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Bo Gunnar Rickardsson Hägglöf (12 December 1904 – 12 January 1994) was a
Commander Grand Cross of the
Bo Gunnar Rickardsson Hägglöf (12 December 1904 – 12 January 1994) was a Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
diplomat, in 1939 briefly cabinet member, then head of the foreign ministry's bureau for foreign trade during World War II, after the war participating in the preparations of the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
' 1947 UN Partition Plan
The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a proposal by the United Nations, which recommended a partition of Mandatory Palestine at the end of the British Mandate. On 29 November 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted the Plan as Re ...
of Palestine
__NOTOC__
Palestine may refer to:
* State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia
* Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia
* Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
, then ambassador to London 1948–1967 and Paris 1967–1971.
Gunnar Hägglöf has published several books, chiefly popularizing Sweden's World War II history for domestic and foreign readers. In his books, and also in accounts by other authors, Hägglöf appears as an outspoken critic of the idealist
In philosophy, the term idealism identifies and describes metaphysical perspectives which assert that reality is indistinguishable and inseparable from perception and understanding; that reality is a mental construct closely connected to ide ...
policies of Foreign Minister Sandler and Activist
Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...
advocates for Sweden's military engagement for the defence of Finland after the Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
attacks in 1939 (the Winter War
The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...
) and 1941 (the Continuation War
The Continuation War, also known as the Second Soviet-Finnish War, was a conflict fought by Finland and Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944, as part of World War II.; sv, fortsättningskriget; german: Fortsetzungskrieg. A ...
).
Although Hägglöf in policy matter was closer to left-leaning neutralist
A neutral country is a state that is neutral towards belligerents in a specific war or holds itself as permanently neutral in all future conflicts (including avoiding entering into military alliances such as NATO, CSTO or the SCO). As a type of ...
Social Democrats, led by Ernst Wigforss
Ernst Johannes Wigforss (24 January 1881–2 January 1977) was a Swedish politician and linguist (dialectologist), mostly known as a prominent member of the Social Democratic Workers' Party and Swedish Minister of Finance. Wigforss became on ...
, he doesn't spare retrospect criticism on that circle's pro-Soviet sentiments, and particularly the policies of Foreign Minister Undén's (1945–1962), that in Hägglöf's view was based on an exaggeratedly rosy perception of the Soviet Union.
Contrary to many other writers on the subject, Hägglöf also makes a point of reminding readers of the Allies
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
' disrespect for neutral countries
A neutral country is a state that is neutral towards belligerents in a specific war or holds itself as permanently neutral in all future conflicts (including avoiding entering into military alliances such as NATO, CSTO or the SCO). As a type of ...
during a war that they perceived as a fight of life and death; and how openly discussed plans for an Allied invasion of Scandinavia was a chief reason for Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
to launch a preventive invasion (Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung (german: Unternehmen Weserübung , , 9 April – 10 June 1940) was Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign.
In the early morning of 9 Ap ...
) in April 1940.
Gunnar Hägglöf was in the service of the Swedish government for all of his life. However, without doubt, his most critical achievements were during World War II, when he and associated negotiators managed to gain the confidence of both German and British counterparts, which ensured the enclosed Sweden a considerably improved supply of food and other necessities than during World War I.
Awards and decorations
* Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star
The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim.
The Order of the ...
(5 June 1954)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hagglof 1904 births 1994 deaths Permanent Representatives of Sweden to the United Nations Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Ambassadors of Sweden to Belgium Ambassadors of Sweden to the Netherlands Ambassadors of Sweden to the Soviet Union Ambassadors of Sweden to the United Kingdom Ambassadors of Sweden to France People from Helsingborg Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star