Walter Stucki: Difference between revisions

==== War years: The saviour of the city of Vichy ====

==== War years: The saviour of the city of Vichy ====

[[File:Transkription Telegramm.png|thumb|left|Contemporary transcription (excerpt) of the telegram sent by Walter Stucki to Federal Councillor [[Marcel Pilet-Golaz]] about the arrest of [[Philippe Pétain]] at the [[Hôtel du Parc]] on 20 August 1944.]]

[[File:Transkription Telegramm.png|thumb|left|Contemporary transcription (excerpt) of the telegram sent by Walter Stucki to Federal Councillor [[Marcel Pilet-Golaz]] about the arrest of [[Philippe Pétain]] at the [[Hôtel du Parc]] on 20 August 1944.]]

In June 1940, after the [[Battle of France]], the [[Paris in World War II|capture of Paris]] and [[Armistice of 22 June 1940|the fall of the Third Republic]] on 22 June, the Swiss Legation was effectively downgraded to a consulate – officially in the summer of 1941, under the pressure of Germany – and Minister Walter Stucki, together with his diplomatic colleague Pierre Dupont (1912–1993), withdrew to [[Vichy France|Vichy]]. In Vichy, Walter Stucki represented the interests of several countries to the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]], including the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States of America]]. Meanwhile, Legation Councillor [[Henry de Torrenté]], who was Minister Walter Stucki’s deputy, remained in Paris.<ref name=”Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz Bonjour”/><ref name=”Florian Keller 302″>Florian Keller: ”Botschafterporträts – Schweizer Botschafter in den « Zentren der Macht » zwischen 1945 und 1975,” Chronos Verlag, Zürich, 2018, pp. 98, 99, 302</ref>

In 1940, after the [[Battle of France]], the [[Paris in World War II|capture of Paris]] and [[Armistice of 22 June 1940|the fall of the Third Republic]] on 22 June, the Swiss Legation was effectively downgraded to a consulate – officially in the summer of 1941, under the pressure of Germany – and Minister Walter Stucki, together with his diplomatic colleague Pierre Dupont (1912–1993), withdrew to [[Vichy France|Vichy]]. In Vichy, Walter Stucki represented the interests of several countries to the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]], including the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States of America]]. Meanwhile, Legation Councillor [[Henry de Torrenté]], who was Minister Walter Stucki’s deputy, remained in Paris.<ref name=”Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz Bonjour”/><ref name=”Florian Keller 302″>Florian Keller: ”Botschafterporträts – Schweizer Botschafter in den « Zentren der Macht » zwischen 1945 und 1975,” Chronos Verlag, Zürich, 2018, pp. 98, 99, 302</ref>

Walter Stucki played a key role towards the end of [[World War II]]. On the one hand, he helped [[Marshal of France|Maréchal]] [[Philippe Pétain]], whose trust he enjoyed, to withdraw from [[Vichy]] on 20 August 1944, saving face and without bloodshed. On the other hand, he mediated between the advancing [[Allies of World War II|Allies]], the withdrawing Germans and the [[French Resistance]] fighters and saved Vichy from destruction.<ref name=”Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz Bonjour”/>

Walter Stucki played a key role towards the end of [[World War II]]. On the one hand, he helped [[Marshal of France|Maréchal]] [[Philippe Pétain]], whose trust he enjoyed, to withdraw from [[Vichy]] on 20 August 1944, saving face and without bloodshed. On the other hand, he mediated between the advancing [[Allies of World War II|Allies]], the withdrawing Germans and the [[French Resistance]] fighters and saved Vichy from destruction.<ref name=”Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz Bonjour”/>

The grateful city government of Vichy made him an honorary citizen and in 1957 named a street after him, the Avenue Walter Stucki. In addition, in 1945, the city of Vichy presented him with a 26-piece solid silver dinner service engraved with the coat of arms of the city as a token of thanks for his mediation work.<ref name=”Der Retter von Vichy”>Landry Charrier: ”Der Retter von Vichy,” Blog Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum, 19. Juli 2021</ref>

The grateful city government of Vichy made him an honorary citizen and in named a street after him, the Avenue Walter Stucki. In addition, in 1945, the city of Vichy presented him with a 26-piece solid silver dinner service engraved with the coat of arms of the city as a token of thanks for his mediation work.<ref name=”Der Retter von Vichy”>Landry Charrier: ”Der Retter von Vichy,” Blog Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum, 19. Juli 2021</ref>

