of Lake Neuchâtel, revealing a trove of several hundred impeccably preserved ceramic objects, tools, and olive oil containers from Spain, offering a unique window into ancient trade routes.
Archaeologists have announced a unique discovery in Lake Neuchâtel: a well-preserved shipwreck of Roman cargo, including hundreds of ceramic objects, Spanish olive oil containers, and tools, offering new insights into Roman-era trade routes.
Marking the 40th anniversary of a landmark decision, we look back at Switzerland's historic move to freeze the assets of deposed Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos. The case was a turning point in how the country handles illicit funds from politically exposed persons.
The Kunstmuseum Basel is launching a new exhibition, 'The First Homosexuals', which traces the artistic formation of new sexual, gender, and identity images since the term 'homosexual' was first used in 1869. The exhibition features around 80 works exploring coded representations and the evolution of depicting sexuality in art.
A United States Senate committee is investigating 890 Credit Suisse accounts suspected of ties to the Nazi regime, with some allegedly remaining open until as recently as 2020, intensifying scrutiny of the bank's historical dealings.
From trusted Swiss news outlets