Last but not least: "Alpine fortress" struggles with problems
Even before the SF program «Alpenfestung – Leben im Réduit» airs, the first difficulties are already emerging. The commander of the 25-member unit has dropped out. Furthermore, the concept—which enjoys great popularity in the U.S.—is anything but uncontroversial in Switzerland.
Even before the participants in the SF documentary soap "Alpenfestung - Leben im Réduit" have stormed the fortress, the first conflicts are on the horizon. The commander of the 25-strong troop has jumped ship. A new head must therefore now be found for the living history project, in which the participants move into the Fürigen fortress at the end of July and live as they did in the days of the Great War.
However, these are by no means all the problems that Swiss television has to overcome. While "re-enactment" enjoys great popularity in the USA - for example, battles from the American Civil War or even episodes from the Second World War are re-enacted - the concept is controversial here in Switzerland. It is about everyday problems and not about acts of war, assures production manager Bruno Zus of the NZZ am Sonntag. The focus of interest is therefore on whether or not the underpants and uniforms of that time were scratchy, how the food tasted and how a bunker was operated. Historian Jakob Tanner is not quite so unproblematic. He finds the entertainment show questionable and a "trivialization of a highly problematic topic". History professor Jean-François Bergier, President of the expert commission "Switzerland - Second World War", also finds the project "absurd". People today have completely different ideas and fears. Feelings from back then could not be repeated. How the bunker residents survive the three weeks and what emotions they show can be followed on screen from July 27.
However, these are by no means all the problems that Swiss television has to overcome. While "re-enactment" enjoys great popularity in the USA - for example, battles from the American Civil War or even episodes from the Second World War are re-enacted - the concept is controversial here in Switzerland. It is about everyday problems and not about acts of war, assures production manager Bruno Zus of the NZZ am Sonntag. The focus of interest is therefore on whether or not the underpants and uniforms of that time were scratchy, how the food tasted and how a bunker was operated. Historian Jakob Tanner is not quite so unproblematic. He finds the entertainment show questionable and a "trivialization of a highly problematic topic". History professor Jean-François Bergier, President of the expert commission "Switzerland - Second World War", also finds the project "absurd". People today have completely different ideas and fears. Feelings from back then could not be repeated. How the bunker residents survive the three weeks and what emotions they show can be followed on screen from July 27.
