Ulrich Wille
Encyclopedia
Conrad Ulrich Sigmund Wille (April 5, 1848 – January 31, 1925) was the General
of the Swiss Army during the First World War. Inspired by the Prussian techniques that he had been able to observe at the time of his studies in Berlin
, he tried to impress the Swiss Army with a spirit based on instruction, discipline and technical control.
At the dawn of the First World War, Switzerland
confirmed its will to remain neutral and to avoid the conflicts which were going to set Europe
ablaze. However, Switzerland was divided between the German-speaking Swiss who favored the Central Powers
, and the French and Italian-speaking Swiss whose opinions tended to support the Allied Powers. As a Germanic-speaking Swiss, and close to Kaiser Wilhelm II, Wille benefitted from the pro-Germanic current and the disparity within the Swiss Federal Council, which counted only one member from the French areas.
In 1914, at the outbreak of warfare, a general mobilization of all military forces was issued. Wille, then a Colonel
, was named General of Switzerland
by the Federal Parliament
on August 8, 1914 with 122 votes, against 63 votes for the other candidate, Theodore Sprecher von Bernegg. Von Bernegg would soon assume the rank of Chief of the General Staff
and become a reliable partner of Wille's.
The opponents of the general described him as "militarist" whereas his partisans saw in him a chief ready to manage an army in mobilization thanks to his pedagogical talents. Wille decided to concentrate the bulk of his forces (238,000 men and 50,000 horses) close to the borders, particularly in Ajoie
and Engadin
e.
. Thereafter, the "Colonels' Affair" in 1916 also had a great repercussion. Two Swiss colonels had given German
and Austro-Hungarian diplomats specimens of the "Staff Gazette", a confidential journal, and Russian
messages deciphered by Swiss cryptanalysts. The affair risked Swiss neutrality since it implied relations with one of the belligerents. Wille decided to condemn the two colonels to 20 days detention, an unsatisfactory sentence in the eyes of the pro-Allied party.
The confrontation between French-speaking Switzerland and German-speaking Switzerland widened. The Germanic newspapers supported the German actions in Belgium
, whereas the French ones highlighted the resistance of the Allied troops.
The economic situation was poor and many strikes occurred, reaching their apogee with the Swiss General Strike from November 11 to November 14, 1918. In a note dated November 10, 1918, Wille announced his concern for the rise of Bolshevism and the internal disorders to come in the country:
But he added that it was necessary to avoid violence:
Meanwhile, Wille had to manage the pandemic of the Spanish influenza, which affected the troops and the recruit schools. In order to combat the spread of the epidemic, enlistment of new recruits was delayed.
of Bismarck
, with whom he had two daughters and three sons.
His eldest son, also named Ulrich Wille followed his father's footsteps in the military, ultimately becoming a Corps
Commander
. Wille Jr. also managed to keep his father's pro-German tendencies throughout his career, including during the Second World War. This would unfortunately contribute to his tensions with the next Swiss General, Henri Guisan
.
His granddaughter was the renowned author Annemarie Schwarzenbach
, a friend of Erika
and Klaus Mann
.
General (Switzerland)
The General is an office and rank in the armed forces of Switzerland. It is held by the commander-in-chief of the Army in time of war only. Under the Swiss Constitution, he must be elected by the Federal Assembly, assembled as the United Federal Assembly, specifically for the purpose of taking...
of the Swiss Army during the First World War. Inspired by the Prussian techniques that he had been able to observe at the time of his studies in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, he tried to impress the Swiss Army with a spirit based on instruction, discipline and technical control.
Nomination as General
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
confirmed its will to remain neutral and to avoid the conflicts which were going to set Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ablaze. However, Switzerland was divided between the German-speaking Swiss who favored the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
, and the French and Italian-speaking Swiss whose opinions tended to support the Allied Powers. As a Germanic-speaking Swiss, and close to Kaiser Wilhelm II, Wille benefitted from the pro-Germanic current and the disparity within the Swiss Federal Council, which counted only one member from the French areas.
