Hans Villius
Encyclopedia
is a Swedish
historian and popular TV and radio
personality.
Villius received his doctorate
in history in 1951 with his dissertation Karl XII:s ryska fälttåg: Källstudier ("Charles XII's
Russian campaign: A Source Study.") in which he critically analysed the narrative sources of Charles XII's officers during the campaign. In 1957 Villius joined Swedish Radiotjänst (now Sveriges Radio
, Sweden's national public radio corporation) and began making popular historical documentaries and programming until he moved to Sveriges Television
(SVT) in 1966. It was at SVT that Villius began working with TV-producer Olle Häger, a very productive collaboration that would span some two decades. During the 1980s and 90s, Häger and Villius produced several popular documentaries like Fyra dagar som skakade Sverige ("Four days that shook Sweden") in 1988 about the Swedish "Midsummer Crisis" during WW II
and Raoul Wallenberg - fånge i Sovjet ("Raoul Wallenberg
- prisoner in the Soviet Union
.") as well as one of SVT's biggest and most popular documentary productions ever, Hundra Svenska År ("One Hundred Swedish years"), consisting of eight one-hour documentaries on the history of Sweden during the 20th century from many different perspectives.
Other than his dedication to entertaining and educating, Villius is most famous for his narrating both his own and others' documentaries, and his soft Kalmar
-accent is instantly recognizable to millions of Swedes (even to those who do not know his name). He also played the Minister of Justice in the thriller The Man from Majorca
. His voice has almost become a concept of its own, intimately associated with serious educational programming and spawning many parodies (e.g., in TV-commercials) and imitations among comedians.
Brother of Gertrud Zetterholm.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
historian and popular TV and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
personality.
Villius received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in history in 1951 with his dissertation Karl XII:s ryska fälttåg: Källstudier ("Charles XII's
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
Russian campaign: A Source Study.") in which he critically analysed the narrative sources of Charles XII's officers during the campaign. In 1957 Villius joined Swedish Radiotjänst (now Sveriges Radio
Sveriges Radio
Sveriges Radio AB – Swedish Radio Ltd – is Sweden's national publicly funded radio broadcaster. The Swedish public-broadcasting system is in many respects modelled after the one used in the United Kingdom, and Sveriges Radio - like Sveriges Television - shares many characteristics with...
, Sweden's national public radio corporation) and began making popular historical documentaries and programming until he moved to Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
(SVT) in 1966. It was at SVT that Villius began working with TV-producer Olle Häger, a very productive collaboration that would span some two decades. During the 1980s and 90s, Häger and Villius produced several popular documentaries like Fyra dagar som skakade Sverige ("Four days that shook Sweden") in 1988 about the Swedish "Midsummer Crisis" during WW II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Raoul Wallenberg - fånge i Sovjet ("Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish businessman, diplomat and humanitarian. He is widely celebrated for his successful efforts to rescue thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary from the Holocaust, during the later stages of World War II...
- prisoner in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.") as well as one of SVT's biggest and most popular documentary productions ever, Hundra Svenska År ("One Hundred Swedish years"), consisting of eight one-hour documentaries on the history of Sweden during the 20th century from many different perspectives.
Other than his dedication to entertaining and educating, Villius is most famous for his narrating both his own and others' documentaries, and his soft Kalmar
Kalmar
Kalmar is a city in Småland in the south-east of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. It had 62,767 inhabitants in 2010 and is the seat of Kalmar Municipality. It is also the capital of Kalmar County, which comprises 12 municipalities with a total of 233,776 inhabitants .From the thirteenth to the...
-accent is instantly recognizable to millions of Swedes (even to those who do not know his name). He also played the Minister of Justice in the thriller The Man from Majorca
The Man from Majorca
The Man from Majorca is a 1984 Swedish film directed by Bo Widerberg. The film is based on the novel Grisfesten by Leif G. W. Persson. The novel has big similarities with the Geijer affair . Leif G.W...
. His voice has almost become a concept of its own, intimately associated with serious educational programming and spawning many parodies (e.g., in TV-commercials) and imitations among comedians.
Brother of Gertrud Zetterholm.