The Whitsun weekend was a little too early for the official D-Day of the Allies, as this is not celebrated until June 6. But that didn't dampen the good mood at the 5th International Army Vehicle Meeting in Sisseln. "The date only happened to be right for the very first time in 2014, when we thought it was a one-off event," recalls OC President François Quidort. However, after the 70th anniversary and the great response, there were new editions in 2015, 2017 and 2023, most of which were larger than before. "Now we have almost 300 vehicles and 500 participants," says Quidor with satisfaction. "We are probably the largest such event in Switzerland."
Although such a meeting of army vehicles inevitably has an olive-coloured touch, the whole thing doesn't have a militaristic feel because there are no large-scale vehicles such as tanks and howitzers. "The atmosphere is completely different," emphasizes Quidort. This is more of a family campsite on a green field, which can be rented temporarily from the municipality and a farmer. The big advantage of the location at the Werkhof: the toilet vans could be connected directly to the sewage system and there was an electricity distributor. "Somewhere outside on a field, something of this size and with these logistics would not be feasible," says Quidort.
Anyone who was ever in Normandy on D-Day could still sense the special atmosphere that is being celebrated again these days between the Allied landing zones from Utah to Sword Beach. It is about remembering a historic event that should not be forgotten. And the memory of those people who gave their lives for many others. A memory that lives on with every Willys Jeep. The selection of vehicles was not limited to the World War, but ranged from the Hotchkiss to the Humvee. Former Swiss Army vehicles were well represented, including Mowag, Pinzgauer, Saurer and Condor.
But the meeting is by no means a museum. The vehicles are kept busy: whether it's a demo drive across the grounds or a jaunt to the nearest discount store, the old sheet metal demonstrated its operational readiness throughout the day. On Whit Saturday, more than 150 of them set off in a large convoy on a tour from Sisseln over the Bötzberg Pass and returned at the lime tree in Linn, so that all the vehicles met each other for a while. Quidort: "The participants love that, they drive right past each other, everyone can see everyone else."
Participants from as far away as Geneva and Lugano had traveled all the way to Sisseln. It could be the last time: "The majority of the 15 OC members would now like to step down," confirms Quidort. In addition, more than 250 helpers would have to be found to keep the event running for three days. A new team would therefore be needed, but the support would certainly be there. The event was fully booked before Christmas and the waiting list was able to compensate for last-minute cancellations. Quidort himself would like to continue, even though he doesn't drive a jeep. And the trip to Normandy is still pending.
