Karl Gustaf Westman (18 August 1876 – 24 January 1944) was a Swedish historian and political leader.

Biography

Westman attended Uppsala University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1897, Licentiate of Philosophy in 1904 and a Ph.D. 1905. He was professor of the History of Law in the

faculty of law A faculty is a division within a university or college comprising one subject area or a group of related subject areas, possibly also delimited by level (e.g. undergraduate). In American usage such divisions are generally referred to as colleges ...

at Uppsala University (1910–1941). In political office, he represented the Agrarian ''

Bondeförbundet The Centre Party ( sv, Centerpartiet ; C) is a liberal political party in Sweden, founded in 1913. The party's major issues are the national economy, the environment, political decentralisation and social integration. It is represented in all ...

'', which was established in 1913. He was minister for education, culture and church matters (1914–1917). He served as foreign minister (1936), and justice minister (1936–1943). Although not the chairman of his party, Westman was without doubt his party's most influential cabinet member. As a justice minister, and as one of the cabinet members with a say in matters of foreign policy during World War II, Westman has been criticized for what some observers have perceived as exaggerated adaptation to Nazi Germany's expected victory in the war, and for a limited respect for the

freedom of the press Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic News media, media, especially publication, published materials, should be conside ...

to criticize foreign

powers Powers may refer to: Arts and media * ''Powers'' (comics), a comic book series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming ** ''Powers'' (American TV series), a 2015–2016 series based on the comics * ''Powers'' (British TV series), a 200 ...

Personal life

Karl Gustaf Westman was the son of the postmaster Carl Johan Westman and Tonny (Andersson) Westman. He was the brother of the diplomat Karl Ivan Westman. He was married in 1935 to Margit Printz. Children: Ingun Margareta (born 1936), Sighild Margareta (born 1937) and Karl Joar (born 1939). Westman was buried on 2 February 1944 at Gamla kyrkogården in Uppsala.''Karl Gustaf Westman'' (Uppsala gamla kyrkogård)
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In popular culture

In the Swedish television movie ''Four days that shook Sweden - The Midsummer Crisis 1941'', from 1988, he is played by Swedish actor

Allan Svensson Dan Allan Waldemar Svensson (born 16 February 1951) is a Swedish actor perhaps mostly known for his role as Gustav Svensson in the hit comedy series ''Svensson, Svensson''. Besides acting in films, television and on stage, Svensson owns and runs ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Westman, Karl Gustaf 20th-century Swedish historians Swedish Ministers for Foreign Affairs Uppsala University alumni 1876 births 1944 deaths Swedish Ministers for Education Swedish Ministers for Culture Swedish Ministers for Justice People from Gothenburg Members of the Första kammaren Burials at Uppsala old cemetery Westman family Academic staff of Uppsala University Members of the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala