Case file
November 1932 Geneva shooting
Documents violence · ongoing investigation — written to inform, not to shock.
On the afternoon and evening of 9 November 1932, Swiss Army troops fired live ammunition into a crowd of anti-fascist counter-protesters in the Plainpalais district of Geneva, killing 13 people and wounding 65. The shooting occurred against a backdrop of rising political violence between far-right and far-left movements in Europe, economic crisis, and unemployment. In Geneva specifically, the fascist Union nationale party, led by Georges Oltramare, had grown in influence and clashed repeatedly with the Socialist Party of Geneva, led by Léon Nicole, and its allied Workers' Unions.
The immediate trigger was a Union nationale-organized "mock trial" against Socialist leaders Nicole and Jacques Dicker, scheduled for the evening of 9 November at the communal hall in Plainpalais. Despite objections from the Socialist Party, authorities allowed the event to proceed. Socialist and Communist militants organized a counter-protest, and by late afternoon 4,000 to 5,000 counter-protesters had gathered. Citing insufficient police personnel, the Conseil d'État of Geneva deployed army recruits from a Lausanne boot camp — soldiers with only about six weeks of training — under Major Ernest Léderrey, Major Perret, and First Lieutenant Raymond Burnat. Recruits were told a "revolution" was underway and issued live ammunition.
As a company of soldiers retreated toward the communal hall, they were cornered against the facade of the Palais des expositions by protesters. At 9:34 PM, on orders from First Lieutenant Burnat with approval from Major Perret, the troops opened fire with rifles and an automatic weapon for approximately 12 seconds. Ten people were killed immediately — mostly bystanders rather than militants — with three more later dying of their injuries, bringing the death toll to 13, and 65 others wounded. Among the dead was Henri Furst, president of the Communist Party of Geneva.
In the aftermath, an official military inquiry released on 22 November 1932 found no grounds to open penal proceedings against the officers involved, concluding the troops had fired only when forced to. However, Major Léderrey acknowledged in his own report that recruits were unsuited for such policing tasks. A 1996 Federal Military Library report stated that officials had "overestimated the seriousness of the events" and ordered fire. A trial opened in May 1933 against left-wing figures accused of inciting the riot; seven defendants, including Nicole, were convicted of incitement and given prison sentences of up to six months (four months for most, six for Nicole).
The event triggered a partially observed general strike on 12 November 1932 and had lasting political consequences, including the 1934 rejection of a Federal law on public order and a split within the Swiss Socialist movement over national defense policy. It marked the last time Swiss troops were deployed to quell domestic public unrest. A commemorative monument was unveiled in 1982 and relocated to the exact site of the shooting, in front of the University of Geneva, following a 2008 decision by the State Council of Geneva.
Key facts
- Victims
- Henri Furst
- Date
- 1930
- Location
- Plainpalais, Geneva, Switzerland
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
1930
Cantonal elections give the Socialist Party of Geneva 37 legislative seats but none in the executive Conseil d'État.
1932-06-24
The Ordre politique national merges with the Union de défense économique to form the fascist Union Nationale party.
1932-11-05
A Union nationale pamphlet advertises a mock trial against Socialist leaders Nicole and Dicker, to be held 9 November.
1932-11-06
The Socialist Party's request to ban the mock-trial meeting is denied by State councilor Frédéric Martin.
1932-11-09
Army recruits under Major Léderrey, Major Perret and First Lieutenant Burnat are deployed to Plainpalais; at 9:34 PM troops open fire on counter-protesters, killing 10 immediately and wounding 65; three more later die of injuries.
1932-11-10
The State Council bans public meetings; Frédéric Martin, Léon Nicole and 39 other left-wing militants are arrested.
1932-11-11
The assembly of the Union des syndicats du canton de Genève votes to launch a fixed-duration general strike.
1932-11-12
A partially observed general strike takes place; burial of the victims is attended by thousands.
1932-11-16
Charles Rosselet addresses the Grand Conseil regarding the events of 9 November.
1932-11-22
The official military inquiry finds no grounds for penal proceedings against the officers involved.
1933-05-15
Trial opens at Rue de la Rôtisserie under Federal judge Agostino Soldati against 18 defendants accused of inciting the riot.
1933-10-17
Léon Nicole is released from his prison sentence.
1933-11-26
Socialist Party wins executive elections at the State Council of Geneva, forming the first left-wing government in Switzerland.
1933-12-01
Léon Nicole becomes chief of government of Geneva.
1982-11-09
A commemorative monument is unveiled on the 50th anniversary of the shooting near the site in Plainpalais.
1996-09-30
The Federal Military Library releases a report stating officials overestimated the seriousness of events before ordering fire.
2008-09-10
The State Council of Geneva authorises moving the monument to the exact spot of the shooting in front of the University of Geneva.
Best coverage
No approved coverage links are attached yet.
People
Auguste Millasson
CONVICTEDConvicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.
citation on file
Léon Nicole
CONVICTEDSocialist Party of Geneva leader; convicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to 6 months' imprisonment.
citation on file
Albert Wütrich
CONVICTEDConvicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.
citation on file
Francis Baeriswyl
CONVICTEDConvicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.
citation on file
Edmond Isaak
CONVICTEDConvicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.
citation on file
Francis-Auguste Lebet
CONVICTEDConvicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.
citation on file
Henri Furst
VICTIMPresident of the Communist Party of Geneva, killed in the shooting of 9 November 1932.
citation on file
Jules Daviet
CONVICTEDConvicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.
citation on file
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- On 9 November 1932, Swiss Army recruits deployed to police a fascist rally in Geneva's Plainpalais district opened fire on anti-fascist counter-protesters, killing 13 people and wounding 65 in a shooting lasting about 12 seconds.
- Where did the shooting happen?
- Plainpalais, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Who was convicted?
- Auguste Millasson (Convicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.), Léon Nicole (Socialist Party of Geneva leader; convicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to 6 months' imprisonment.), Albert Wütrich (Convicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.), Francis Baeriswyl (Convicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.), Edmond Isaak (Convicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.), Francis-Auguste Lebet (Convicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.), and Jules Daviet (Convicted in the May 1933 trial of inciting a riot and sentenced to up to 4 months' imprisonment.).
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
Sources
- November 1932 Geneva shootingwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
- Contemporaneous coverage — hls-dhs-dss.chnews · hls-dhs-dss.ch · 2026-07-07
- Contemporaneous coverage — cgas.chnews · cgas.ch · 2026-07-07
Last verified JUL 2026
