Misconception: He’s a rude ‘hedgehog-type’ character.

Reality: He’s a hedgehog-type with a soft underbelly.

Following this hedgehog metaphor, while Switzerland can be abrasive
and rub others the wrong way, he still has a notable soft, compassionate, and
sentimental side. In some cases, his tone may be aggressive, but it’s the
intention of what he’s doing that truly matters.

What Switzerland is most known for is his ruthlessness.

Ex: He’s indifferent toward how money is obtained and will
protect the bank accounts of cronies and criminals [x].

Ex: He’s easily irritated by other nations [x].

Ex: He supplies weapons to Germany during WW2.

He can also be quite grumpy.

On the other hand, it’s important to understand this from
the perspective that Switzerland’s a survivor. He didn’t have the privilege of
having fertile land and turned to banking as a way to sustain himself and later, Liechtenstein.

His sweet side is something that is often neglected.

Ex: He’s described to be rather affectionate toward
Liechtenstein.

Ex: He wears the frilly pajamas that Liechtenstein made for
him.

Misconception: He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

Reality: He puts up a guarded front, having been used and
betrayed in the past. He very much cares about others but will, of course, put his and Liechtenstein’s best-interest first. 

Ex: He took Liechtenstein in and gave her food, despite running out of it himself.

Ex: Switzerland teaches Liechtenstein self-defence, but later
succumbs to her request to make more cute drawings.

Ex: In the present, he advises Liechtenstein to boost her
tourism. Liechtenstein soon realizes that Switzerland is projecting his past
onto her. He wants to protect her with a back-up plan; that way, she won’t be
treated as disposedly as he had once been [x].

“I don’t want you to go through the same mud and misery that
I did and be used as a shield by other people.”

Ex: Switzerland also projects himself onto Japan. He
reprimands Japan for not stating his opinions. In other words, he wants Japan
to stick up for himself.

Ex: He helps France after he’s defeated by Spain in war.

Ex: Back when their countries were united, Switzerland saved
Austria fifty-two times. While he’s still grumpy and complains a lot, that doesn’t
stop Switzerland from exercising his loyalty [x].

This brings me to my next point.

Misconception: Switzerland hates Austria.

Reality: Switzerland has mixed feelings toward Austria
resulting from their past partnership. While he claims to be independent and indifferent
[economically and politically], Switzerland is far from neutral when it comes
to his emotions.

Ex: Switzerland is revealed to still harbor complicated
emotions about his past with Austria. He experiences flashbacks when he
replicates fond moments with Liechtenstein (i.e., holding hands, exercising
table manners) [x].

Ex: The resentment over betrayal is seen in how Switzerland
constructs Austria as a shady figure during one of his lessons with
Liechtenstein.

Misconception: Switzerland and Liechtenstein are biologically
related.

Reality: Switzerland and Liechtenstein are not biologically
related, but Switzerland did adopt her into his household. They’re adoptive
siblings. Liechtenstein originally represented Austrian nobles [x].

Ex: Switzerland adopted Liechtenstein following WW1.

Bonus Facts:

Switzerland is described as thin with muscles [x].

In the “Can’t Escape from Italy” strip, it’s revealed that
the Italy brothers hired Switzerland to get England out of the ditch they entrapped him in [x].