After years of debate, Switzerland has agreed to build a monument in the federal capital of Bern to honor the victims of the Nazi regime. The decision has been

applauded by the Jewish community and a leading academic who specializes in Jewish, Swiss, and European history. The Swiss Federal Council has allocated £2.2 million for the construction of the monument.

During World War II, Switzerland implemented strict immigration policies that limited the number of Jewish refugees it would accept. While Switzerland granted asylum to about 27,000 Jewish refugees between 1933 and 1945, an estimated 24,500 others were denied entry and sent back to countries under Nazi control. The monument will recognize the suffering of all the victims of the National Socialist regime, including the six million Jews who were killed.

For years, Switzerland has been criticized for its role during the war and for not acknowledging its past mistakes. The country's decision to build the monument is seen as an important step towards accepting responsibility for its actions and recognizing the suffering of those affected. The monument is expected to serve as a symbol of remembrance and a reminder of the importance of acknowledging and learning from past mistakes. Photo by Dmitry A. Mottl, Wikimedia commons.