Swedish "neutrality"
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1910968,00.html
It's interesting that the article hints at Sweden's secret alliance without going into details - such as the fact that they not only sold iron ore to Germany, but set up convoys to fight the Russians who were trying to prevent it from reaching there. Our oh-so-moral Swedes also contributed thousands of men to the Wermacht & Waffen SS (Wiking & Nordland Divisions, if I remember correctly). Of course, as the war progressed and the allies grew stronger, Sweden, ever looking for the material high ground if not the moral, quietly switched sides and started making minor concessions to them. To hear the Swedes tell it, they were always these plucky Lapps, rescuing Jews and thwarting Hitler, the reality is a lot more wimpy. Not exactly a profile in courage.
It's interesting that the article hints at Sweden's secret alliance without going into details - such as the fact that they not only sold iron ore to Germany, but set up convoys to fight the Russians who were trying to prevent it from reaching there. Our oh-so-moral Swedes also contributed thousands of men to the Wermacht & Waffen SS (Wiking & Nordland Divisions, if I remember correctly). Of course, as the war progressed and the allies grew stronger, Sweden, ever looking for the material high ground if not the moral, quietly switched sides and started making minor concessions to them. To hear the Swedes tell it, they were always these plucky Lapps, rescuing Jews and thwarting Hitler, the reality is a lot more wimpy. Not exactly a profile in courage.
posted by mendip at
5:04 PM
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