Our Secret War in
Scandinavia: The Story of US-Swedish Military Cooperation in World War Two
The story of how neutral Sweden supported the US military in World
War Two can now be told. Recently declassified OSS documents reveal that the
OSS began special operations in Sweden in 1943 in cooperation with key
Swedish authorities. Intelligence was exchanged and assistance
given in the movement and logistical support of agents. Sweden organized nearly
20,000 police troops for Norway and Denmark. 2000 Norwegians were permitted to
leave Sweden for military training in Great Britain. An air
transport service was established in Stockholm using civilianized
B-24 Liberator Bombers operated by USAAF personnel in civilian clothing. These
aircraft delivered military supplies to OSS depots in Stockholm for delivery to
resistance forces. Six field command centers were set up in northern
Sweden near the Norwegian border in 1944. Swedish police and the Army assisted
in the delivery of supplies to these centers. A USAAF transport unit operated
openly from a Swedish airbase at Kallax to support Norwegian police
troops to north Norway. Interned USAAF airmen were repatriated ahead of
schedule and over 100 military aircraft were repaired and returned to the US at
the end of the war. Sweden acquired ten B-17 Flying Fortresses and 50
P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft and was the first country to sign a contract for
the DC-4 for delivery after the war. Details of Sweden's actions were reported
to President Truman in July 1945.