November 1932 Geneva shooting

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November 1932 Geneva shooting
Civilians and soldiers in Geneva in 1932
Date	9 November 1932
Location	Plainpalais, Geneva,   Switzerland 46°11′38″N 6°08′29″E / 46.193889°N 6.141389°E / 46.193889; 6.141389
Caused by	Mock trial of socialist leaders being held by the National Union
Goals	To shut down the meeting of the National Union
Methods	Demonstrations
Resulted in	Protestors shot and killed by the Swiss Army, demonstration dispersed
Parties
National Union Anti-fascists Socialists Communists Anarchists Federal Council PLR PDC PPS Armed Forces
Lead figures
Georges Oltramare Léon Nicole Jacques Dicker Jean Vincent [fr] Henry Furst † Lucien Tronchet André Bösiger Giuseppe Motta Frédéric Martin Ernest Léderrey Raymond Burnat
Number
4,000 - 5,000 protestors 241 gendarmes 48 rural guards 62 security agents 610 army recruits 30 army officers
Casualties
Death(s)	13 (10 immediate, 3 died of wounds)
Injuries	65
Arrested	41 protestors arrested
Charged	7 defendants convicted

On 9 November 1932, elements of the Swiss Army under Major Perret fired live rounds into a crowd of anti-fascist protesters in Plainpalais in Geneva, killing 13 and wounding 65.^[1][2]

The shooting occurred on a background of increasing violence between far-right and far-left groups, of rising totalitarian regimes, and of unemployment and economic crisis in Europe. The incident stemmed from inappropriate crowd control tactics, excitation of the antimilitarist protesters after a speech by socialist leader Léon Nicole, a series of incompetent orders, and a force made up of improperly trained officers and soldiers — who had only had six weeks of military training before their deployment. ^[2] Exactly how events unfolded and who bears responsibility for them are still a matter of debate.^[3]

A commemorative monument was unveiled on 9 November 1982 for the 50th anniversary of the shooting on the Southern end of Plainpalais, near the place of the events. On 10 September 2008, the State Council of Geneva authorised the monument to be moved in front of the University of Geneva, on the exact spot of the shooting.^[4]