Samfundet Nordens Frihet
Encyclopedia
Samfundet Nordens Frihet (Swedish
for the Society for Liberty in the Nordic countries
) was a Swedish
association founded in 1939 to promote independence for the Nordic countries
during the Second World War. The association was dissolved in 1946. Initially it was closely linked to the “Finlandskommittén” (Finland Committee), which worked to assist Finland with volunteer military forces. After the German occupation of Norway and Denmark in 1940
, the society considered that Sweden should join the war.
Politically, the society was against Nazism
and Communism
. At most it had 250 members, among them many prominent cultural figures. Almost 50 % of the members were academics in the field of History. “The core group consisted of members of the senior seminar on history at Stockholm University
.”
Society membership was applied by election, Sigurd Curman was the first president and Harald Wigforss was editor of the society’s journal. Other leading members of the society included the Stockholm Municipal Commissioner
Yngve Larsson
, Nils Ahnlund, Harald Hjärne
, Eli Heckscher
, Karl-Gustaf Hildebrand, Nils Herlitz, Stig Jägerskiöld, K.G. Westman, Adolf Schück, Birger Steckzén and Andreas Lindblom. Larsson, Ahnlund and Lindbom were members of the board throughout the society’s existence.
The board members Gustaf Aulén
, Yngve Larsson
, Knut Petersson, and Henning Throne-Holst received the The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
.
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
for the Society for Liberty in the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
) was a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
association founded in 1939 to promote independence for the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
during the Second World War. The association was dissolved in 1946. Initially it was closely linked to the “Finlandskommittén” (Finland Committee), which worked to assist Finland with volunteer military forces. After the German occupation of Norway and Denmark in 1940
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
, the society considered that Sweden should join the war.
Politically, the society was against Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. At most it had 250 members, among them many prominent cultural figures. Almost 50 % of the members were academics in the field of History. “The core group consisted of members of the senior seminar on history at Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
.”
Society membership was applied by election, Sigurd Curman was the first president and Harald Wigforss was editor of the society’s journal. Other leading members of the society included the Stockholm Municipal Commissioner
Municipal Commissioner
Municipal Commissioner is an office and political title in the municipalities of Sweden for councillors with executive responsibilities. The Commissioners are the only full-time employed office-holders outside the municipal civil service...
Yngve Larsson
Yngve Larsson
Gustaf Richard Yngve Larsson was a Swedish Ph. D., Municipal commissioner , Member of Parliament and statesman....
, Nils Ahnlund, Harald Hjärne
Harald Hjärne
Harald Gabriel Hjärne was a Swedish historian.Hjärne held one of the chairs of history at Uppsala University from 1889 until 1913, and was a member of the Swedish Academy from 1903. He was a member of the Second Chamber of the Riksdag 1902-1908 and of its First Chamber 1912-1918.-References:...
, Eli Heckscher
Eli Heckscher
Eli Filip Heckscher was a Swedish political economist and economic historian.-Biography:...
, Karl-Gustaf Hildebrand, Nils Herlitz, Stig Jägerskiöld, K.G. Westman, Adolf Schück, Birger Steckzén and Andreas Lindblom. Larsson, Ahnlund and Lindbom were members of the board throughout the society’s existence.
The board members Gustaf Aulén
Gustaf Aulén
Gustaf Emanuel Hildebrand Aulén was the Bishop of Strängnäs in the Church of Sweden, a theologian, and the author of Christus Victor, a work which still exerts considerable influence on contemporary theological thinking on the Atonement.-Life:Aulén was born in 1879 in Ljungby parish, Kalmar...
, Yngve Larsson
Yngve Larsson
Gustaf Richard Yngve Larsson was a Swedish Ph. D., Municipal commissioner , Member of Parliament and statesman....
, Knut Petersson, and Henning Throne-Holst received the The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav is a Norwegian order of chivalry that was instituted by King Oscar I of Norway and Sweden on August 21, 1847, as a distinctly Norwegian order. It is named after King Olav II, known for posterity as St. Olav. Nobility was abolished in Norway in 1821...
.