Sven Olov Lindholm
Encyclopedia
Sven Olov Lindholm was a Swedish
Nazi
leader, active in different Swedish fascist organizations from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Born in Jönköping Municipality
, Lindholm joined the Swedish army
at an early age, rising to the rank of Sergeant. Stationed in Stockholm
, he was initially drawn to Elof Eriksson
, a proto-fascist who emphasised anti-communism
and anti-Semitism
. He soon joined Konrad Hallgren in setting up the Sveriges Fascistiska Folkparti (Swedish Fascist People's Party) – which became known as Sveriges Fascistiska Kamporganisation (Swedish Fascist Cause Organization) – serving as organizer and then leader of the group.
Lindholm visited Nuremberg
in 1929 and as a consequence abandoned Italian fascism
in favour of Nazism
and as a result he played a leading role in both the National Socialist People's Party of Sweden
and its successor the Swedish National Socialist Party. The 6% Lindholm captured in Gothenburg
in the 1932 election represented a high point for the Swedish Nazis. However Lindholm had grown tired of the leadership of Birger Furugård
as he had grown more attracted to Strasserism than Furugård's straight Nazism. In 1933 he formed the Nationalsocialistiska Arbetarpartiet to this end.
The new group, which adopted the swastika
, took an anti-capitalist
line and organized its own youth group, the Nordisk Ungdom (Nordic Youth). By 1938 Lindholm had become more critical of the government of Germany
, and attempted to reorganise the group as a more Swedish version of Nazism, reinventing them as the Svensk Socialistisk Samling (Swedish Socialist Union).
He returned to the army in 1941 as a Fanjunkare
in the artillery. He maintained an ambiguous relationship with Germany during war-time, attacking Operation Weserübung
, yet also helping to recruit men for the Adolf Hitler
. Svensk Socialistisk Samling continued to be active until 1950, after which Lindholm went in to semi-retirement, with only minor involvement in far right youth groups maintaining his activity.
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....
Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
leader, active in different Swedish fascist organizations from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Born in Jönköping Municipality
Jönköping Municipality
Jönköping Municipality is a municipality in Jönköping County, southern Sweden. The city Jönköping is the municipal seat. The municipality is situated by the southern end of lake Vättern.-Historical background:...
, Lindholm joined the Swedish army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
at an early age, rising to the rank of Sergeant. Stationed in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, he was initially drawn to Elof Eriksson
Elof Eriksson
Elof Eriksson was a Swedish anti-Semitic political writer. He was recognised as the main exponent of anti-Semitism in inter-war Sweden along with Einar Åberg.-Early years:...
, a proto-fascist who emphasised anti-communism
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
and anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
. He soon joined Konrad Hallgren in setting up the Sveriges Fascistiska Folkparti (Swedish Fascist People's Party) – which became known as Sveriges Fascistiska Kamporganisation (Swedish Fascist Cause Organization) – serving as organizer and then leader of the group.
Lindholm visited Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
in 1929 and as a consequence abandoned Italian fascism
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
in favour of 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 as a result he played a leading role in both the National Socialist People's Party of Sweden
National Socialist People's Party of Sweden
Fascist People's Party of Sweden was a political party in Sweden. It was founded on September 3, 1926, by a circle around the publication Nationen. Its cadre was made up of members of the Fascist Struggle Organisation of Sweden.Konrad Hallgren, a former German officer, became the leader of the party...
and its successor the Swedish National Socialist Party. The 6% Lindholm captured in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
in the 1932 election represented a high point for the Swedish Nazis. However Lindholm had grown tired of the leadership of Birger Furugård
Birger Furugård
Birger Furugård was a Swedish politician and veterinarian. He hailed from Deje in Värmland. During the 1920s Furgård became inspired by the advance of National Socialism in Germany. He made several trips to Germany, and met with Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring and Heinrich Himmler...
as he had grown more attracted to Strasserism than Furugård's straight Nazism. In 1933 he formed the Nationalsocialistiska Arbetarpartiet to this end.
The new group, which adopted the swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
, took an anti-capitalist
Anti-capitalism
Anti-capitalism describes a wide variety of movements, ideas, and attitudes which oppose capitalism. Anti-capitalists, in the strict sense of the word, are those who wish to completely replace capitalism with another system....
line and organized its own youth group, the Nordisk Ungdom (Nordic Youth). By 1938 Lindholm had become more critical of the government of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and attempted to reorganise the group as a more Swedish version of Nazism, reinventing them as the Svensk Socialistisk Samling (Swedish Socialist Union).
He returned to the army in 1941 as a Fanjunkare
Fanjunkare
The word 'Fanjunkare' is derived from German 'Fahnenjunker', and denotes a standard-bearer, hence 'Colour Sergeant'. 'Styckjunkare' comes from German 'Stückjunker', and denotes a gentleman of ordnance, hence 'Master Gunner'.-1925:...
in the artillery. He maintained an ambiguous relationship with Germany during war-time, attacking Operation Weserübung
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...
, yet also helping to recruit men for the Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. Svensk Socialistisk Samling continued to be active until 1950, after which Lindholm went in to semi-retirement, with only minor involvement in far right youth groups maintaining his activity.