Since its creation in 1863, the ICRC has maintained a special relationship with Switzerland and its government, based on the pursuit of neutrality and on the perception of a common destiny. Such a perception and the adherence to shared political values were particularly strong during World War II, when the survival of the ICRC and Switzerland was at stake. This has led some historians to argue the ICRC was manipulated by the Swiss government, and that such manipulation explains the former’s silence concerning Nazi deportations. Largely based on archives and interviews with individuals who played a role at the time, the present book examines the relations between the ICRC and the Swiss government from the points of view of the institutions, interpersonal connections, decision-making processes, and humanitarian actions. It demonstrates the complexity of those relations, including rivalries and the negotiated character of concrete choices. Above all, it questions the government manipulation thesis.