Hans Frölicher Explained

Hans Frölicher (3 December 1887 - 30 January 1961)^[1] was the Swiss ambassador to Germany during World War II. He remains controversial in Switzerland due to his sympathies for the Third Reich while Ambassador in Berlin.^{[2] [3]}

Ambassador to Germany

Frölicher replaced Paul Dinichert, who had served as Ambassador to Germany between 1932 and 1938.^[4] Frölicher was received by Adolf Hitler as Ambassador to Germany at a ceremony on June 9, 1938.^[5] Early in his tenure, Frölicher was able to delay relocating the Swiss Embassy, which had been required to fulfill Albert Speer's vision of Germania.^[6] Beginning in 1938, Frölicher was involved in negotiations between the governments of Germany and Switzerland aimed at reducing the number of Jews seeking refuge in Switzerland.^[7]

In 1939, a Swiss theology student named Maurice Bavaud attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Although Bavaud was facing execution, Fröhlicher refused to intervene, going so far as to decline an offer to exchange Bavaud for captured Gestapo spies imprisoned in Switzerland. Instead, he condemned Bavaud for his actions.^{[8] [9]}

Frölicher remained the Swiss Ambassador to Germany until 1945.^[10]

Post-ambassadorship

A memoir of his was privately published in 1962, entitled Meine Aufgabe in Berlin (My Task in Berlin).^[11]

In Media

The main character of Thomas Hürlimann's play "Der Gesandte", Heinrich Zwygart, is based on Hans Frölicher, focusing on his reception in Switzerland in 1945. This play was turned into a movie by Laurent Nègre in 2023 entitled "A Forgotten Man".^[12]

Notes and References

1. Book: Laurie R. Cohen. Smolensk Under the Nazis: Everyday Life in Occupied Russia. 2013. Boydell & Brewer. 978-1-58046-469-7. 108.
2. News: Controversial new Swiss embassy opens in Berlin . . May 11, 2001 . Scott . Capper.
3. Book: Peter Fritzsche. An Iron Wind: Europe Under Hitler. 25 October 2016. Basic Books. 978-0-465-09655-8. 137–138.
4. Book: Frank Bajohr. Christoph Strupp. Fremde Blicke auf das "Dritte Reich": Berichte ausländischer Diplomaten über Herrschaft und Gesellschaft in Deutschland, 1933-1945. 2011. Wallstein Verlag GmbH. 978-3-8353-0870-1. 187.
5. Book: Paul Bruppacher. Adolf Hitler und die Geschichte der NSDAP Teil 2: 1938 bis 1945. 22 May 2013. BoD – Books on Demand. 978-3-8423-8627-3. 44 . German.
6. News: . Hitler duly explained to the resident foreign missions that they had to move, and all except one did. The Swiss, however, were at this time represented by one Hans Frölicher, who sympathised with, and was close to, the Nazis. Mr Frölicher was able to slow down the negotiations and to secure a good new location for the Swiss. . A German history lesson in one Swiss building . May 16, 2018 . https://archive.today/20180516013953/https://www.economist.com/charlemagne/2013/07/11/a-german-history-lesson-in-one-swiss-building . July 11, 2013 . May 16, 2018 . live .
7. Book: New, Mitya . Switzerland Unwrapped: Exposing the Myths. 15 August 1997. I.B.Tauris. 978-1-86064-300-2. 18.
8. News: . Switzerland "failed" would-be Hitler assassin . During Bavaud's imprisonment, the Swiss ambassador to Germany, Hans Fröhlicher, described the assassination attempt as a "despicable act" and never visited him. In 1940 the Swiss government was offered the chance to exchange Bavaud for a German hostage held in Switzerland – but they rejected the offer. . Thomas . Stephens . November 7, 2008.
9. Book: Hellmut G. Haasis. Bombing Hitler: The Story of the Man who Almost Assassinated the Fuhrer. 2013. Skyhorse Publishing Inc.. 978-1-61608-741-8. 19.
10. Book: Colloquium helveticum. 2006. P. Lang. 172.
11. Book: Pierre Th. Braunschweig . Karl . Vonlanthen . Secret Channel to Berlin: The Masson-Schellenberg Connection and Swiss Intelligence in World War II. 19 September 2004. Casemate. 978-1-61200-022-0. 405.
12. Web site: A Forgotten Man . Bord Cadre Films . 11 April 2023 . 24 April 2023.