Europe 273
Narrative: On November 5, 1939, Sweden charged that the Nazi mine layers did not
respect the four-mile Swedish limit and extended the German mine fields into Swed-
ish waters. On December 13, a Swedish steamer, the Aigol, was hit by a mine in the
straits between Denmark and Sweden. Swedish warships assisted the vessel, but the
extent of the damage was unknown.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from November 5, 1939. End Date changed
from December 13, 1940.
MID#3801
Dispute Number: 3801
Date(s): April 9, 1940 to April 22, 1940
Participants: 255 Germany/380 Sweden
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: After the German invasion of Norway, there were several instances of
shootings, border violations, and seizures along the Swedish-Norwegian border.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 1, 1940. End Date changed from
October 18, 1940.
MID#3805
Dispute Number: 3805
Date(s): April 8, 1941
Participants: 255 Germany/380 Sweden
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: German aircraft attacked a Swedish freighter.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from June 2, 1941. End Date changed from June
2, 1941.
MID#3806
Dispute Number: 3806
Date(s): February 7, 1942 to April 27, 1944
Participants: 255 Germany/380 Sweden
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute describes various actions between Germany and Sweden
during the early stages of World War II. In February 1942, German press criticized
Sweden for not following Finland into the war against Russia; Germany also began
building new fortifications in Norway along the border with Sweden. These moves
threatened Sweden, which responded by approving its third defense loan to build new
warships, submarines, and mobilize 600,000 soldiers in order to better protect the
coast and border regions. In August 1943, Sweden protested the sinking of two Swed-
ish fishing boats without warning by two Nazi mine sweepers in international waters.