In 1914, at the outbreak of warfare, a general mobilization of all military forces was issued. Wille, then a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, was named General of Switzerland
Military ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces
The military ranks of the Swiss Army have changed little over the centuries, except for the introduction, in 2001, of a new set of warrant officers. The rank insignia for all personnel are worn on shoulder boards with the appropriate background colour . Recruits of all services do not wear any rank...
by the Federal Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
on August 8, 1914 with 122 votes, against 63 votes for the other candidate, Theodore Sprecher von Bernegg. Von Bernegg would soon assume the rank of Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff
The Chief of the General Staff is a post in many armed forces , the head of the military staff.See also:*Chief of the General Staff *Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces...
and become a reliable partner of Wille's.
The opponents of the general described him as "militarist" whereas his partisans saw in him a chief ready to manage an army in mobilization thanks to his pedagogical talents. Wille decided to concentrate the bulk of his forces (238,000 men and 50,000 horses) close to the borders, particularly in Ajoie
Ajoie
L’Ajoie is an area located in the Northwest part of Switzerland, in the canton of Jura, .It is a part of the Jura plain, composed of six geographic areas:...
and Engadin
Engadin
The Engadin or Engadine is a long valley in the Swiss Alps located in the canton of Graubünden in southeast Switzerland. It follows the route of the Inn River from its headwaters at Maloja Pass running northeast until the Inn flows into Austria one hundred kilometers downstream...
e.
Political Matters
The mandate of Wille was rife with political problems. Wille caused a scandal in French-speaking Switzerland by proposing to the Federal council on July 20, 1915 to enter the war on the side of the Central PowersCentral Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
. Thereafter, the "Colonels' Affair" in 1916 also had a great repercussion. Two Swiss colonels had given German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
and Austro-Hungarian diplomats specimens of the "Staff Gazette", a confidential journal, and Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
messages deciphered by Swiss cryptanalysts. The affair risked Swiss neutrality since it implied relations with one of the belligerents. Wille decided to condemn the two colonels to 20 days detention, an unsatisfactory sentence in the eyes of the pro-Allied party.
The confrontation between French-speaking Switzerland and German-speaking Switzerland widened. The Germanic newspapers supported the German actions in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, whereas the French ones highlighted the resistance of the Allied troops.
The economic situation was poor and many strikes occurred, reaching their apogee with the Swiss General Strike from November 11 to November 14, 1918. In a note dated November 10, 1918, Wille announced his concern for the rise of Bolshevism and the internal disorders to come in the country:
But he added that it was necessary to avoid violence:
Meanwhile, Wille had to manage the pandemic of the Spanish influenza, which affected the troops and the recruit schools. In order to combat the spread of the epidemic, enlistment of new recruits was delayed.
Personal life
Wille was married to Clara Gräfin von Bismarck (1851–1946), the daughter of Frederick Wilhelm, GrafGraf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
of Bismarck
Bismarck
- People :* Bismarck family, a German noble family descending from Herebord von Bismarck* Otto von Bismarck , German statesman of the 19th century* Herbert von Bismarck , Secretary of State, son of Otto von Bismarck...
, with whom he had two daughters and three sons.
His eldest son, also named Ulrich Wille followed his father's footsteps in the military, ultimately becoming a Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
. Wille Jr. also managed to keep his father's pro-German tendencies throughout his career, including during the Second World War. This would unfortunately contribute to his tensions with the next Swiss General, Henri Guisan
Henri Guisan
Henri Guisan was a Swiss army officer, and held the office of the General of the Swiss Army during World War II. He was the fourth and the most recent man to be appointed to the rarely used Swiss rank of General, and was possibly Switzerland's most famous soldier...
.
His granddaughter was the renowned author Annemarie Schwarzenbach
Annemarie Schwarzenbach
Annemarie Schwarzenbach was a Swiss writer, journalist, photographer and traveler.- Life :Annemarie was born in Bocken, near Zurich, Switzerland...
, a friend of Erika
Erika Mann
Erika Julia Hedwig Mann was a German actress and writer, the eldest daughter of novelist Thomas Mann and Katia Mann.-Life:...
and Klaus Mann
Klaus Mann
- Life and work :Born in Munich, Klaus Mann was the son of German writer Thomas Mann and his wife, Katia Pringsheim. His father was baptized as a Lutheran, while his mother was from a family of secular Jews. He began writing short stories in 1924 and the following year became drama critic for a...
.