Figure 1.--Sweden had a very small airforce with basically obsolete aircraft and no modern air defense system. Fortunatly for Sweden, not only was it neutral, but more importantly geographically it was out of the line of fire in terms of the air war. Allied air attacks targeting the Reich and did not cross Swedish territory. German air operations except briefly when invading Denmark and Norway were directed west toward the Allies and East toward the Soviets. There were some Soviet attacks largely because of Swedish support for Finland during the Winter War and Finnish participation in the war as a cobeligerent with the Germans. Sweden also supplied raw material and manufactured goods to the NAZI war economy. The Red Air Force conducted three known air raids on Swedish targets (both cities and shipping) during the War. There were also several accidental attacks. While the Swedes experienced none of the massive devistation of the major beligerants there were quite a number of air incidents. The focus of the air war was was on Swedish and German shipping delivering iron ore to the Germans. Here Swedish boys gather shrapel from one of these air incidents.

Sweden had a very snall airforce with basically obsolete aircraft. Not only was it neutral, but geographically it was out of the line of fire in terms of the air war. Allied air attacks target the Reich and di not cross Swedish territory. German air operations except briefly when invading Denmark and Norway were directed west toward the Allies and East toward the Soviets. There were some Soviet attacks largely because of Swedish support for Finland during the winter war and Finnish participation in the war as a cobeligerent with the Germans. The Red Air Force conducted three known air raids on Swedish targets (both cities and shipping) during the War. There were also several accidental attacks. While the Swedes experienced none of the massive devistation of the major beligerants there were quite a number of air incidents. The focus of the air was was on Swedish and German shipping delivering iron ore to the Germans Soviet submarines did more damage to Swedish shipping than air attacks. A German fighter fired by mistake at a commercial airliner flying beteen Malmö and Amsterdam (September 26, 1939). There was one fatality. It is difficult to see how the German pilot could have thought it was Polish. The Allies dropped mines in the southern Baltic Sea south of Sweden targtting German shipping (December ? 1939). Magnetic mines were especially dangerous with Swedish and German ships carrying iron ore. Two Swedish and one Finnish merchant ship left Åbo in Finland sailing toward Sweden (January 31, 1940). Fenris and Wirgo, both Swedish, were. Soviet bombers attacked the Swedish town of Pajala Kyrkby which is believed to have been a mistake (early 1940). Anti-aircraft ballons drifted over Sweden damaging electrical lines (Speptember 17, 1940). The Sweses counted 120 baloons. There were also fire baloon weapons (June 7, 1943). The Swedish government decided not to install anti-aircraft guns on Swedish merchant ships. British bombers attacked German and Swedish shipping noving iron ore fron Narvik to the Reich nd returing with coal and coke, some docking at Rotterdam British aircraft attacked the Swedish s/s Narvik (about September 12, 1941). Given the number of trips made without incient, the Btitish did not seriously interdict shioments. The sinking ship was towed to Maashaven, and she was sucessfully repaired. The Germans found another two smaller bombs that had not exploded. Convoys were also attacked by submarines and motor torpedo boats. British bombers attacked another Narvik convoy (April 29, 1943). This time s/s/ Narvilk was sunk. A German fighter shot down a Swedish passenger plane (1943). The Swedish courier plane Gripen was shot down (October 23, 1943). British bombers hit Lund in southern Sweden (November 19, 1943). Two Swedish ships delivering relief supplies to the Greeks who were suffering from a severe famine were sunk in the Mediterranean Sea. m/s Camelia hit a mine in Saloniki harbor (December 29, 1943). British aircraft badly damaged m/s Wiril (February 7, 1944). It is believed that misunderstanding between the German and British Red Cross delegates in London about departure times made the British bomber crew believe that the Germans had camouflaged a ship. Soviet bombers flew over southern Stockholm as well as locations Sörmland District dropping some bombs (February 22, 1944). The Soviet motivation is unclear. Two persons were injured. A German munition ship or Swedish action against a Soviet spy might have been resonsible. American bonbers struck Stettin in eastern Germany (May 13, 1944). The small tanker BT V with synthetic lubrication oil for Sweden was damaged. Another Swedish ship, M/T Sigrid Reuter was damaged in harbor during an Allied raid on Hamburg. [Granfoss] In the final months od the War, the Swedes allowed the Allies to use airfields in Sweden. This was not for the stratgic nombing campaigns. The Swedes refused to participate in this and there was no way of geting needed ordinnce and supplys into Sweden. The main purpose of these bases was to participate in the liberation of Norway and Denmark.

Sources

Granfoss, Arne. "Sweden in World War II: Across borders--Bombs on Sweden". Informice.

Created: 4:55 PM 8/30/2017
Last updated: 4:55 PM 8/30/2017