Trial by Fire, a different Sweden

[Ghost]

17th November 1943
Nils Bohr took a sip of the highly rationed coffee, but despite this it did not give him the same amount of cheerfulness it used to bring. He understood that he was in a good position all things considered, but he still could not help feeling a bit irritated on his Swedish hosts. He had wanted to go to England and then America, but had been told (very politely, always politely) that this would not be possible for the duration of the war. On the other hand he had been given a position at the Royal technical academy for the duration. But quickly he had started to see a pattern emerge in dr. Söderman's "friendly visits" to the school board and the fact that more and more prestigious academics from all over Sweden was getting positions at the school, not always willingly. And so he was totally unsurprised when the meeting was called to announce the formation of "the strategic research and development commission" of which they all now was a part of. The commission was going to be lead by Arne beurling, a mathematician that seemed to be on good footing whit the men from the intelligence agency. When it came to the questions of exactly what the commission was supposed to be working on it raised an eyebrow on Bohr, as it said that they should focus on research that would help "the war effort". Reading between the lines the instigators behind the project did not really seem to have a clear focus for the project and more disconcerting Sweden seemed to be gearing up for war against the Germans, the idea both frightened him and more surprisingly came as a relief.

The commission was small but included a good cast of following academics: Theodor svedberg (chemist), Baltzar von platen (engineer), Hannes Alfvén (physicist), Bengt edlen (physicist), Lise meitner (physicist), Manne siegbahn (physicist), Per-olov löwdin (physicist), Harald Cramer (statistician), Waloodi Weibull (mathematician), Herman wold (mathematician). No matter his small irritation, the following years would be interesting. Not least for the problem of finding practical implementations to his science and to see what new ideas would emerge from this mixture of academics.

Theodor Svedberg (chemist)

Baltzar von platen(engineer)

Hannes Alfvén(physicist)

Bengt Edlen(physicist)

Harald Cramer(statistician)

Manne Siegbahn(physicist)

Per-olov Löwdin(physicist)

Lise Meitner(physicist)

Waloodi Weibull(mathematician)

Herman Wold(mathematician)

 

[Redbeard]

OMG, is there a Swedish nuke in the tube?!

 

[r1ncewind]

There was in OTL, but later in time.. Never went very far though

 

[Ghost]

23d December 1943
Carl August Ehrensvärd had retreated from the Christmas preparations and was now sitting In his armchair at the upstairs work room. The last couple of months had been very hectic and the time off for Christmas had been more than welcome. He was now summing up and taking note mentally of the situation for his country and its military off which he was ultimately responsible. A knock at the door revealed his daughter Louise whit a freshly brewed cup of Glögg, the rich smell filled the room and Carl happily accepted the cup. His daughter kissed him gently on his forehead before departing the room and closing the door behind her. He resumed his mental check list.
First off was the issue whit the "police troops", the name still made him smile from time to time. Recruitment was going good but he was hoping to get the numbers up significantly next year. So far Söderman had found a clever way to officially keep the number of forces low when in reality keeping the forces constantly rising. The forces where constantly in training and in reality only circulating between the different camps. He had made sure the "police" got access to heavy weapons in the form of the Norwegian artillery division that had been interned in värmland since 1940. He had also arranged a large scale war game whit the troops in late November which revealed a force that was highly motivated, but failed miserably in coordination and communication. That problem was now being focused on. Moreover a gigantic infrastructure project had been set in motion to Establish forward bases and logistics for the coming conflict, railway, roads, airfields, barracks not only to manage current forces but also to facilitate large numbers of German P.O.W. the areas seeing most of the construction thus corresponded whit the main direction of the coming attacks, "finska kilen" facing Kirkenes in Finnmark, Narvik, Trondheim, Oslo, as well as the massing of naval troopships and long range artillery on the west coast. In the case of the regular army several things was happening, the paratroopers of K1, K2, and K3 had now received half of the projected 600 Douglas transport planes from America and had started large scale jump training. Carl had tasked his most trusted adjutant Prince Carl Gustav to oversee the coordination of the new paratrooper force. Prestigious and fitting as his former role had been that of squadron commander at K1.
Key members of the jäger Corp had discreetly slipped under the radar only to resurface as Swedish volunteer forces in Finland, on paper under the command of a certain Finnish colonel quite like Ehrensvärd. There they were gaining crucial first hand experience as behind enemy lines ski troops, a skill they would have to master before Sweden's own venture into war. As for the Swedish volunteer corps Carl had quietly made sure it was put under direct military control and its leadership retired whit full honours, regular military units where now in small but ever increasing numbers registered as "volunteers". The bottleneck so far was the extent of creative paperwork that was needed to hide this fact even from the soldiers in question. Concerning the "police troops" coordination and communication problem this was being mitigated by the allies. They had been most delighted by the assurance behind closed doors that Sweden would (at a time of her choice) join the fight against Germany. Right now the allies where keep at bay whit various excuses that where said to make overt cooperation impossible for the foreseeable future, but that Sweden where more than interested in covert support. Here the "police troops" fit excellently and they where now being supplied the latest American radios and winter equipment from the OSS. Meanwhile the SOE where providing much needed officer training in the police camps. This in return for opening the border areas to partisans and commandos such as company Linge, that was providing for yet more training and so on. There was still much to be desired on the political spectrum especially regarding the Norwegians (the Danish being out of the question since the government there was still cooperating whit the Germans) the government was still stalling somewhat on establishing proper relations with the Norwegian government in exile, and for no reason casting some residual resentment from some Norwegian citizens. The blocking force in that arena seemed to be coming from foreign minister Christian Günther that outward maintained that such a move would remove the already thin façade of "plausible deniability" that existed surrounding the Swedish build up. Privately Carl was convinced it in reality had to do with a lingering big brother complex towards the Norwegians which only 39 years ago had left the Union Whit Sweden. That was nonetheless an area more suited to the workings of Sköld, where he as defence minister would have more sway.
Carl looked up at the clock and realized he had spent quite some time sitting in his armchair and looking out at the heavy snowfall and the dark landscape beyond. he decided to sit a few more moments looking out towards the unreadable future before yet again joining his family downstairs. ......the future would come in time.

