Figure 1.--Sweden had very restrictive immigration policies before World War II. It allowed very few Jews trying to escape NAZI oppression to enter. This did not change until after Hitler and Stalin launched World War II and terrible reports about NAZI atroicities in occupied Poland began reaching Sweden. There was, however, no way for many Polish Jews to reach Sweden. When the NAZIs went after Danish Jews, the Swedes did take in the Danish Jews the Resistance manage to spirit out of Denamrk. This is Fredzia Marmur, a Polish Jew born in Lódz. She and her family was Born in Lódz and incarcerated in the Lódz Ghetto (1940) and later the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp (1943). She and her mother survived and were rescued from Ravensbrück by the Swedish Red Cross in the final weeks of the War. Here she is landing at Malmö, the Swedish port near Copenhagen (April 28, 1945). Malmö became known as the Harbor of Hope. Fredzia was a rare child survivor of Lódz. The comment "Oh, that was me!" was what Fredzia exclaimed when she first saw this press footage years later. Then she immediately said, "Where is my mother?" She explained that throughout their ordeal she was never far from her mother, except when she was committed to the camp infirmery for scarrlet fever. Most of the infirmery patients were cartered away and murdered, but somehow Fredzia survived, probably because her mother brought her food.

Jews have lived in Sweden since the Middle ages under a wide range of restrictions. The effort to achieve emancipation began after the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. King Charles XIV took the first step when he rescinded some restrictions placed on Jews (1838). This provided Jews basic civil rights and legal protection. Sweden was one of the first European states to take this step. There were still restructions on intermarriage. Most of the remaining restrictions were removed by the 1870s, but a prohibition on holding politica office conctinued into the 20th century, finally veing removed in 1951. After emacipation in the mid-19th century, Jews became full Swedish citizens and anti-Semitism was much less prevaleng in Sweden than most other European countries. Sweden's Jewish population increased after emancipation, reaching about 6,500 in 1920. While this was a substantial increase, the Jewish population was minor compared to the large Jewish populations in Russia, Poland, and other European countries. Much of the increase was the result of emmigration resultung from pogroms and other repressions in Russia which at the time controlled much of Poland. Sweden adopted restrictive immigration laws after World War I. After the NAZIs seized power in Germany (1933), small numbers of German Jews emmigrated to Poland. The NAZI Anschluss in Austria brought fears of expanded Jewish emmigration. University students at Uppsala and Lund demonstrated against increased Jewish immigration (1938). A wave of anti-Semmetic action spread over Europe even before World War II began. The Swedish Government prohibited the Jewish ritual slaughter of animals. The Swedish Government allowed only 3,000 Jews to immigrate or enter Sweden as a transit point (1933-39). When reports of NAZI attricities reached Sweden, the Government began reassessing its policies. The NAZI pogrom of Kristallnacht shocked Swedes and other Europeans. After the the NAZI invassion and occupation of Poland much more apauling accounts of NAZI brutalities reached Sweden. The Government opened Sweden to any Jews which could reach Sweden. Sweden olayed a key role in saving Noewegian and Danish Jews. Sweden gave refuge to 900 Norwegian Jews (1942). Even more importantly, Sweden accepted 8,000 Danish Jews, virtually the entire Danish Jewish community (October 1943). Sympathetic Danes snatched the Danish Jews from the NAZIs just as they were about to be rounded up and transported them on small fishing boats to Sweden. Sweden also played a major role in effots to save Hungarian Jews. Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg was dipatched to Budapest and became a thorn in Eichmann's side, saving thousands of Hungarian Jews. Another Swede, Count Folke Bernadotte, managed to gain the release of some Jews and non-Jews from NAZI concentration camps. As with other countries, Sweden's record is not without blemishes. Some Swedes, traded in NAZI gold and other looted valuables. Sweden was also an important supplier of iron ore and ball bearings. This had to be put in perspective. The NAZIs had already invaded Norway to the east and Finland to the west was a NAZI ally. The German military could have easily occupied Sweden in 1940-42. Only in 1943 as the German military position on the Eastern Front deteriorated did a threat of NAZI invasion recede. (SWitzerland was in a similar position.) Thus it is diffifult to fault the Swedes for maintaing trade relations with the NAZIs. Even during the NAZI accendancy, however, Sweden refused to close its borders to Jews as the Swiss did. Sweden like other European countries had their own domestic Fascists. A small number even emmigrated to German and served in the SS and as concentration camp guards.

