Per Engdahl
Encyclopedia
Per Claes Sven Edvard Engdahl (25 February 1909 in Jönköping
– 4 May 1994 in Malmö
) was a leading Swedish
far right
politician. He was the leader of Sveriges Fascistiska Kamporganisation, SFKO (Sweden's Fascist Struggle Organization) during the 1920's.
-influenced policy of his own creation which he called nysvenskhet
('new Swedishness'). An attempt was made in 1932 to incorporate his group into the newly-formed Nationalsocialistiska folkpartiet of Sven Olov Lindholm
(a pro-Nazi party) although Engdahl resisted their overtures.
As an ideology, nysvenskhet supported a strong Swedish nationalism
, corporatism
, anti-Semitism
and anti-communism
as well as a cult of personality
around Engdahl himself. The policy overtly rejected Nazism
, instead looking more towards Benito Mussolini
for inspiration while also seeking to unify all groups against democracy
, whether they were fascist or not.
Engdahl founded his own group, Riksförbundet Det nya Sverige, in 1937. Before long he merged this group into the pro-Nazi National League of Sweden
, becoming deputy leader of this organisation. Adopting a policy which he described as nysvenskhet ('new Swedishness') he split from this group in 1941 to lead his own Nysvenska Rörelsen which continued to strongly support the Nazis. Before the end of the war his supporters had united in the Svensk Opposition (Swedish Opposition) which also included the supporters of Birger Furugård
. The group advocated Swedish entry into World War II
and went public with this aim in 1942.
After World War II
, Engdahl revived Nysvenska Rörelsen, publishing a paper, Vägen Framåt ('The Way Forward'), that concerned itself with attacks on communism
and capitalism
. He also became a leading figure in the Europe
an neo-fascist
scene, and was instrumental in setting up the European Social Movement
in 1951, hosting the meeting in his home base of Malmö. Although this group proved unsuccessful, Engdahl continued to be active in such circles for many years.
, the founder of IKEA
, had been a member of Engdahl's groups during the war.
Jönköping
-Notable people:*Lillian Asplund, RMS Titanic survivor*John Bauer, illustrator, painter*Amy Diamond, singer*Agnetha Fältskog, ABBA*Carl Henrik Fredriksson, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Eurozine*Anders Gustafsson, kayaker, Olympian...
– 4 May 1994 in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
) was a leading Swedish
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....
far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
politician. He was the leader of Sveriges Fascistiska Kamporganisation, SFKO (Sweden's Fascist Struggle Organization) during the 1920's.
Career
Engdahl began his career as an independent in Uppsala, advocating a fascistFascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
-influenced policy of his own creation which he called nysvenskhet
New Swedes
The New Swedish Movement is a far-right political movement in Sweden that emphasized strong Swedish nationalism, corporatism, anti-Semitism and anti-communism as well as a cult of personality around Per Engdahl who founded the organization in 1941...
('new Swedishness'). An attempt was made in 1932 to incorporate his group into the newly-formed Nationalsocialistiska folkpartiet of Sven Olov Lindholm
Sven Olov Lindholm
Sven Olov Lindholm was a Swedish Nazi leader, active in different Swedish fascist organizations from the 1920s to the 1950s....
(a pro-Nazi party) although Engdahl resisted their overtures.
As an ideology, nysvenskhet supported a strong Swedish nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, corporatism
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
, anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
and anti-communism
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
as well as a cult of personality
Cult of personality
A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are usually associated with dictatorships...
around Engdahl himself. The policy overtly rejected Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, instead looking more towards Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
for inspiration while also seeking to unify all groups against democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, whether they were fascist or not.
Engdahl founded his own group, Riksförbundet Det nya Sverige, in 1937. Before long he merged this group into the pro-Nazi National League of Sweden
National League of Sweden
The National Youth League of Sweden was the first youth organisation of the General Electoral Union of Sweden. It was dislodged from its mother party in 1934 due to its pro-Nazi stance. It was then reconstructed as a separate political party, the National League of Sweden...
, becoming deputy leader of this organisation. Adopting a policy which he described as nysvenskhet ('new Swedishness') he split from this group in 1941 to lead his own Nysvenska Rörelsen which continued to strongly support the Nazis. Before the end of the war his supporters had united in the Svensk Opposition (Swedish Opposition) which also included the supporters of Birger Furugård
Birger Furugård
Birger Furugård was a Swedish politician and veterinarian. He hailed from Deje in Värmland. During the 1920s Furgård became inspired by the advance of National Socialism in Germany. He made several trips to Germany, and met with Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring and Heinrich Himmler...
. The group advocated Swedish entry into World War 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 went public with this aim in 1942.
After World War 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...
, Engdahl revived Nysvenska Rörelsen, publishing a paper, Vägen Framåt ('The Way Forward'), that concerned itself with attacks on communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. He also became a leading figure in the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an neo-fascist
Neo-Fascism
Neo-fascism is a post–World War II ideology that includes significant elements of fascism. The term neo-fascist may apply to groups that express a specific admiration for Benito Mussolini and Italian Fascism or any other fascist leader/state...
scene, and was instrumental in setting up the European Social Movement
European Social Movement
The European Social Movement was a neo-fascist Europe-wide alliance set up in 1951 to promote Pan-European nationalism.The ESM had its origins in the emergence of the Italian Social Movement , which established contacts with like-minded smaller groups in Europe during the late 1940s, setting up...
in 1951, hosting the meeting in his home base of Malmö. Although this group proved unsuccessful, Engdahl continued to be active in such circles for many years.
Legacy
His name once again became controversial after his death, when some of his personal correspondence was released, revealing that Ingvar KampradIngvar Kamprad
Ingvar Feodor Kamprad is a Swedish and the founder of IKEA, a retail company.According to Forbes magazine, as of 2011 he is the 162nd wealthiest person in the world with an estimated net worth of around US$6 billion in 2011...
, the founder of IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
, had been a member of Engdahl's groups during the war.