Posted on 02/15/2009 12:13:06 PM PST by WesternCulture
New documents have emerged that Swedish finance minister, Ernst Wigforss, approved secret Swedish bank credits to Nazi Germany in 1941. The documents were recently uncovered in a filing cabinet at the finance ministry.
Historian and ambassador Krister Wahlbäck and cabinet office archivist Bo Hammarlund reveal the existence of the documents, which indicate Wigforss' approval of loans to Hitler's Germany, in a full page debate article in Dagens Nyheter on Sunday.
The loans served to increase Swedish exports to Nazi Germany, of far greater importance, the pair argue, than opening the country's borders and train lines for the use of German troop movements - against which Wigforss was a renowned opponent.
Ernst Wigforss, who died 30 years ago, retains a revered place in the hearts of many in the Social Democratic party and is argued by Wahlbäck and Hammarlund to fulfil the role of the party's "socialist conscience".
Wigforss was vocal in his criticism of the prime minister and Social Democrat party leader, Per Albin Hansson, for allowing the German Division Engelbrecht transit through Sweden, assisting the Nazi invasion of Norway.
The new document is a letter received by Wigforss in April 1941 and undersigned by the director of Skandinaviska Banken, Ernst Herslow. The document was never entered into the official record.
The letter summarized a conversation between Wigforss and Jacob Wallenberg earlier in the day. The conversation concerned the approval of bank credits to Germany to enable them to pay Swedish shipbuilders for services rendered. For this the bank required state approval.
"The minister expressed his understanding, that it would be desirable for the credits to be provided," Herslow wrote.
Wahlbäck and Hammarlund write that such a decision would most likely have been shared with the cabinet but, they point out, no note has been made of the issue by any other minister.
The diary of the then head of the Riskbank, Ivar Rooth, however indicates that the both he and the Swedish foreign office (UD) held strong reservations over the bank credits which would enable Germany to supply less goods in return to Sweden for iron ore and other materials crucial to the war effort.
The loans amounted to around 40 million kronor, a large sum of money in those days, Wahlbäck and Hammarlund write.
They continue to argue that the credits provided in April 1941 were the first breach in Swedish resistance to Nazi Germany's demands. The credits, it is noted, appear to have been given in the face of the minimum of coercion.
The result of the approval of the bank credits meant that Sweden avoided demands from Germany for direct Swedish state aid and that Swedish boat yards could continue to build vessels for Nazi Germany's navy.
Instead of state credits, of the like that the Swedish state offered (but never provided) to Soviet Russia in the "Russian precedent" of 1940, the pair argue that Sweden instead provided something akin to state-sanctioned "export credit guarantees".
Wahlbäck and Hammarlund conclude from the document find that there is more to be learned from Sweden's actions during the war and the involvement of certain individuals in regard to dealings with Nazi Germany, the source of much irritation among the allied powers.
I guess this isn’t too surprising - they were too close to Germany and too wealthy for Hitler to leave them alone without compensation. And as many found out, even with compensation.
Wait until Bill O’Reilly brandishes this at Jessica Alba.
- It's hardly surprising that Sweden cooperated with the Nazis in the beginning of the war (and in the midst of it, like in the year of 1941). But as a Swede, I fail to understand why we continued doing business with Nazi-Germany even after the backbone of the Nazi war machine was broken.
Today, it seems obvious that my country would have gained a lot from joining the Allies around 1944. On the other hand, it is quite understandable that we feared Stalin more than Hitler and wished to stay very, very prepared for further attacks on Nordic soil (Finland of course, as she had been attacked twice by Stalin before).
“they were too close to Germany and too wealthy for Hitler to leave them alone without compensation”
The Fascist movements that swept much of Europe (AND America) in the 30’s never really took hold in much of Sweden. And unlike Norway, they were much better prepared for war.
Add to that Abert Speer’s warnings that ANY disruption in the iron, and most especially NICKEL shipments through Sweden would have catastrophic effects on German War industries. Nickel-Chromium steel is how you make armour plate. And it was the loss of the Finnish Nickel Mines in the peace of the second Finnish War that convinced Speer that Germany had no chance to win WW2.
Germany NEVER seriously considered an invasion of Sweden, other than strategy planning in the event something happened that put Fascists in control.
Explains swedens exports during Cold war to Cuba Libya angola etc
- This probably is true.
Sweden, on the other hand, planned an attack on the Nazis (around 1944-45).
A Swedish lead campaign of liberating Norway and Denmark in late 1944 or early 1945 would probably have been successful.
It's even plausible such a Nordic offensive, if extended to the south of Denmark, could have played somewhat of a role in liberating Germany from Nazism.
Many people in northern German have very high thoughts of Sweden and fear Russia much, much more. Backed up by Britain and the US, Sweden could’ve liberated at least some parts of a continent struck by the Nazi plague.
However, Sweden feared the Soviet Union too much to take any action against the Nazis. Even in 1945.
>>Today, it seems obvious that my country would have gained a lot from joining the Allies around 1944. On the other hand, it is quite understandable that we feared Stalin more than Hitler and wished to stay very, very prepared for further attacks on Nordic soil<<
I sympathize on both points - I married into a Latvian family and understand a little bit of the conundrum.
“Explains Swedens exports during Cold war to Cuba Libya angola etc”
- Personally, I don’t support Cuba.
But what would you say is the main difference between Swedish exports to Cuba during these days and that of USA to the Soviet Union from a political/ideological perspective?
“Pecunia non olet” the ancient Romans said.
“I sympathize on both points - I married into a Latvian family and understand a little bit of the conundrum.”
- Thank you for expressing intelligence and awareness of the importance of the subject of History.
We can not escape from history, we’d better embrace it.
Best of regards.
I say I had swedish friends in chile and they explained where there target markets were Eastern Bloc countries...
you have to understand 80% of what was Produced in sweden was exported in those days so it was a significant strategy!
An American Marxist would have done the same.
you have to understand 80% of what was Produced in Sweden was exported in those days so it was a significant strategy!”
- Nations often do what they believe they have to in order to survive.
Especially small ones.
On the other hand, if we Swedes indeed wish to hold the banner of freedom high, we must be willing to denounce some of our actions in the past.
More to the point, like most countries sitting near to both Germany and Russia, their choices seemed limited to which side was going to take them over, and in 1941 Hitler seemed like a better choice than Stalin.
On the other hand, if we Swedes indeed wish to hold the banner of freedom high, we must be willing to denounce some of our actions in the past.
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Sometimes they get their own paybacks... My Friend in alfa laval was in Libya accounting for the expenses on this Project and witness the handover of this Humongous refrigerated warehouse. They have a Big crowd to watch the turning on the Compressors. well somebody forgot to leave a door open and when the flicked the switch the entire building blew! Hahaha
I was there when the Russkeys were using those mini submarines to irritate the swedes... They captured one and they never had the Problem again! I had to hide in the engine room of One Of the Kings old yachts to get to a area forbidden for foreigners my friends was in navy!
sweden is a great Country! nicer Than danes!
“sweden is a great Country! nicer Than danes!”
- Thank you, but the Danes also are an admirible, freedom loving nation.
If we all fail in the end, you’ll find the Danes to be among the last people to surrender the cause of freedom.
Believe me, they still are Vikings.
I had a danish Boss... and My visits there!
But the Danes didn’t invent the swedish tractor...a VOLVO
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