Rehabilitate i Swiss volunteers who fought during the Second World War in the French and Italian Resistance. the Federal Council says it is in favor of bill on which Parliament is working, and explains its position in a note.
The point on which the parliamentary proposal focuses is the violation of the Military Penal Code committed by those who fought for foreign military service during the Resistance,later being condemned for that choice. The Rehabilitation Bill proposes the annulment of those sentences.
Judgments of which the Federal Council recognizes legitimacyunderlining however that «they no longer correspond to the current sense of justice. In light of today’s historical understanding, the struggle waged at the time for democracy deserves to be recognized. The Re
BERN, January 17, 2026
Swiss Parliament Considers Rehabilitating WWII Resistance Fighters
Table of Contents
A proposed bill aims to overturn convictions of Swiss citizens who volunteered in the French and Italian Resistance during World War II.
- The Federal Council supports a parliamentary bill to annul sentences given to Swiss volunteers who fought with the Resistance.
- The bill focuses on reversing convictions for violating the Military Penal Code by serving in foreign military service.
- Rehabilitation will be granted by law and will not include individual applications or financial compensation.
Switzerland is moving closer to formally recognizing the contributions of its citizens who risked their lives fighting for freedom during World War II. The Federal Council has voiced its support for a bill currently being debated in Parliament that would rehabilitate Swiss volunteers who fought in the French and Italian Resistance. This means overturning past legal judgments against them.
A Matter of Evolving Justice
The core of the proposal centers on reversing convictions stemming from violations of the Military Penal Code. These convictions were handed down to individuals who chose to fight for foreign military service – specifically, with the Resistance movements – and were later penalized for that decision. The Federal Council acknowledges the legitimacy of the original judgments, but argues they no longer align with contemporary standards of justice.
“Considering today’s historical understanding, the struggle waged at the time for democracy deserves to be recognized,” the Federal Council stated in a note. “The Rehabilitation Bill honors the commitment to freedom and democracy.” It’s a shift in perspective,acknowledging that actions once deemed illegal are now viewed through a lens of historical context and moral imperative.
efficient and Equitable Rehabilitation
the proposed rehabilitation process is designed to be both efficient and proportionate. According to the Federal Council, the bill is “implementable in a short time and inexpensive.” It will follow the model established by the federal law on the rehabilitation of volunteers from the Spanish Civil War, meaning there will be no individual request process, and no financial compensation will be provided to those rehabilitated.
What does this bill mean for Swiss WWII veterans? The bill proposes to legally overturn past convictions for those who fought with the French and Italian Resistance, offering a formal acknowledgement of their service and sacrifice.