Christmas at the Ehrensvärd residence

new railway-lines being built in preparation for the attack

many, many Barracks are being built in the border-areas, for troops, refugees and German POW´s.

the delivery of Douglas transport planes was camouflaged as commercial transport planes

Prince Carl Gustav, former commander of K1, now commander of Sweden's Paratroop force

SOE Company Linge gets access to Sweden

 

[ledeper]

A small nitpick:It is not "The Danish Battalion" ,but the Danish Brigade.

 

[Uff Da the optimist]

This is awesome I can't wait for showtime!
I've always wanted to see Norway liberate itself with it's big brother at it's side

Any idea how far you're taking this? Because I'm pretty sure the post-war talks of a Nordic defence union might come to fruition under these circumstances!

 

[r1ncewind]

Kalmar union here we come

 

[Ghost]

the one who waits will see

 

[Ghost]

3 February 1944
The barracks in the small village of Örreryd in småland where not what one would call comfortable accommodations but they where still miles better than anything that awaited back in Norway. Nils was part of the latest large influx of refugees escaping Vikdun Qvisling's "work service", aimed at gathering all military aged males for "volunteer" work in service of the German occupation. A large part of the young men called had escaped into the mountains and forests of Norway only to filter into Sweden over the long porous border in the thousands. Rumor had reached many that Sweden was actively helping people over the border, and that an army was being built, an army to liberate Norway.

Refugees arrive to Örreryds internment camp

and there they are put in work groups to build the infrastructure for the coming war

or are put into the "Police" troops that is being trained

Vikdun Qvisling, the Nazi ruler of Norway, to this day his name is synonymous with that of traitor.

 

[Redbeard]

My first battalion CO as a very young man had been in the Danish Brigade in Sweden 1944-45 and landed with the Brigade in May 1945 and he sure would have loved to take part in a true liberation campaign, quite a ferocious type.

The Brigade had four light infantry battalions and a heavy battalion with AT, mortars and pioneers and even its own CAS unit. It was specially trained for combat in urban areas and probably was not just intended to take part in throwing out the Germans but as much expected to combat a possible communist uprising afterwards.

In OTL resistance from the Germans (mainly collaborators) was only light and quickly overwhelmed resulting in a few handfuls of casualties. It never came to a communist uprising, but the possibility caused worries for many years after the war and was fuelled after the Soviet coup in Czechoslovakia in early 1948. This was again the reason behind establishing an official Homeguard in 1949 not at least based on the non-communist parts of the resistance movements. The concern over communist infiltration was prominent and the Homeguard was established with its own “commissars” to ensure a proper democratic attitude. BTW both the Homeguard and the “Commissar” structure still exist, but the last now with recruitment and PR as the most prominent roles.

