1975 in Switzerland explained

Events during the year 1975 in Switzerland.

Incumbents

• Federal Council

^[1]

• • Pierre Graber (president)^[2]
  • Hans Hürlimann
  • Georges-André Chevallaz
  • Willi Ritschard
  • Kurt Furgler
  • Ernst Brugger
  • Rudolf Gnägi

Events

January

• 2 January – Major fire at the Fischer casting company in Alpnach-Dorf (Obwalden). Damage amounts to 15 million francs^[3]
• 17-19 January – In the context of the International "Year of the Woman", there were demonstrations and the Fourth Congress of Swiss Women held in Bern^{[4] [5] [6]}
• 26 January – Fire at the "Au Grand Passage" store in Geneva. The establishment is completely destroyed from the second to the sixth floor. Damage estimated near one hundred million francs^[7]

February

• 5 February – Guido Nobel is appointed director of the PTT replacing Fritz Bourquin, who resigned^[8]
• 13 February – Opening of Glattzentrum, the first large shopping center in Switzerland located on the outskirts of Zurich in Wallisellen, housing several brands like Migros, Globus, and Jelmoli^[9]
• 14 February – Protest in Sion against the closure of Bally workshops in Valais^[10]
• 22 February – For the fourth time in its history, CP Berne becomes Swiss ice hockey champion^[11]
• 26 February – Moritz Suter, former pilot of Swissair, founds Business Flyers Basel, which will later become Crossair^[12]

March

• 2 March – Federal votes. The article of the constitution on conjunctural policy is not approved by the cantons (11 against 11), although the people approved it with yes (52.8%) against no (47.2%)^[13]
• 6 March – The National Council debates the legalization of abortion^[14]
• 16 March – In the context of the Jura question plebiscites, the districts of Courtelary, Moutier, and La Neuveville vote to remain in the Canton of Bern^[15]
• 27 March – Last projection of the Ciné-Journal Suisse in cinemas^[16]

April

• 1 April – 500 anti-nuclear activists invade the site planned for the construction of the nuclear power plant in Kaiseraugst^[17]
• 5 April – Avalanches block roads and railways in the Alps^[18]
• 6 April – An avalanche carries away a chalet in Val Blenio. Its five occupants are killed instantly^[19]
• 12 April – At the maternity ward in Bern, Ruth Winterberger from Brienz gives birth to quintuplets^[20]
• 20 April
  • Cantonal elections in Basel-Landschaft. Clemens Stöckli (CVP), Theo Meier (FDP), Paul Manz (UDC), Paul Jenni (SPS), and Paul Nyffeler (FDP) are elected to the Council of States in the first round of voting^[21]
  • Cantonal elections in Ticino. Benito Bernasconi (SPS), Ugo Sadis (FDP), Argante Righetti (FDP), Flavio Cotti (CVP), and Fabio Vassalli (CVP) are elected to the Council of States in the first round of voting^[22]
• 27 April
  • Cantonal elections in Zurich. Jakob Stucki (UDC), Peter Wiederkehr (CVP), Hans Künzi (FDP), Alois Günthard (UDC), Albert Mossdorf (FDP), Alfred Gilgen AdI, and Arthur Bachmann (SPS) are elected to the Council of States in the first round of voting^[23]

May

• 3 May – Inauguration of the new Theater Basel^[24]
• 22 May – General Motors announces the closure of its assembly line in Bienne (BE) by the end of August. 450 people will lose their jobs^[25]
• 25 May – Inauguration of the SBB line at Heitersberg, between Lenzburg and Zurich. The new route reduces travel time by 10 minutes between Olten and Zurich^[26]
• 29 May – Discontinuation of ferry transport for railcars on Lake Constance^[27]
• 31 May – Premiere of the revival of La Servante d’Evolène by René Morax at the Théâtre du Jorat in Mézières, directed by Paul Pasquier^[28]