Swedish Jews

Jews have lived in Sweden since the Middle ages under a wide range of restrictions. The effort to achieve emancipation began after the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. King Charles XIV took the first step when he rescinded some restrictions placed on Jews (1838). This provided Jews basic civil rights and legal protection. Sweden was one of the first European states to take this step. There were still restructions on intermarriage. Most of the remaining restrictions were removed by the 1870s, but a prohibition on holding politica office conctinued into the 20th century, finally veing removed in 1951. After emacipation in the mid-19th century, Jews became full Swedish citizens and anti-Semitism was much less prevaleng in Sweden than most other European countries. Sweden's Jewish population increased after emancipation, reaching about 6,500 in 1920. While this was a substantial increase, the Jewish population was minor compared to the large Jewish populations in Russia, Poland, and other European countries. Much of the increase was the result of emmigration resultung from pogroms and other repressions in Russia which at the time controlled much of Poland.

Pre-War Emigration Policies

Sweden adopted restrictive immigration laws after World War I. After the NAZIs seized power in Germany (1933), small numbers of German Jews emmigrated to Poland. The NAZI Anschluss in Austria brought fears of expanded Jewish emmigration. University students at Uppsala and Lund demonstrated against increased Jewish immigration (1938). A wave of anti-Semmetic action spread over Europe even before World War II began. The Swedish Government prohibited the Jewish ritual slaughter of animals. The Swedish Government allowed only 3,000 Jews to immigrate or enter Sweden as a transit point (1933-39). When reports of NAZI attricities reached Sweden, the Government began reassessing its policies. The NAZI pogrom of Kristallnacht shocked Swedes and other Europeans.

World War II

Sweden was the only Scandinavian country and one of the few Europen countries not to be drawn into World War II. Like many countries, Sweden proclained its neutrality. Sweden remained neutral in World War I and hoped t0 do so again after World war II broke out in Europe. When the NAZIs invded Denmark and Norway (April 1940), it was expected that Sweden would be next. In the end no military action took place on Swedish soil, but tht does not mean that Sweden was not affected by the War and played a part in it. Sweden acceeded to German demands to use the Swedish railroad system to move men and material into Norway, but only after the Germans were securely in control of the country. When the NAZIs invaded Denmark and Norway (April 1940), it was expected that Sweden would be next. We do not know to what extent Hitler considered invading Sweden and what disuaded him from doing so. The NAZIs finally concluded that Sweden would prove more useful as a neutral country. Sweden's primary role in the War was to supply raw materials (mineral ores, especially iron ore), finished steel, and manufactured goods to NAZI Gemany. Surrounded by the NAZIs, Sweden had few options. Cut off from other trading partnes, Sweden proceeded to expand trade with the Germans and Swedish raw materials supported the Gernman war effort until late in the war.

Polish Jews

After the NAZI invassion and occupation of Poland much more apauling accounts of NAZI brutalities reached Sweden. The Government opened Sweden to any Jews which could reach Sweden. As the NAZIs confined Jews to ghettos, few Polish Jews could escaspe.

Norwegian and Danish Jews (1942-43)

Sweden olayed a key role in saving Noewegian and Danish Jews. Sweden gave refuge to 900 Norwegian Jews (1942). Even more importantly, Sweden accepted 8,000 Danish Jews, virtually the entire Danish Jewish community (October 1943). Sympathetic Danes snatched the Danish Jews from the NAZIs just as they were about to be rounded up and transported them on small fishing boats to Sweden.

Hungarian Jews (1944-45)

Sweden also played a major role in effots to save Hungarian Jews who by 1944 were the last major group of European Jews thast the NAZIs had been unable to target. The German invasion of Hungary which was trying to exit the War finally gave the NAZIs their chsnce. Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg was dipatched to Budapest and became a thorn in Eichmann's side, saving thousands of Hungarian Jews.

