23. Operation Tannenbaum
The result was Operation Tannenbaum. It envisioned a two stage conquest with 21 German divisions – a force later deemed excessive and downsized to 11 – plus 15 Italian divisions. It would begin with attacks from Austria, southern Germany, and occupied France, assisted by paratroops dropped behind Swiss lines. The aim was to overrun the lower-lying parts of Switzerland, where most of the population and economic activity was located.
To the south, Italians were to mount holding operations. Once the important parts of Switzerland were conquered, follow up attacks were to be made against Swiss army remnants in the “National Redoubt” – a fortified zone in Switzerland’s mountainous south.