June

• 8 June
  • 1975 Swiss referendums. The people approve, with yes (85.5%) against no (14.5%), the federal decree on currency safeguarding^{[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]}
  • Federal votes. The people approve, with yes (53.5%) against no (46.5%), the federal decree concerning national road financing
  • Federal votes. The people reject, with no (51.8%) against yes (48.2%), the federal law amending the general tariff of customs
  • Federal votes. The people approve, with yes (56.0%) against no (44.0%), the federal decree concerning tax revenue increase
  • Federal votes. The people approve, with yes (75.9%) against no (24.1%), the federal decree curbing decisions on expenditures
• 14 June – FC Zurich secures, for the seventh time in its history, the title of Swiss football champions^[34]
• 20 June – Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck wins the Tour de Suisse cycling race^[35]
• 25–28 June – The 1975 World Archery Championships take place in Interlaken^[36]

August

• 1 August – In Helsinki, ratification of the final act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe by thirty-five countries, including Switzerland^[37]
• 30 August – Torrential rains in the region of Langenthal cause significant damage due to flooding of the Langete^[38]

September

• 14 September – As part of the Jura referendums, the German-speaking district of Laufen votes to remain in the Canton of Bern^[39]
• 16 September – Heavy rain in Ticino. Landslides lead to the closure of the Val Blenio road and the Lukmanier Pass becomes impassable^[40]

October

• 11 October – Inauguration of the new Montreux Casino^[41]
• 17 October – Swiss chemist of Croatian origin Vladimir Prelog receives the Nobel Prize in Chemistry^[42]
• 22 October – Ratification of the Bonn agreement, laying the foundation for cross-border cooperation in the Basel region, involving Germany, France, and Switzerland^[43]
• 26 October – Federal elections for the National Council. The Socialists emerge victorious with a gain of 9 seats. Securing 25% of the votes, they become the largest party in the National Council (55 seats). The Liberal Party holds 47 seats (-2), the Christian Democrats 46 (+2), and the Swiss People's Party 21 (-2). With 11 seats, the Alliance of Independents remains the strongest non-governmental party^[44]

November

• 6 November – Inauguration of the new road at the Simplon Pass^[45]
• 14 November – Opening of a 6.8km (04.2miles) section on the A9 motorway, between Villeneuve and Aigle^[46]
• 20 November – Opening of an 11km (07miles) section on the A5 motorway, between Saint-Blaise and Le Landeron^[47]
• 24 November – The Swiss Society for the Watch Industry (SSIH) announces the dismissal of 170 people in Bienne and Cornol^[48]

December

• 7 December
  • 1975 Swiss referendums. The people approve, with yes votes (75.6%) against no votes (24.4%), the federal decree amending the constitution regarding freedom of establishment and regulation of assistance
  • Federal referendums. The people approve, with yes votes (77.5%) against no votes (22.5%), the revision of the constitution in the field of water economy
  • Federal referendums. The people approve, with yes votes (52.0%) against no votes (48.0%), the federal law on the import and export of processed agricultural products

Births

• 25 January – Sandra Cattaneo, ice hockey player^[49]
• 9 May – Andrea Huber, cross-country skier^[50]
• 22 December – Sergei Aschwanden, judoka^[51]

Deaths

• 10 January – Dorette Berthoud, novelist and literary critic (born 1888)^[52]
• 12 February – Carl Lutz, diplomat (born 1895)^[53]
• 18 February – Sasha Morgenthaler, artist and creator of the Sasha doll (born 1893)^[54]
• 20 February – Jacques Béranger, former director of the Lausanne Municipal Theater (born 1896)^[55]
• 28 February – Robert Lips, painter and cartoonist (born 1912)^[56]
• 16 March – Francis-Marius Messerli, founder of the Swiss Olympic Association (born 1888)^[57]
• 1 April – Alfred Roulin, director of the Cantonal and University Library of Lausanne (born 1885)^[58]
• 15 April – Charles Journet, cardinal (born 1891)^{[59] [60]}
• 3 May – Samuel Gonard, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (born 1896)^[61]
• 30 May – Michel Simon, comedian (born 1895)^{[62] [63]}
• 17 December – Ferdinand Gonseth, mathematician and philosopher (born 1890)^[64]
• 22 November – Jakob Bührer, writer (born 1882)^[65]

