WWII Series King Gustaf V of Sweden
King Gustaf V of Sweden and the Nazi's
In these series the Allaboutroyalfamilies blog makes talks about the role of the royals during World War II. This time it is about King Gustaf V of Sweden.
What's his background?
Oscar Gustaf Adolf was born on 16 June 1858 in Drottningholm Palace in Ekerö in Stockholm county. He was the son of Prince Oscar of Sweden and Princess Sofia of Nassau. By his birth he received the title: Duke of Värmland.
On 20 September 1881 Gustaf of Sweden married Princess Victoria of Baden in Karlsruhe. Her parents were Grand Duke Frederick I of Baden and Princess Louise of Prussia. She was thus a granddaughter of Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany. She also was a granddaughter of Princess Sophie of Sweden. This princess Sophie was a member of the Swedish house of Holstein-Gottorp. Through the marriage between Gustaf and Victoria two royal Swedish houses were united: the one of Bernadotte and the one of Holstein-Gottorp.
On 8 December 1907 Gustaf succeeded his father as King of Sweden. On paper he was a near-autocrat. However the king was both head of state and head of government. But Since 1905, prime ministers
had been chosen according to parliamentary support.
In February 1914, a large crowd of farmers gathered at the royal palace and demanded that the country's defences be strenghtened. Gustaf made some promises but the politicians were angered that he had not consulted them in advance of his speech. Gustaf replied that he still had the right to communicate freely with the Swedish people.
World War I
Gustav V was considered to have German sympathies during World War I, this was influenced by his wife, who felt a strong connection to her native country.
On 18 December 1914, Gustaf sponsored a meeting in Malmö with the other two Kings of Scandinavia to demonstrate unity. He wanted to bring Sweden into the war on Germany's side.
Later he was stripped of political power, but he still had a great influence.
World War II
Both the King and his grandson Prince Gustaf Adolf socialized with the Nazi leaders before World War II broke out. Gustaf V tried to convince Hitler, during a visit to Berlin, to soften his persecution of
the Jews.
When Nazi Germany invaded the Sovjet Union in 1941, Gustaf tried to write a private letter to Hitler thanking him for taking care of the Bolshevik pest. He was stopped from doing so by the Prime Minister.
On 25 June 1914, the German Minister in Stockholm sent a message to Berlin in which he told that the King had just informed him that the transit of German Troops would be allowed.
After World War II
At the age of 92 King Gustaf V was involved in a homosexual affair, called the Haijby affair. His lover Kurt Haijby was imprisoned in 1952 for blackmailing the court in the 1930's.
On 29 October 1950, after a reign of nearly 43 years, King Gustaf V died in Stockholm due to flu complications. His 68-year-old son Gustaf succeeded him as Gustaf VI Adolf.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
In these series the Allaboutroyalfamilies blog makes talks about the role of the royals during World War II. This time it is about King Gustaf V of Sweden.
What's his background?
Oscar Gustaf Adolf was born on 16 June 1858 in Drottningholm Palace in Ekerö in Stockholm county. He was the son of Prince Oscar of Sweden and Princess Sofia of Nassau. By his birth he received the title: Duke of Värmland.
On 20 September 1881 Gustaf of Sweden married Princess Victoria of Baden in Karlsruhe. Her parents were Grand Duke Frederick I of Baden and Princess Louise of Prussia. She was thus a granddaughter of Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany. She also was a granddaughter of Princess Sophie of Sweden. This princess Sophie was a member of the Swedish house of Holstein-Gottorp. Through the marriage between Gustaf and Victoria two royal Swedish houses were united: the one of Bernadotte and the one of Holstein-Gottorp.
On 8 December 1907 Gustaf succeeded his father as King of Sweden. On paper he was a near-autocrat. However the king was both head of state and head of government. But Since 1905, prime ministers
had been chosen according to parliamentary support.
In February 1914, a large crowd of farmers gathered at the royal palace and demanded that the country's defences be strenghtened. Gustaf made some promises but the politicians were angered that he had not consulted them in advance of his speech. Gustaf replied that he still had the right to communicate freely with the Swedish people.
World War I
Gustav V was considered to have German sympathies during World War I, this was influenced by his wife, who felt a strong connection to her native country.
On 18 December 1914, Gustaf sponsored a meeting in Malmö with the other two Kings of Scandinavia to demonstrate unity. He wanted to bring Sweden into the war on Germany's side.
Later he was stripped of political power, but he still had a great influence.
World War II
Both the King and his grandson Prince Gustaf Adolf socialized with the Nazi leaders before World War II broke out. Gustaf V tried to convince Hitler, during a visit to Berlin, to soften his persecution of
the Jews.
When Nazi Germany invaded the Sovjet Union in 1941, Gustaf tried to write a private letter to Hitler thanking him for taking care of the Bolshevik pest. He was stopped from doing so by the Prime Minister.
On 25 June 1914, the German Minister in Stockholm sent a message to Berlin in which he told that the King had just informed him that the transit of German Troops would be allowed.
After World War II
At the age of 92 King Gustaf V was involved in a homosexual affair, called the Haijby affair. His lover Kurt Haijby was imprisoned in 1952 for blackmailing the court in the 1930's.
On 29 October 1950, after a reign of nearly 43 years, King Gustaf V died in Stockholm due to flu complications. His 68-year-old son Gustaf succeeded him as Gustaf VI Adolf.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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