 

[Ghost]

21th March 1944
The news had hit the "home front" like a hammer, the top leadership of the organization had been captured while crossing the river to Sweden on the 12th. They had felt forced to participate in a important meeting in Stockholm whit other high ranking officials from Milorg, the government in exile, the resistance and the Swedish military. Now Jens Christian Gauge, Johan Nerdrum and Henrik Meyer was in the custody of the Gestapo. And all indications over the last days pointed to the fact that at least someone of the leadership had cracked under the German torture, as the Gestapo was clamping down hard on the "home front" and its infrastructure. Asbjørn Sunde, codenamed "Oswald" leader of the Communist sabotage group known unimaginative as "the Oswald group" was despite his shock of the events taking place somewhat relieved. His network of little more than 200 comrades had never been a part of Milorg's "Home front" therefore none of the Gestapo's heavy handed operations had or would directly affect him or his network. Asbjørn wasn't stupid, he recognized an opportunity when he saw one, even if he didn't ask for it. He tasked 50 of his best comrades, most of them female to prepare for several high publicity operation to take place as soon as possible, the people of Norway still needed to believe and see that the struggle continued against the occupation, now more than ever. The other 150 comrades he had started to send to Sweden for rest and recuperation and most importantly to infiltrate the police troops camps, 2-3 comrades per camp. There they where to keep a low profile and influence their fellow Norwegians. not a very hard task since reports had told him there where already large communist sympathy in the camps and that the large influx of Norwegian refugees combined whit the swedes open door policy to increase the numbers of the police troops lead to a somewhat relaxed security regarding the troops ideological position, as long as the comrades would keep a low profile in the camps no problems where anticipated. for the fate of Norway wouldn't stop at the end of Germany's war.

Jens Christian Gauge

Johan Nerdrum

Henrik Meyer

Asbjørn Sunde "Oswald", leader of the Communist sabotage group

high publicity operations being prepared by the mostly female combat elements of the Oswald group.

 

[Ghost]

in reality the leaders narrowly escaped capture when they travelled to Sweden, the German guard stopped about a yard away from the tarp they where hiding under.
ITTL they where not so lucky.

 

[r1ncewind]

Noo! The Last thing Norway needs after Quisling is a communist take over

 

[Ghost]

27 April 1944
Carla was in a sparkling mood punctuated somewhat by the fact that he was spending the evening at the prestigious café Opera. His cousin Archibald Douglas had just been appointed to the position of chief of army, something that indeed called for celebration. They had retreated to the balcony overlooking the castle and Parliament, getting some time for themselves in the still frigid spring air. "Look at it, beautiful isn't it?" said Archibald. "Yes, and peaceful... for now" retorted Carla. "But you and me both are convinced resistance men. Not only that but an military intervention is fully necessary to ensure Sweden's roll in the future Scandinavia, and most importantly it is necessary for Sweden's self-image." "How to you mean" asked Archibald. "Well think about it..... think how we would feel about ourselves if we did nothing to right the wrongs around us. Think about our brotherhood people, the anger and bitterness they would feel for us not helping them in their hour of need. Sure a lot of damage has already been done on account of our actions in 1940 even thow we had no other choice at that time, but this Archibald, this will save Sweden and its people for posterity. And they will forever be able to hold their heads high, whit pride and honour in their hearts... this will save the soul of our people." Archibald looked at his cousin for a long time in silence. Though the price would be enormous, and the bill paid in the blood of young Swedes, Danes and Norwegians he couldn't help but respect his cousins vision. "Let's get back inside Carla, we have much to do, and little time to do it in. Let's enjoy this evening while it lasts."

café Opera

Archibald Douglas, cheif of the army

 

[Ghost]

inspired by a real conversation Douglas and Carla had at this time

 

[Ghost]

