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Stunning Color Photos of Switzerland in the 1950s

For many years after World War II, the Swiss economy remained highly stable, experiencing a relatively low level of unemployment and a 5 percent growth rate in the 1950s and 1960s. Negotiating bilateral trade agreements constituted the bulk of foreign policy during this time. Swiss leaders resisted European integration efforts because they avoided multilateral ties that might affect their sovereignty. This led to the country not joining the European Economic Community (later the European Union [EU]); instead, it was a founding member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Switzerland’s rapid economic development transformed the landscape and led to a heightened sense of exclusivity. Slowly and gradually, it gave up bilateralism within the “apolitical” international bodies like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1966), the International Monetary Fund (1992), and the World Trade Organization (1995).

The World Economic Forum was founded in Davos in 1971 as a forum for policy, economic, and social discussions. Davos became synonymous with globalization by the early 21st century, and global decision-makers attended it regularly.

These beautiful color photos will take you back to 1950s Switzerland.

#1 Basler Halle (Today this is the location of the Congress Center, Basel), Basel, Switzerland, 1950s

#2 Papyrus Shop, Freie Strasse 43 4001, Basel, Switzerland, 1956

#4 Frauenkirch viewed from Landwasserstrasse, Davos, 1950s

#5 View from Schonriedstrasse of Eglise de Saanen, Gstaad, Bernese Oberland, late 1950s

#7 Traditional Simmental costume, Trachselwald, 1950s

#8 Corner of Postgasse and Postgasshalde, Bern, 1950s

#9 View from beside the Seedammstrasse, Rapperswil-Jona, 1950s

#13 Aarburg Reformed Church and Fortress Aarburg viewed from the corner of Färbeweg and Landhausstrasse, Aarburg, 1950s

#14 North Easterly view of Hauptgasse from the corner of Hirschengasse & Hauptgasse, Appenzell, 1950s

#15 Münsterkirche viewed from near the corner of Herrengasse and Bibliothekgässchen, Bern, 1950s

#16 Northerly view from the Nydeggbrücke, Bern, early 1950s

#17 Vennerbrunnen Fountain and Statue (in shadow to the left), Rathaus (to the right) and Christkatholische Kirche St. Peter und Paul (behind and to the left), Bern, 1950s

#19 Westerly view from Grosser Muristalden, Bern, 1950s

#20 View from around 19 Emmentalstrasse of the Schloss Burgdorf, Burgdorf, 1950s

#21 View from near 28 Oberburgstrasse of the Schloss Burgdorf, Burgdorf, 1950s

#22 Staff Canteen (or “Welfarehouse”) of the Schindler Elevators Factory (under construction), Zugerstrasse 13 6030, Ebikon, 1956

#23 Sakramentskapelle, Schnarzenstrasse 4-6, 6218, Ettiswil, 1950s

#24 Lucerne from the Funicular”, view from near Château Gütsch, July 1955

#25 Bus-station (“Bahnhof”), Lucerne, 18 August 1955

#26 Half-timbered House at Stiftstrasse 10, 6006, Lucerne, early 1950s

#27 View from near the Grand Casino, Lake Lucerne, Lucerne, 18 July 1955

#29 St Jean Bridge and the village, Saint-Ursanne, 1950s

#30 View from 18 Plaz d’Ora Val Müstair, Santa Maria Val Müstair, 1950s

#32 Churerstrasse Bridge, Altendorf, Schwyz, early 1950s

#34 The Courtyard of Schloss Trachselwald, Trachselwald, 1950s

#35 View of a chapel from near to Holdern (Road), along the Sustenstrasse, Wassen, 1950s

#36 North-easterly view from Lindenhof Hill, Zurich, 1950s

#39 Schoolchildren at Wharf, Beatenbucht, Sigriswil, Switzerland

#42 View from Schonriedstrasse of Eglise de Saanen, Gstaad, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

#43 View from Spiez towards Merligen and the Niederhorn, Switzerland

#44 View from Guntenstutz across Thunersee (Lake Thun) towards Spiez, Gunten, Switzerland

#45 Jungfrau and mountains to the south-east of Spiez, Switzerland

#47 Building at corner of Spycherstrasse and Guntenbach, Gunten, Switzerland

#49 View from the Thunersee about 200 meters from the wharf at Spiez, Switzerland

#50 “A Real Estate Business”, (Guntenstutz 11) Gunten, Switzerland

#53 Gunten from a boat on the Thunersee, Gunten Switzerland

#56 Easterly view from Spiez (near Spiez Castle) of the Thunersee (Lake Thun), Switzerland

#57 Northerly view along Ländteweg from the lakeside, Gunten, Switzerland

#58 Westerly view along Spycherstrasse, Gunten, Switzerland

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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