Notes and References

1. Web site: All federal councillors since 1848 . www.admin.ch . 22 January 2024 . en.
2. Web site: Presidents of the Confederation . www.admin.ch . 22 January 2024 . en.
3. Web site: Blickpunkt Region MEMOBASE de Memoriav . 2024-07-04 . memobase.ch.
4. Web site: La situation de la femme en Suisse. fr.
5. Web site: Le tappe salienti della parità in Svizzera. Commissione federale per le questioni femminili. Confederazione svizzera. it.
6. Web site: Il nuovo femminismo e le organizzazioni delle donne dal 1968. ekf.admin.ch.
7. Incendie au Grand Passage . fr . 2024-07-04 . notrehistoire.ch.
8. Web site: Brian Scherer . Sarah . 2013-12-10 . Guido Nobel . hls-dhs-dss.ch.
9. Web site: 2023-01-23 . Als das Glattzentrum seine Türen öffnete . 2024-07-04 . Zürcher Unterländer . de.
10. Bally, c'est fini!. Fed. 1975-02-18.
11. Web site: Championnat de Suisse de hockey sur glace 1974/75 . 2024-07-04 . www.hockeyarchives.info.
12. Web site: History - Crossair . 2024-07-04 . www.sr692.com.
13. L'engagement du Conseil fédéral et de l'administration dans les campagnes précédant les votations fédérales. Rapport du groupe de travail de la Conférence des services d'information élargie (GT CSIC). fr. 2001.
14. Web site: 2022-05-05 . Après le suffrage féminin, le droit à l'avortement . 2024-07-04 . rts.ch . fr.
15. News: 2017-06-08 . La Question jurassienne, point final - Le Temps . 2024-07-04 . fr . 1423-3967.
16. Web site: Ciné-Journal suisse - Inventaire des archives papier de la Cinémathèque suisse . 2024-07-04 . caspar.cinematheque.ch.
17. Web site: Image of Switzerland Nuclear Power Plant Protest Kaiseraugst, 1975 (b/w photo) . 2024-07-04 . www.bridgemanimages.com . en-US.
18. Rougier . Henri . 1975 . Les chutes de neige et les avalanches du printemps 1975 dans les Grisons (Suisse) . Revue de Géographie Alpine . 63 . 4 . 555–560 . 10.3406/rga.1975.1442.
19. News: 1975-04-08 . AVALANCHES ET GLISSEMENTS DE TERRAIN DANS LES ALPES . 2024-07-04 . Le Monde.fr . fr.
20. Des quintuplés sont nés à la maternité de Berne. FAN. 1. 1975-04-14.
21. Web site: Chronik April 1975 . www.baselland.ch.
22. Elections tessinoises. L'Impartial. 1975-04-22. 11.
23. Web site: Ahnengalerie . 2024-07-04 . Kanton Zürich . de.
24. Web site: A city full of stories . www.basel.com.
25. Web site: Zürcher . Christoph . 2016-08-15 . General Motors (GM) . hls-dhs-dss.ch.
26. Web site: SBB Historic - Archive plan search . 2024-07-04 . Archives and collections of SBB Historic . en.
27. Web site: The Ferry "Konstanz", Constance › Attractions Carinthia: Klagenfurt: Excursions: Minimundus . 2024-07-04 . Attractions Carinthia: Klagenfurt: Excursions: Minimundus . en-US.
28. Théâtre du Jorat». The Swiss observer. 1975. 5.
29. Web site: Table 3-1 Swiss referendums, 1848-1992. ditext.com.
30. [Dieter Nohlen]
31. Web site: Parlamentswörterbuch. Parlamentsdienste. parlament.ch. de.
32. Web site: VOTAZIONE POPOLARE DELL’ 8 GIUGNO 1975. it. swissvotes.ch.
33. Web site: Legge federale che modifica la tariffa generale delle dogane. Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft.
34. Web site: Image of Switzerland Soccer Champions Fc Zurich, 1975 (b/w photo) . 2024-07-04 . www.bridgemanimages.com . en-US.
