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To: Millburn Drysdale
During the German invasion of Norway, Sweden permitted the Germans to load troops on railway trains, and ride them through Sweden and across the Norwegian border.
You seem to have uncovered information that not even Swedes nor Norwegians have records of *LOL*. Since you're insisting I'll give you a short history lesson.

April 9th, 1940 - Germany invades Norway and Denmark. Denmark fall after a couple of hours while Norwegians continue fighting for a little while, helped by the terrible terrain.Sweden accepts German demands for import and export of products to/from Norway as before - i. e no war material.

April 16th, 1940 - Food and oil supplies permitted transport to northern Norway to "save the population from starvation" after the war had emptied the reserves. Troops, including 40 "red-cross soldiers" denied transit

April 18th, 1940 - The 40 "red-cross soldiers" were accepted for transit together with a train loaded with sanitary material, which however turned out to contain 90% food according to the Swedish customs. Further requests for transit of "sanitary material" were rejected.

April to June, 1940 - Norway protests over Sweden taking the neutrality too seriously, expecting more of support for Norway. German civil sailors were given individual transit visa. Wounded soldiers were transported through Sweden, and 20 further "red-cross soldiers" and a physician were allowed to pass together with five wagons with food stuff.

June 18th, 1940 - As the war in Norway was finished, German demands for transit were reinforced. The Swedish parliament did formally modify the neutrality policy according to Germany's demands. (England and France were informed before the parliament debate.)

July 7th, 1940 - The Prime Minister admits the transit in a public speech in Ludvika.

July 8th, 1940 - Agreement with Germany: 1 daily train (500 man) back and forth Trelleborg-Kornsjö and 1 weekly train (500 man) back and forth Trelleborg-Narvik

I could also remind you of the role that Swedish steel exports played in the care and feeding of the Nazi war machine

Indeed, and not forgetting the steel exports to the allied war machine. The setbacks of neutrality I'm afraid, unless you're just playing neutral like the U.S. did in the beginning of the war (until Japan attacked and Germany declared war). Of course, had not the Nazis completely enclosed the country (if one is allowed to take into account the German-friendly Finns later in the war), Sweden might have been in a position to play its cards in another manner.

Anyway.. Perhaps you were just shooting at the wrong target earlier? The obvious target is Division Engelbrecht which was allowed to transfer, with arms and all, through Swedish territory into Finland. A short summary:

April 1941 - As the German plans for an attack on Russia was taken seriously by the Swedish government it was discussed between the Cabinet and the Commander-in-chief how Sweden could react in case of a war between Germany, Finland and Russia. The Commander-in-chief warned for the danger in provoking German anger and occupation by a continued neutrality policy. Plans for cooperation with Germany and Finland were made. Single Cabinet members considered cooperation with the Soviet Union, which however was fiercely rejected. (perhaps more history lessons is required to understand why?)

June 23rd, 1941 - The Cabinet discuss the requested transit of one armed division (Division Engelbrecht) from northern Norway to northern Finland. Agrarians, Liberals and the Right supported the combined Finnish-German request. Social Democrats rejected. The king declared he would abdicate if the government couldn't agree with him in a positive answer on Finland's and Germany's request.

June 24rd, 1941 - The Social Democratic parliament group decides, with the votes 72-59, to try to convince the other parties for a rejection, but to agree in case they insisted. The other parties seemed prepared to split the Cabinet.

June 25th, 1941 - The Swedish government accept the transit of Division Engelbrecht.

Class dismissed.

78 posted on 05/07/2002 8:11:45 AM PDT by anguish
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To: anguish
do you agree with the data cited in this story? do you think it is an accurate representation of Swedish economic problems or does it overstate the case? I'd be interested to hear your opinions on the subject. I always prefer a first-hand account. Many thanks.
83 posted on 05/07/2002 12:43:37 PM PDT by bourbon
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