1946: When Churchill Spoke at Our Doorstep
September 19, 1946: The Münsterhof is packed to capacity; thousands of people crowd the square, the windows of the surrounding buildings, and every conceivable vantage point. At the center of the action is a podium in front of the Zunfthaus zur Meisen, directly across from the Zunfthaus zur Waag. It is there that British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill addresses the people of Zurich on this day.
It is a historic moment, just one year after the end of World War II. Churchill, who had led Great Britain through the darkest years of the war, speaks in Zurich about the future of Europe. Earlier, at the local university, he had called for a vision that seemed bold at the time: the formation of the United States of Europe. The speech at the Münsterhof, framed by the historic facades of the guild houses and the Fraumünster, became one of the most memorable events in the city’s postwar history.
Image: Kulturplatz Münsterhof
Cover image: NZZ Archive
A photograph has survived that strikingly captures the excitement of that moment: a sea of people, packed tightly together, all eyes fixed on the small grandstand. This image has long since become one of the iconic images associated with the history of the Münsterhof—with the Zunfthaus zur Waag in the center of the background serving as a silent yet unmistakable witness.
It is characteristic of the Münsterhof that, over the centuries, it has repeatedly served as the backdrop for moments of significance far beyond Zurich—from imperial receptions in the Middle Ages to Churchill’s speech in the 20th century. Anyone walking across the square today is literally following in the footsteps of such moments, with the Zunfthaus zur Waag standing as a constant observer in the background.
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