35. Web site: Roger DE VLAEMINCK . Olympics.
36. Web site: Interlaken 1975 World Archery Championships World Archery . www.worldarchery.sport . 13 March 2024 . en.
37. Web site: The Helsinki Final Act of the CSCE in 1975 Dodis . 2024-07-04 . www.dodis.ch.
38. Web site: JBOAG 1976 langete hochwasser . www.langenthal.com.
39. Web site: Jura Bern Border Dispute . hal.science.
40. Rougier . Henri . 1975 . Le Val Medel et la région du col du Lukmanier (Grisons, Suisse) . Revue de Géographie Alpine . 63 . 3 . 401–413 . 10.3406/rga.1975.1430.
41. Web site: 2021-09-28 . Interno rock: il Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic di Montreux e l'epopea dei Deep Purple . 2024-07-04 . Living . it-IT.
42. Web site: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1975 . 2024-07-04 . NobelPrize.org . en-US.
43. Web site: Cross-border cooperation between France, Germany and Switzerland: Upper Rhine intergovernmental commission meets for 30th time . 2024-07-04 . www.admin.ch.
44. Web site: SWITZERLAND. Inter-Parliamentary Union.
45. Web site: Trade and Economics . www.walser-alps.eu.
46. Web site: IM Maggia Engineering SA IUB Engineering AG . 2024-07-04 . www.engineering-group.ch.
47. News: 2005-04-16 . Autoroute A5: un chantier de 50 ans prend fin - Le Temps . 2024-07-04 . fr . 1423-3967.
48. Pour mémoire. Domaine public. 1975-12-31.
49. Web site: Olympedia – Sandra Cattaneo . www.olympedia.org . 11 March 2024.
50. Web site: Olympedia – Andrea Huber . www.olympedia.org . 2 February 2024.
51. Web site: Olympedia – Sergei Aschwanden . www.olympedia.org . 13 March 2024.
52. Web site: Dorette Berthoud . Historical Dictionary of Switzerland . 4 July 2024.
53. Book: Fleming . Brian . Heroes in the Shadows: Humanitarian Action and Courage in the Second World War . 15 April 2019 . Amberley Publishing Limited . 978-1-4456-8733-9 . 294 . en.
54. Web site: Sasha Morgenthaler. hls-dhs-dss.ch. it.
55. Web site: JacquesBéranger . Historical Dictionary of Switzerland . 4 July 2024.
56. Web site: Olympedia – Robert Lips . www.olympedia.org . 4 July 2024.
57. Web site: Francis-MariusMesserli . Historical Dictionary of Switzerland . 4 July 2024.
58. Web site: Alfred Roulin (1885-1975) . data.bnf.fr . 4 July 2024 . fr.
59. Saward . John . L'Église a ravi son cœur: Charles Journet and the Theologians of Ressourcement on the Personality of the Church . academic.oup.com . 2011 . 125–137 . 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199552870.003.0009 . 978-0-19-955287-0 . 4 July 2024.
60. Web site: Charles Cardinal Journet Of Switzerland Dies at 84 . The New York Times . 4 July 2024 . 16 April 1975.
61. Web site: Samuel Gonard . Historical Dictionary of Switzerland . 4 July 2024.
62. Book: Oscherwitz . Dayna . Higgins . MaryEllen . The A to Z of French Cinema . 2 September 2009 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-7038-3 . 395 . en.
63. Web site: Whitman . Alden . Michel Simon, Actor, 80, Dead; Acclaimed for 'Two of Us' Film . The New York Times . 4 July 2024 . 31 May 1975.
64. Web site: FerdinandGonseth . Historical Dictionary of Switzerland . 4 July 2024.
65. Web site: Digitale Sammlungen der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung / Bührer, Jakob [1-20] ]. collections.fes.de . 4 July 2024.