Free Republic

In 1718, Sweden's King Charles XII came up with a bold plan to transport twelve big warships, each weighing up to 30 tons, overland from Strömstad to Iddefjorden. This operation is known as Galärvegen or the "Galley Road." It was part of an attempt to surprise the Fredriksten Fortress at Halden, Norway. The fortress, a key military stronghold on the border, had successfully repelled previous Swedish attempts to capture it. By moving his ships over land, Charles XII hoped to bypass a blockade at the fjord's entrance and launch a surprise attack from the sea.The scale of this operation was...

The US is like France. A scattered nation that refuses to bow down to the concept of true national discipline, even when confronted with uttermost evil. The European countries of today are no better. But have a look at French and/or American history and you'll find out both France and USA have a great tradition of standing up, as one man, for the cause of independence - even though Vichy France cooperated with the Nazis and an American company like Standard Oil sold vast amounts of fuel to the Luftwaffe. I'm Swedish and soldiers from my country recently have died...

World history, as most Westerners interprets it, very much revolves around nations like France, Russia/Soviet, Britain, Italy and USA. These corners of the Earth, undeniably, have played major roles in the development of mankind. BUT, there seems to be a gap in the historical knowledge of several, otherwise well educated, Westerners concerning what took place during the period of approximately 1620-1720 on European soil. A lot of people seem aware that Britain at that time was not really, yet, the world's leading power and that France, Spain, Austria and Holland excersised much of influence over world affairs. However, during this...

Eight people were detained by police in Lund on Friday during demonstrations to mark the anniversary of the death in 1718 of King Karl XII. Two people were formally arrested for violent resistance. One of those arrested is also suspected of attempted assault. Six others were detained. A few dozen people were involved in the march, according to police. Demonstrators from the '30th November Association' gathered outside Lund Cathedral at lunchtime on Friday. The association is made up of nationalist groups from the university town and was founded following the First World War. Counter-demonstrators met in the Lundagård park. A...