Dnish and Norwegian Jews (February 1945)

Another Swede, Count Folke Bernadotte, Vice-Chairmen of the Swedish Red Cross, managed to gain the release of some Jews and non-Jews from NAZI concentration camps. SS Reich Führer as the Allies closed in on the Reich attempted to decretely open contacts with the Western Allies to end the War. He had to do this secreltly as Hitler would have been furious, as he was when he found out. Himmler offered to release some Jews to open contacts. Talks with former Swiss President Jean-Marie Mussy collapsed when Hitler learned of of the release of 1,200 Jews. He prohibited and further such contacts. Himmler secretly persisted in cointacts with the Swedes, one of the few countries who continued to masintain relations with the NAZIs. Count Bernadotte proposed transferring Danish and Norwegian prisiners, almost all Jews to Sweden, Several thoousand people were saved in this way. immler 's attempted contacts eventually led to a break with the Führer.

Masur Mission (April 1945)

One of the strangest meetings of World War II occurred , a secret meeting between Norbubert Masur and Himmler. Masur was a German Jew who fled Germany after the NAZI takeover and represented the World Jewish Congress. Himmler was desperately attemting to burnish his image when the Third Reich finally collapsed. Himmlers's Finnish masseur, Felix Kersten, served as an intermrdiary. The two flew into Berlin from Stockholm with red cross packages (April 19, 1945).. A Gestapo car drove Masur through the rubbel of Berlin just before the final Russian offensive through many checkpoints to Kersten's estate north of the city and near the horific Ravensbrück women's concentration camp (KZ). Masur met with Walter Schellenberg who had taken command of the Abwehr and SD intelligence services in the morning (ASpril 20). . Masur expressed asn interest in Masur's mission, but explasined that Hitler was adamently opposed to any release of prisoners and was furious about the contaks with the Swiss. Himmler was delayed because of the celebration of Hitler's birthday. The foremnerly close association between the two men was already unfraying. Himmler finally arrived about 2:30 pm for the meeting with Nasur. He was dressed in his SS uniform. Masur brought along pastries from Sweden. Himmler delivered a monologue about the Jews, blaming them gfor Germany's prioblems. He said that he had wanted tio expel the German Jews, but foiund it difficult to find countries to taj\ke them. The War, however, brought them into contavct with the diseased Eastern Jews who were proletariuan, diseased, and partisans. Here Masur asked him how Jews in Ghettos could help the psartisans, Himmler told him they were shooting at the Germans from inside the ghettos. The chrematoria were a health measure. He even told Masur that he now wished he had called the concentration camps, reducation camps. Himmler's dialogue is probably a good indication of what would have entered NAZI history books had they entered the War. Masur then asked him whast could be done now. Himmler confereed with Schellenberg and his adjuntant Brandt. They offered to release 1,000 Jewish women from Ravensbrück. Himmler insisted they be referred to as Poles and not Jews. Masur was struck by Himmler's lack of passion when he discussed Jews, in sharp contrast with Hitler. Masur retuened to Tempelhof passing enless colunms of German refugees headed noth out of Berlin and prisoners from the Oranienburg KZ. Finally as e heard the rumbel of Soviet artillery he fkew out on a flight to Copenhagen, [Masur] As a result of the meetung, Himmler released about 7,500 women who escaped almost certain death. They were driven in closed trucks to Denmrk where they crossed by boat to Sweden and safety.

Cooperation with the NAZIS

As with other countries, Sweden's record is not without blemishes. Some Swedes, traded in NAZI gold and other looted valuables. Sweden was also an important supplier of iron ore and ball bearings. This had to be put in perspective. The NAZIs had already invaded Norway to the east and Finland to the west was a NAZI ally. The German military could have easily occupied Sweden in 1940-42. Only in 1943 as the German military position on the Eastern Front deteriorated did a threat of NAZI invasion recede. (SWitzerland was in a similar position.) Thus it is diffifult to fault the Swedes for maintaing trade relations with the NAZIs. Even during the NAZI accendancy, however, Sweden refused to close its borders to Jews as the Swiss did.

Swedish Fascists

Sweden like other European countries had their own domestic Fascists. A small number even emmigrated to German and served in the SS and as concentration camp guards.

Personal Experiences

We have virtually no information on personal Holocaust experiences at this time,. The only information we have archievd at this time is the Heilmann sisters and Fredzia Marmur, a rare child survivor of the Lodz Getto and the Ravensbrück Concentration camp.

Sources

Masur, N. En judetalar med Himmler (Stockhom, 1945. Masur submitted a report to the World Jewish Conference

Created: 9:36 AM 7/18/2009
Last updated: 12:08 PM 3/18/2016