Valais: Research in Progress

Kindness or Opportunism? Valais Hospitality Toward World War I Internees The canton of Valais played an important role in welcoming wounded or sick prisoners of war transferred to Switzerland as part of humanitarian internment. These internees were housed in hotels whose business had been severely affected by the decline in tourism. Among the towns involved were Bagnes, Brig, Champéry, Fiesch, Finhaut, Leukerbad, Martigny, Montana, Monthey, Morgins, Naters, Randa, Reckingen, Ried-Brig, Saint-Maurice, Saint-Nicolas, Salvan, Sierre, Sion, Stalden, Täsch, Troistorrents, Vernayaz, Visp, and Zermatt. Presented as a humanitarian effort, this policy allowed Switzerland to assert its neutrality and strengthen its image on the international stage. It also addressed economic concerns, notably by supporting the hospitality industry and maintaining economic relations with the belligerent countries.This conference will examine the living conditions of the internees in Valais and their relationships with the local population, in order to better understand the motivations behind and the consequences of this policy of welcoming refugees to Valais.

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