Emil Sonderegger
Encyclopedia
Emil Sonderegger was a Swiss
military officer who later became involved in the country's far right
political scene.
The son of leading embroidery
businessman, Sonderegger initially worked for the export branch of his father's country, travelling extensively and developing strong language skills as a result. Eventually however Sonderegger left the family business to follow a career in the Swiss Army, rising to artillery lieutenant by 1888. His military career blossomed and he was commanding a brigade by 1916 and the 4th Division by 1918. Leading his division to suppress the general strike
in Zurich
in November of that year, he gained strong approval from conservatives
who dubbed him the saviour of the Fatherland. Promoted to the Swiss General Staff in 1920 he left the army in 1923 in protest over plans to restructure the country's military.
He went on to work for Schweizerische Industriegesellschaft Neuhausen and an arms manufacturer, as well as conducting a lecture tour of China
. Turning his business and military mind to politics, he became a strong opponent of parliamentary democracy, likening it to the chaos of a stock exchange
when a better system would be the corporation
model of an amalgamated executive
and legislature
kept in check by plebiscite. He also supported enterprise
in economics
, rather than state intervention.
He became a keen reader of the Schweizerische Monatshefte and its editor Hans Oehler
gained something of a coup in 1933 when he convinced the national hero to join the National Front
. Using his military skills, he played a leading role in transforming the front from a discussion group into a force in street politics, although he became disillusioned with the inertia of the Front and in 1933 left the group with Ernst Leonhardt
to form the Volksbund. By February of the following year Sonderegger and Leonhardt had split, with Sonderegger forming his own Volksfront. He died later that same year, with his group absorbed by the Eidgenössische Front.
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....
military officer who later became involved in the country's far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
political scene.
The son of leading embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
businessman, Sonderegger initially worked for the export branch of his father's country, travelling extensively and developing strong language skills as a result. Eventually however Sonderegger left the family business to follow a career in the Swiss Army, rising to artillery lieutenant by 1888. His military career blossomed and he was commanding a brigade by 1916 and the 4th Division by 1918. Leading his division to suppress the general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
in November of that year, he gained strong approval from conservatives
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
who dubbed him the saviour of the Fatherland. Promoted to the Swiss General Staff in 1920 he left the army in 1923 in protest over plans to restructure the country's military.
He went on to work for Schweizerische Industriegesellschaft Neuhausen and an arms manufacturer, as well as conducting a lecture tour of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Turning his business and military mind to politics, he became a strong opponent of parliamentary democracy, likening it to the chaos of a stock exchange
Stock exchange
A stock exchange is an entity that provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and...
when a better system would be the corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
model of an amalgamated executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
and legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
kept in check by plebiscite. He also supported enterprise
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, rather than state intervention.
He became a keen reader of the Schweizerische Monatshefte and its editor Hans Oehler
Hans Oehler
Hans Oehler was a Swiss journalist, leading supporter of Nazism.Initially a journalist, Oehler turned his attention towards producing vehemently pro-German material, founding the Schweizerische Monatshefte für Politik und Kultur in 1921...
gained something of a coup in 1933 when he convinced the national hero to join the National Front
National Front (Switzerland)
The National Front was a far right political party in Switzerland that flourished during the 1930s.The party began life amongst a number of debating clubs at the University of Zurich, where anti-Semitism, Swiss nationalism and support for ideas similar to those later adopted in the racial policy of...
. Using his military skills, he played a leading role in transforming the front from a discussion group into a force in street politics, although he became disillusioned with the inertia of the Front and in 1933 left the group with Ernst Leonhardt
Ernst Leonhardt
Ernst Leonhardt was an American-born Swiss military figure and pro-Nazi Germany politician.- Biography :...
to form the Volksbund. By February of the following year Sonderegger and Leonhardt had split, with Sonderegger forming his own Volksfront. He died later that same year, with his group absorbed by the Eidgenössische Front.