Sweden, the Swastika and Stalin - (Societies at War) by John Gilmour (Paperback)

About the Book

A key addition to the Societies at War series, this book fills a gap in the existing literature on the Second World War by covering the range of challenges, threats, issues, dilemmas, and changes faced and dealt with by Sweden during the conflict.

Book Synopsis

This book fills a gap in the existing literature on the Second World War by covering the range of challenges, threats, issues, dilemmas, and changes faced and dealt with by Sweden during the conflict.Interest in Sweden's wartime experiences has increased due to its post-war profile as a neutral that both allowed German troops to transit through its territory and also carried on trading with the Nazi regime during the holocaust years. Many misconceptions and false impressions have arisen and persisted as a result of deliberate misinformation and concealment by all sides during that time. Readers of this book will gain a fresh, broad view of the period, personalities and problems from a Swedish orientation.

From the Back Cover

(AUTHOR APPROVED, ENDORSEMENTS added Jan 2010) "Gives the reader a fresh and authoritative view of wartime Sweden, from the nation's dealings with Nazi Germany to everyday life and social change. More controversially, Gilmour assesses key decisions by the Swedish leadership and tackles post-war questions about Swedish actions in the era of the Holocaust." Professor Krister Wahlbäck, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. "It is so rare to have a scholar so competent in the source material of Sweden during the Second World War ...no book in English has managed to give such a comprehensive picture." Jonas Frykman, Professor of European Ethnology, Lund University. "Sweden, the Swastika and Stalin (2010) is the first modern book in English to cover just about all major aspects of Sweden during WWII. It should become required reading for all students of 20th century Scandinavian history." Lars Gyllenhaal, member of the Swedish Military History Commission. "Gilmour has the ability of bringing together various aspects of history, in particular its political, military and diplomatic dimensions, which makes his book useful also for Swedish-speaking readers. Remarkably, there is at the moment no equivalent introduction available in Swedish." Johan Östling, Department of History, Lund University. "Unlike Boëthius, Gilmour has built an argument from the sources rather than an emotional approach towards Swedish conduct." Major Claes Henrikson, Militär Historia.

Review Quotes

Gilmour has the ability of bringing together various aspects of history, in particular its political, military and diplomatic dimensions, which makes his book useful also for Swedish-speaking readers. Remarkably, there is at the moment no equivalent introduction available in Swedish.--Johan Östling, Department of History, Lund University

Gives the reader a fresh and authoritative view of wartime Sweden, from the nation's dealings with Nazi Germany to everyday life and social change. More controversially, Gilmour assesses key decisions by the Swedish leadership and tackles post-war questions about Swedish actions in the era of the Holocaust--Professor Krister Wahlbäck, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

It is so rare to have a scholar so competent in the source material of Sweden during the Second World War ...no book in English has managed to give such a comprehensive picture.--Jonas Frykman, Professor of European Ethnology, Lund University

Sweden, the Swastika and Stalin (2010) is the first modern book in English to cover just about all major aspects of Sweden during WWII. It should become required reading for all students of 20th century Scandinavian history.--Lars Gyllenhaal, Swedish Military History Commission

Unlike Boëthius, Gilmour has built an argument from the sources rather than an emotional approach towards Swedish conduct.--Major Claes Henrikson, Militär Historia

About the Author

John Gilmour is Honorary Fellow in Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh