Nazis Pressured Swedes for Troop Transit Prior to Soviet War

[Globalization41]

Stockholm, Sweden, By Telephone to The
New York Times, Sunday, June 29, 1941:
Anxieties provoked in Sweden and abroad by
the decision of the Swedish Government to
permit passage of a German division from
Norway to Finland drew statements today from
Premier Per Albin Hansson and Minister of
Education Goesta A. Bagge. They declared
that Sweden would fight if it were necessary to
defend her freedom and independence, but
that such was not the case on this occasion. ...
... Stockholm, Sweden, United Press, The
New York Times, Sunday, June 29, 1941:
Premier Hansson said today that Sweden was
put under heavy pressure to abandon her
neutrality policy just before the Russo-German
War began. ... Replying to criticism of
Sweden's permitting a German division to
cross her soil from Norway to Finland, he
urged, at a meeting near Upsula, that the
people have confidence in his leadership. The
transit permit was given only under heavy
pressure and after "many hesitations," he said.

Rome, By Telephone to The New York
Times, By Herbert L. Matthews, Sunday, June
29, 1941: Pope Pius XII threw a cold shower
today over all Axis hopes that he would come
out in support of an "anti-bolshevist crusade."
In a world-wide broadcast he made a long and
important discourse on the ways of Providence
without giving a single word of encouragement
to the self-styled crusaders.

International Situation, The New York
Times, Sunday, June 29, 1941: A new move
against the Axis and for the United States was
made [Sunday]. [F.B.I. chief] J. Edgar Hoover
announced the arrest of 26 men and three
women, of whom 22 were Germans, on
charges of espionage. The suspects worked
on clippers, American ships, and in defense
plants and were said to have used secret
wireless sets to make reports that embraced
movements of British cargo ships.

Moscow, United Press, The New York
Times, Sunday, June 29, 1941: Acting
Patriarch Sergei, Primate of the All-Russian
Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Moscow,
said tonight that the church had decided to
forget the past and enlist its entire resources
on behalf of the nation's war effort. ... "The
Church cannot be indifferent when thousands
of Russians are fighting for the defense of the
country," he told an interviewer. ... He left a
sickbed to conduct high mass at the Yeiokhova
Cathedral assisted by 26 priests and six
deacons where prayers were offered for a
victory of Soviet troops. ... Twelve thousand
worshipers crowded Moscow's old cathedral
and several thousand overflowed into the yard
to hear Acting Patriarch Sergei invoke divine
wrath against Adolf Hitler. ... At the time the
Acting Patriarch sent a message to all
churches in the Soviet Union, ordering prayer
and patriotism devoted to the effort to defeat
what he called the enemy of Russia and of
humanity. ... "The fatherland is defending itself
by arms, and the universal duty is by all
possible means to serve the fatherland in this
difficult hour for all," his message to his fellow-
churchmen said. "This is the cause of all
workers and peasants, the young and the old.
Every one can and should contribute a share of
his labor, care, and skill to the common effort."
... "The Orthodox church always has shared the
nation's fate. It always has carried its burdens
and cherished its successes. We will not
desert the nation now. The church bestows
heavenly blessings on the present all-national
movement. We pastors consider it unworthy to
remain silent, not approve, not console the
weary, and not remind those who hesitate of
their duty and the divine will. Christ's church
blesses all Orthodox members defending the
fatherland's sacred borders. God will grant
victory."

[Stay tuned for late breaking war bulletins.
... Globalization41.]

[SubSonic]

Nice artical. Let me give you some infor about Swedens affears.

Yes, Sweden where a "Neutral state" and we did alove german transport trough Sweden, but the Germans did pay us for it. The payment was in gold, which some probebly was Jewich. We also sold our high quallity steel to Germany. So It´s hard to say we were completly Neutral. I don´t think Sweden would ever be invaded by Germany, because if they did they British would probebly bomb the Swedih iron fields in North of Sweden,

[Karri]

Not to mention, that if Sweden would've been invaded, it would've been very likely for Finland to go against Germans.

For example Mannerheim said he wouldn't ever allow German forces to attack Sweden from finnish territory.

[Foelkersam]

Then we could ask ourselves the question: Why did then Sweden agree to play along with the Germans?

/David

[SubSonic]

Well let´s. We have germans in Denmark,Norwage, Finland. Conclusion we where surrounded by them. Better to make money than stay totally isolated. By giving iron the german wouldn't attack us. I think that Hitler liked sweden.

[lev_cek]

He liked the idealism of THE NORDIC UBER RASE and had some kind of admire to the Skandinavians

[SubSonic]

Thanks for the support. If I remeber Adolf wanted to only have the aric rase(blonde hair, blue eyes). I on some reason. I don´t know why, nbut many scandinavians thinks that everyone has blonde hair and blue eye.