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Published on 10 September 2025

The history of the Swiss Army

The origins of the Swiss Army date back to the late Middle Ages. The militia army founded on general national conscription is relatively young by comparison.

Centre for Historic Equipment of the Armed Forces

The Centre for Historic Equipment of the Armed Forces (CHEAF) bears overall responsibility for the Swiss Armed Forces’ combined collections of historic equipment. It is charged with documenting the armed forces’ history and technological developments over the past 200 years.