13 June 1944
It was a calm summer day out in the fields for Robert and his son Ivar as they tended to the crops, but then again at the farm Gräsdal outside of Bäckebo in Kalmar it was always calm. That was when, whit out warning the world exploded.
Robert and his son was knocked off their feet and almost deafened by the enormous explosion filling the sky. They both screamed in deep primal horror for a few moments before their minds could wrestle back control of their bodies. Robert noticed that he was bleeding from a small wound on his head, he took out his handkerchief and pressed it against his forehead as he stood up. He helped his son up from the ground and together they looked at the devastation around them. All the windows on the farm was blown in and trees all around them had fell over, and in the sky what looked like thousands of silver leafs where falling to the ground. The only words that that was spoken was a deeply awe inspired croak from his son Ivar, "By god!".
The home guard and locals where soon on site, it was fast realised that something had crashed as wreckage was found over a large area, the question was what. Soon they found an impact crater in the forest, 5 meters across and 2 meters deep. The military quickly moved in to cordon off the area and collect the wreckage, even going so far as to go door to door in the area to collect "souvenirs" that the locals had acquired. Under cover of darkness and in the most discreet manner possible the wreckage was taken to a guarded hangar at the nearby F12 Airbase, and then calls where made deep into the night.

the impact area

the impact crater

Local kids on the site before the military, their presences prompted an intensive search at the local homes in search of "souvenirs"

the area cordoned off by the military

 

[Ghost]

14 June 1944
Nils Bohr had taken up the role as research manager for the strategic research and development commission and had focused the commissions work in to two main areas, cryptography (under the leadership of Arne Beurling) and rocket research, the latter at the request of the military following the acquisition of V1 rockets that had impacted the most southern parts of Sweden as a result of German testing. Now he was standing in a air force hangar together Whit his head of rocket research professor Gustav Boestad from KTH as well as the other engineers from the commission. In front of them all the minute details of wreckage was laid out like a giant puzzle, it was obviously some kind of rocket but none like they had ever seen before. It was now up to them to find out is secrets and make them their own.

 

[Ghost]

19 June 1944
Carla had been working quite hectically the last week's since the allied landing at Normandy not least since he was somewhat thorn between two strategic decisions. Either he gave in to the hounding from allied command to help the commandos to destroy transport infrastructure in Norway, thereby stranding vital reinforcements needed by the Germans in France and thereby hopefully quicken their defeat there. Or he allowed the Germans to move troops from Norway and thereby reducing the resistance his army would face when he commenced the attack. He had now agreed to listen to allied command, but only in exchange for private guarantees of shipments of new radios and mountain gear for his troops. This was not made better by the fact that "the home front" had been driven underground by the Gestapo. Luckily their was some groups that had escaped the Gestapo's gaze, unluckily they where communists. Although grudgingly he had to admit that they had made a good job in the absence of "the home front". Another point of personal grief was the fact that Finland, his brotherhood peoples and his friends where increasingly pressed by the Soviets, and there was now a real concern that they would be overrun. It had gone so far that he had been forced to limit his jäger troops engagements as a result of mounting casualties, and he would soon need them himself. But there was still news that made him truly exciting, like the ones that lay before him now. The report had detailed in surprising clarity the make-up of Germany's latest and most advanced weapon system, a rocket whit a 350 km range and a payload capacity of one ton. Carla immediately recognized that he was looking at the future of warfare. The engineers had been able to calculate the rockets flight Path, and in response the air force had sent out a Caproni reckon plane to Penemünde on the Baltic coast. The images were telling, the Germans had built a large rocket test facility on this small island. Carla was intrigued, he started to draw up guidelines authorizing the expansion of the rocket research to include a small production line of the new advanced weapon system. He had no illusions that the weapon would be able to be fielded against the Germans any time soon. But he did understand that the rocket represented the absolute cutting edge of German technology and therefore a good indication for the next step in military development in general. But to fully utilize this new technology he would also need the know-how behind it since the engineers had made it quite clear that the rocket obviously had been a prototype... Slowly a plan was forming in the mind of the commander in chief.

pictures taken from Swedish Caproni Planes over Penemünde

 

[r1ncewind]

About time to start liberating scandinavia before the war is over

 

[Ghost]

7 August 1944
Professor Gustav Boestad was quite thrilled at the engineering challenge presented before him. Yet he had been quite taken aback at first by the commander in chief Ehrensvärd's intention of starting a production line of the captured rocket. But this somewhat calmed by the impression that Ehrensvärd did not expect any kind of functional system any time soon. Especially since Ehrensvärd seemed to grasp the fact that the weapon had been a prototype, he wanted the commission to fix the problems of the original design and to improve upon them. The (quite substantial) money for the development of the production line was just that, aimed at logistics, building a few rockets for testing and thereby laying the groundwork for a future production line of a more mature system. Gustav had focused his team on two main areas, the engine and the remote radio controls found in the wreckage, both marvels of their own. And even though they were making definite progress he was starting to realize just how understaffed they where on people whit real know-how.

Professor Gustav Boestad