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Army ponders reactivating cold war era bunkers

Thursday, 15 May 2025 06:30

Military installation, Villa Rosé, Gland VD

The army is considering reactivating bunkers scattered around the country.

The head of the army, Thomas Süssli says that if the security situation gets worse, some of the 100+ decommissioned installations could be swiftly restored to firing condition.

Many remain in good shape, though expertise in their use is fading. A retraining programme is under discussion. 

One restored site, which is now a museum, could reportedly be operational within two weeks.

Though an attack on Swiss borders remains unlikely, military analysts argue the return of these bunkers offers deterrence at low cost, marking a strategic shift from past assumptions of peace.

 

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