Osprey Publishing description:
Following World War II, Sweden faced the looming threat of the Soviet Union and its drive to spread communism. This led to the formation of a resistance movement involving Sweden's intelligence service, the employers' association and the labor movement. The stay-behind network was fully legalized in 1955 and continued its clandestine work until the mid-1990s, with the mission of keeping communism – and the Soviets – out of Sweden.
Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews with key figures, author Johan Wennström peels back the layers of secrecy surrounding the stay-behinds. This book looks at the men who created the network, the work the operatives carried out, the cell-like structure they relied on, and how the US and UK intelligence communities cooperated with the Swedish stay-behinds. This is the first in-depth study of a secret organization that helped shape modern Sweden. It also highlights lessons for today's NATO and makes the case for a defense policy grounded in national interest.
THE STAY BEHINDS: SWEDEN’S COLD WAR GUARDIANS
Author: Johan Wennström
Hardcover
Release date: September 8th, 2026.
ISBN: 9781472877543
$30.00
240 Pages