=== Special missions and the ”concours diplomatique” ===

=== Special missions and the ”concours diplomatique” ===

Walter Stucki
On the afternoon of 8 March 1938, Walter Stucki, the designated Envoy of the Swiss Confederation to France (right), and the French Foreign Minister Yvon Delbos (at his desk) met for talks in Delbos’ office at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. On this occasion, Stucki presented Delbos with a copy of his Lettres de créance, which Stucki later presented to the President of the French Republic, Albert Lebrun.
Born	9 August 1888 Bern, Switzerland
Died	8 October 1963 (aged 75) Bern, Switzerland
Occupation	Diplomat
Spouse	Gertrud Sahli
Parent(s)	Gottlieb Stucki (1854–1908) and Marie Luise, née Rothacher

Walter Stucki (1888–1963) was a Swiss lawyer, politician, diplomat and Envoy of the Swiss Confederation to France. His family originated from Konolfingen.

The attribute “great”, which was given to him by his contemporaries, the great Stucki, referred to his body height and served to distinguish him from his diplomatic colleague Carl Stucki (1889–1963), the little Stucki, who was physically smaller. However, after World War II, the attribute “great” was viewed differently, or rather, due to the merits he had earned during World War II, it was now viewed in the truest sense of the word: Now he was the great Stucki.

After attending school in Bern and studying law in the same town, he completed his studies with the state examination in 1912. He then worked for the law firm Leo Merz & Hugo Mosimann in Bern. At the same time, he continued his education in International law as well as international contract and commercial law in Munich, Paris and London.^[1]

In 1917, he was appointed Secretary General by Federal Councillor Edmund Schulthess for the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA). But by the end of 1919, he had returned to the law firm Leo Merz & Hugo Mosimann, however, with numerous federal mandates.^[1]

In 1925, Federal Councillor Edmund Schulthess asked him back to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) and appointed him as director of the Trade Department. As chief negotiator, Walter Stucki concluded 48 trade agreements for Switzerland and represented the country at international conferences, including the League of Nations. In 1933, he received the title of minister and an honorary doctorate from the University of Basel.^[1]

Due to his great popularity, Walter Stucki was considered a candidate to succeed the Federal Councillors Heinrich Häberlin and Edmund Schulthess in the Federal Council in 1934 and 1935, respectively. However, he declined the candidacy twice. When Edmund Schulthess resigned, Walter Stucki resigned as a civil servant.^[1]

In 1935, Walter Stucki was elected to the National Council with the best result on the list of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) of the Canton of Bern. At the same time, the Federal Council appointed him delegate for trade agreements (foreign trade). Because the bourgeois parties did not support his vision of a consensus democracy, he resigned from his position as a National Councillor in 1937.^[1]

In 1938, Walter Stucki was appointed Envoy of the Swiss Confederation to France. It was him who was in charge for completing the purchase and the supervision of the serious renovation work for the new legation building, the Hôtel de Besenval.^[2]

In July 1940, after the Battle of France, the capture of Paris and the fall of the Third Republic on 22 June 1940, the Swiss Legation was effectively downgraded to a consulate – however, officially only in the summer of 1941, under the pressure of Germany – and Minister Walter Stucki, together with his diplomatic colleague Pierre Dupont (1912–1993), withdrew to Vichy. The main residence of the Swiss legation in Vichy was the Villa Ica on the Avenue Thermale, where Walter Stucki resided from November 1942 to October 1944. In Vichy, Walter Stucki represented the interests of several countries to the Third Reich, including the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Meanwhile, Legation Councillor Henry de Torrenté, who was Minister Walter Stucki’s deputy, remained in Paris.^[1][3]

Walter Stucki played a key role towards the end of World War II. On the one hand, he helped Maréchal Philippe Pétain, whose trust he enjoyed, to withdraw from Vichy on 20 August 1944, saving face and without bloodshed. On the other hand, he mediated between the advancing Allies, the withdrawing Germans and the French Resistance fighters and saved Vichy from destruction.^[1]

The grateful city government of Vichy made him an honorary citizen and in October 1944 named a street after him, the Avenue Walter Stucki. In addition, in 1945, the city of Vichy presented him with a 26-piece solid silver dinner service engraved with the coat of arms of the city as a token of thanks for his mediation work.^[4]

