Raoul Wallenberg, OSS and NKVD

The link between Raoul Wallenberg and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) may have been the main reason for the way he was treated by Soviet state security (NKVD to KGB). For more about this view see Swedes at War.

Today historian Susanne Berger has an astounding article about Wallenberg in Sweden´s most important newspaper, Dagens Nyheter. Berger argues that Sweden needs to do more and Russia needs to declassify more: "We know crucial documentation is available, but we are not allowed to see it, nor do we get adequate official help from the Swedish government to obtain access to it."

Yes, there is an English version of Berger´s text. The Swedish text is not (yet) online.

Susanne Berger is a former consultant to the Swedish-Russian Working Group that investigated Wallenberg's fate in Russia from 1991-2001.

Guarding the Border in 1941

Here are three Swedish soldiers in 1941, guarding the Swedish-Finnish border by Haparanda. An image never before published, from the collection of fellow author Göran von Knorring.

No, the SMG is not a MP 40, its a Swedish one, but I am not quite sure which one. The hand grenades may look German, but are Swedish.

Does anyone know the exact spot? Surely that border marker is gone, or?

Saluting Keith Bonn

Keith Bonn, Kit, thank you so very much for believing in the importance of translating Svenskar i krig (Swedes at War). I am so sad you did not live to see the review of Swedes at War in the January issue of Armchair General. An excerpt:

"Patricia Bonn, editor in chief for Aberjona Press, a company founded by the late Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Keith Bonn, has done military history enthusiasts a great service by publishing this English translation of Westberg and Gyllenhaal´s 2004 book Svenskar i krig 1914-1945."

Let me here just add that Swedes at War is a revised and slightly expanded version of the Swedish manuscript. There are also several new photos in the English-language version, and the size of the illustrations is generally larger.

Many thanks also to Patricia Bonn and the book´s translator, Carl Gustav Finstrom. The energy and amount of time you put into this project is astounding.

The Armchair General review of our book is not online, but this short recommendation is.

Meanwhile, in Sweden, our book has again become available from the largest online seller. It has been out of stock for months for some reason I do not understand.

"Indestructible Dietl"

"Above the Arctic Circle, continuous daylight last week illuminated the last efforts of a haggard, heroic band of Austrian ski troops...".

Where might these words have been published in 1940? The source will probably surprise you.

Period publications are almost always interesting and often amusing IMHO.

Battle of Narvik Tour

One of my favourite finds during the 2010 hikes around Narvik, a Norwegian soldiers´s collapsible spade, a moment after it was spotted by a British friend. It should still be there, on the mountain of Kuberget.

The March 2011 issue of Armchair General magazine is on its way to subscribers and newsstands. It features an article by yours truly, entitled "Dietl, Hero of Narvik".

As a Web Extra complementing my article, there is this new Self Guided Tour of the Narvik area that I made. Since I wrote it, a new book has appeared that you should get before venturing out on a battlefield hike. The book is in Norwegian but has many photos and above all GPS maps of the southern Narvik battlefields. It is simply a must-have for exploring the southern area. The title is Slaget om Narvik: Sydfronten, the author is local WWII historian Oyvind Johnsen.

In addition, this Narvik Luger story of mine has also been published online by Armchair General.

Jarl and Jake

Jarl with his Lego version of Jake. The toothpick-thing is a desert bush/hiding-place for a treasure that Jake is supposed to find (or guard?).

It was great fun meeting several American relatives in their own country some years ago. Our son Jarl (4) is still a bit young for such major travel, but my father decided to unite the two Gyllenhaal family branches as a Christmas present.

Well, the way he did this was not that expensive, actually. He gave his grandson a Lego version of Jake as a Persian prince:

After a while Jarl asked the question: "but, how did our relative turn into a Lego figure?"

The Forgotten Agents in Norwegian

I hear a Norwegian version of The Forgotten Agents by Anders Johansson will be published. Congratulations, Anders and all you Norwegians interested of Milorg, SOE and secret agents.