In 1798, Switzerland was occupied by the French. The following year, however, they had to surrender all of eastern Switzerland to the advancing Russians and Austrians
A first attack by the two allies on the French (First Battle of Zurich on 4-5 June 1799) failed. The French withdrew to the Albis-Dietikon line, after which the city was occupied by the Russians and Austrians.
After building a bridge over the Limmat at Dietikon, the French entered the city on 25 and 26 September 1799 and launched the decisive counterattack (Second Battle of Zurich). The allies were forced to withdraw and leave the country.
To commemorate this, a monument was erected on the Zürichberg, consisting of a tower of boulders with a memorial plaque on the front and back. There is also an information board with the course of the battle.
The plaque on the front reads:
"In memory of the battles near Zürich
on 2, 3, 4 and 5 June
and 25 and 26 September
1799.
Erected by the
Verschönerungsverein Zürich
in June 1899.
Renewed by the Grün Stadt Zürich in 2006."
Plaque on the back:
"What our city suffered a hundred years ago,
when here strangers quarreled with strangers,
when rockets sounded through the silent forest,
the pillars of fire smoked, flags fluttered,
the father tells his son and then he
admonishes the grandson: Boy, become a man!
Whether those old wounds have healed,
do not forget how our mothers starved.
The enemy army devoured the children's bread.
Great was the misery, the need was great!
If the city is never to experience such suffering again,
the coming generation must come together:
they will keep watch and defend themselves,
to protect the Swiss borders, the Swiss honor!"
(Source: Onlineprojekt Gefallenendenkmäler)
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