In 1945, Walter Stucki returned to Bern and became the head of the Office of Foreign Affairs in the Federal Political Department (FPD). But as early as 1946, Federal Councillor Max Petitpierre appointed him delegate for special missions. On 25 May 1946, Walter Stucki achieved a remarkable compromise in the Washington Agreement on German assets in Switzerland claimed by the Allies. The agreement was a treaty between Switzerland and the victorious Allies – USA, Great Britain and France – that regulated the liquidation of German assets in Switzerland and prevented a boycott against the country. According to the treaty, Switzerland had to pay CHF 250 million for the reconstruction of Europe. In return, the Allies waived any further claims against the Swiss National Bank, whose activities during the war, especially the purchase of looted German gold, were controversial. In addition, Switzerland undertook to register the German assets blocked in Switzerland from 16 February 1945 onwards and to liquidate all assets held in Switzerland by Germans living in Germany. In this context, the Americans agreed to release the Swiss assets that had been blocked in the USA since 1941. The agreement was an important step for Switzerland out of its isolation and an important compromise that paved the way for its integration into the post-war order. In view of the outcome of the negotiations, which was due to the negotiating skills of Walter Stucki, William Rappard, diplomatic advisor to the Swiss delegation, described it as a diplomatic miracle, because the victorious Western Allies had given up a significant part of their harsh demands.^[1][5]

In 1953, Walter Stucki concluded his last international agreement for Switzerland with the London Agreement on German External Debts. After resigning as delegate, he reformed the training of the young Swiss diplomats. A task he completed in 1955, and which is seen as the democratisation of the diplomatic service. In Switzerland, of all places, with its republican self-image, the diplomatic service was for a long time in the very exclusive hands of sons of rich and influential, and mostly patrician, families. This era is called the era of the gentlemen diplomats. The key point of the revision of the admission to the diplomatic service is the multi-stage admission competition, called concours diplomatique, which also includes an internship at a Swiss embassy. In 1956, the first diplomats began their training under the new regulations.^[1][6]

“It is true that until relatively recently Swiss diplomacy was primarily the preserve of members of noble and wealthy families.”

In German

• Die schweizerischen Effektenbörsen während und nach dem Weltkrieg 1914–1921, 1924
• Der schweizerische Gewerkschaftsbund in der Kriegszeit (1914–1920), 1928
• Von Pétain zur IV. Republik, Éditions Herbert Lang & Cie, Berne, 1947

In French

• La fin du régime de Vichy, Éditions de la Baconnière, Neuchâtel, 1947
• La fin du régime de Vichy, réédition aux Éditions de la Baconnière, 2020, avec introduction de Marc Perrenoud

in alphabetical order

• Claude Altermatt: Les débuts de la diplomatie professionnelle en Suisse (1848–1914), Éditions Universitaires Fribourg Suisse, Fribourg, 1990
• Claude Altermatt: Zwei Jahrhunderte Schweizer Aussenvertretungen (1798–1998), Jubiläumsbroschüre 200-Jahre-Eröffnung der ersten Schweizer Gesandtschaft in Paris 1798, Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA), Vorwort Bundesrat Flavio Cotti, 1998
• Edgar Bonjour: Die Schweiz und Europa. Ausgewählte Reden und Aufsätze, Bd. 5, 1977, pp. 289–299
• Jean-Jacques de Dardel: L’hôtel de Besenval – siège de l’ambassade de Suisse en France, Labor et Fides, Genève, 2013
• Florian Keller: Botschafterporträts – Schweizer Botschafter in den « Zentren der Macht » zwischen 1945 und 1975, Chronos Verlag, Zürich, 2018
• Marc Perrenoud: Banquiers et diplomates suisses (1938-1946), 2011, pp. 44–53
• Jacques Rial: Le Bicorne et la Plume – Les publications de diplomates suisses de 1848 à nos jours, Préface de Bénédict de Tscharner, DiploFoundation & Institut de hautes études et du développement, Genève, 2008
• Jonas Ruffieux: Servir et disparaître – Récit de vie de Daniel von Muralt, Éditions Slatkine, Genève, 2025
• Bénédict de Tscharner: Profession ambassadeur – diplomate suisse en France, Éditions Cabédita, Yens-sur-Morges, 2002
• Konrad Stamm: Der «grosse Stucki» – Eine schweizerische Karriere von weltmännischem Format. Minister Walter Stucki (1888–1963), Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zürich, 2013
• Paul Widmer: Diplomatie – Ein Handbuch, Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zürich, 2014