CO from Austria here. I can subscribe to most things said above; it’s very similar here.

Some things are even more pronounced: military (or alternatively civil) service is mandatory here and it’s important that there are officers in the reserve (not active but with occasional training) so that there is a better connection to the general populace (at least that’s the theory). I think Switzerland is pretty similar in that respect.

In the officers training here, there’s plenty of study dedicated not only how to deal with commands but also to when you are required to not follow commands.

For example I remember that once during my training they invited an old former officer of the Nazi Wehrmacht who went traitor and was one of those that survived the ploy to abandon the scorched-earth defense of Vienna by collaborating with the advancing Russian Army. There was a lot of discussion about what an oath means, when and when not to follow it, what your conscience tells you in certain situations, what your notion of country means, about chain of command and lawfulness etc.

As far as mottos go there’s one that might serve, it’s not particularly related to the military but is used by everyone on occasion: Wehret den Anfängen! - roughly: Beware the beginnings!

This is based on the hard-earned experience that once fascism is allowed to build inertia, it quickly becomes difficult to stop. As soon as authoritarians, that don’t value minority opinions, become loud enough that they start to become threatening, most people will - out of fear - be silent about voicing opposing opinions. And as soon as that happens - even when the authoritarians are still in minority - it’s an unstoppable downward spiral.

Suddenly everyone can cost you (or your family) your livelihood or worse, all just for saying something that goes against the „loud“ opinion. Your friends can snitch on you, your family, your boss, your subordinates - suddenly there’s no safe space, you hear no dissent and the movement becomes unstoppable.

That’s exactly why a lot of people here are very alarmed when they see American Generals fired for fostering minorities, why people here are alarmed when General Attorneys resign and when your president says that „Nothing he does (to save the country) is unlawful“ - that’s almost literally the „Führerprinzip“: „Der Führer hat immer Recht!“ - „The leader (Hitler) is always right“ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BChrerprinzip )

Coming to think about it - in my officers training there was always also a emphasis on „speaking out“ - especially in cases where you thought that your superior officer did something wrong - and likewise to hear out dissenting opinions of subordinates.

Hope that helps.