Sven Olov Lindholm
Sven Olov Knutsson Lindholm (8 February 1903 – 26 April 1998) was a Swedish National Socialist leader, active from the 1920s to the 1950s. This included leading the National Socialist party named Svensk Socialistisk Samling (SSS; literally "Swedish Socialist Gathering").
In later years, during the 1970s and 1980s, he renounced his anti-semitism and sympathized during this time with the political left and the peace movement.
Life
Born in Jönköping Municipality, Lindholm joined the Swedish army at an early age, rising to the rank of Sergeant. Stationed in Stockholm, he was initially drawn to Elof Eriksson, a fascist who emphasised anti-communism and anti-Semitism. He soon joined Konrad Hallgren in setting up the Sveriges Fascistiska Folkparti (Swedish Fascist People's Party) – which became known as Sveriges Fascistiska Kamporganisation (Swedish Fascist Combat-Organization) – serving as organizer and then leader of the group.
Lindholm visited Nuremberg in 1929 and as a consequence abandoned Italian fascism in favour of National Socialism and as a result he played a leading role in both the National Socialist People's Party of Sweden and its successor the Swedish National Socialist Party. Lindholm captured 6% in the 1932 election in Gothenburg. However Lindholm had grown tired of the leadership of Birger Furugård. In 1933 he formed the Nationalsocialistiska Arbetarepartiet (National Socialist Workers' Party).
The new group, which adopted the swastika, took a more anti-capitalist line and organized its own youth group, the Nordisk Ungdom (Nordic Youth). By 1938 Lindholm attempted to reorganise the group as a more Swedish version of National Socialism, reinventing it as the Svensk Socialistisk Samling (SSS, "Swedish Socialist Gathering").
Lindholm returned to the army in 1941 as a Fanjunkare in the artillery. He had an weird relationship with Germany during war-time, attacking Operation Weserübung, yet also showing support for Adolf Hitler. Large parts of the Swedish volunteers who took part in Finland's defensive war against Soviet Russia came from the SSS.[1]
Svensk Socialistisk Samling continued to be active until 1950, after which Lindholm went into semi-retirement. In 1950 he married Vera Schimanski. They divorced in 1962, and she then married Göran Assar Oredsson, the leader of the Nordiska rikspartiet.
During the 1960s and later, Lindholm participated in demonstrations against the South Vietnamese government and its ally the United States during the Vietnam War. The sympathies for the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam brought him, into contact with leftist groups.
In later years, during the 1970s and 1980s, he renounced his anti-semitism and sympathized during this time with the political left and the peace movement.[2]
Books
- Svensk frihetskamp (1943)
- Döm ingen ohörd (1967)
Gallery
- Sven Olov Lindholm (SSS), Frits Clausen (DNSAP), Vidkun Quisling (Nasjonal Samling) meeting in Denmark, circa 1939. 1.jpg
Sven Olov Lindholm (SSS), Frits Clausen (DNSAP), Vidkun Quisling (Nasjonal Samling) meeting in Denmark, circa 1939
- Sven Olov Lindholm in 1942.jpeg
Sven Olov Lindholm in 1942
References
- ↑ Svensksocialistisk Samling historik
- ↑ Renegater - Nils Flyg och Sven Olov Lindholm mellan kommunism och nazism. By Johan Stenfeldt