The neutrality of Sweden during the Second World War

Among the first tragic events of 1939-1945 were the attacks on Finland by the USSR and on Denmark and Norway by Germany, all of which placed Sweden, quite against its will, in a highly exposed situation. While Sweden refused to intervene militarily in Finland, it also refused to proclaim its neutrality and provided significant aid to its neighbour. After the occupation of Denmark and Norway, and especially in the aftermath of the Battle of France, Sweden had little choice but to allow Germany the right of transit. With the opening of the German-Soviet war, the pressure from Berlin increased, and Stockholm, had to allow the passage of German troops from Norway to Finland. However, from 1941-1942 relations between the two countries reached a crisis, with Germany clearly disappointed in what it expected from Sweden. From 1943 it was the pressure from the Allies that became the stronger, leading to the rescission of the transit agreement, and shortly afterwards the nearly total cessation of exports to Germany.