On April 1, 1944, during World War II, an American bombing mission went horribly wrong and led to the accidental bombing of the Swiss city of Schaffhausen. The mission was intended to target Ludwigshafen, Germany, but navigational errors caused the bombers to veer off course and bomb the Swiss city instead.
Despite being a neutral country during the war, Switzerland was frequently caught in the crossfire of Allied and Axis forces. The Swiss government had taken measures to protect its airspace, including issuing warnings to belligerent nations and stationing military forces near its borders. However, these precautions were not enough to prevent the accidental bombing of Schaffhausen.
The bombing resulted in between 47 to 67 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Many buildings were destroyed or damaged. The incident sparked outrage in Switzerland, and the Swiss government demanded an explanation and apology from the United States.
The American government quickly acknowledged its mistake and expressed regret for the loss of life and damage caused. The incident also led to changes in Allied bombing procedures, with greater emphasis placed on accurate navigation and communication between planes.
Despite the tragedy of the bombing, the incident did not significantly affect the overall relationship between Switzerland and the United States during the war. Switzerland remained neutral, and the United States continued to use Swiss territory for diplomatic channels and intelligence gathering.
References:
https://studyinginswitzerland.com/switzerland-a-neutral-country/
