Ep79. 'Shadows of Raoul Wallenberg' – Part 1/ The Man Who Initiated Wallenberg's Mission

Before Raoul Wallenberg set foot in Budapest, one Swedish diplomat had already begun the rescue.

His name was Per Anger — and the decisions he made in the spring of 1944 shaped everything that followed.

But behind the heroism lies a darker, far more complex web.

In this first part of the series Shadows of Raoul Wallenberg, we ask the questions Sweden never wanted to confront:

Was Raoul Wallenberg chosen… or sacrificed?

Did the Wallenberg cousins see him as a hero — or as a liability?

Was he a diplomat on a humanitarian mission… or a covert asset for American, British, and Swedish intelligence?

And why did Sweden stop fighting for him — even when the chance to save him still existed?

With rare clarity and decades of reflection, Jan Anger guides us into the heart of the story — where diplomacy, business interests, intelligence networks, and moral courage collided in the final year of the Second World War.

A story about a nation balancing neutrality and survival.

A family balancing reputation and responsibility.

And a man — Raoul Wallenberg — caught between all of it.

This is Part 1 of a three-episode investigation.

This is where the shadows begin.

Guest: Jan Anger – son of diplomat Per Anger, lecturer, author, and one of the most knowledgeable voices on the Raoul Wallenberg case.

A podcast by: Mikael Hylin

Music: Anton Fossum-Hylin

Cover: Photographer: Raoul Wallenberg Academy - Coloured portrait by Raoul Wallenberg

Disclaimer:

The stories, facts, views, and opinions presented in this podcast are solely those of the presenter or interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Spionpodden. Spionpodden is an independent, non-profit podcast with no affiliations to political, religious, economic, public, or private special interests. It is neither controlled nor owned by any third party.

Spionpodden has not received any external funding, other than 100% anonymous, private, and entirely voluntary donations. The content is produced freely and independently, without influence from any outside parties. The responsible publisher is Mikael Hylin.

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De berättelser, fakta, åsikter och synpunkter som presenteras i denna podcast är uteslutande de som tillhör presentatören eller intervjuobjektet och speglar inte nödvändigtvis Spionpoddens officiella hållning. Spionpodden är en oberoende, ideell podcast utan kopplingar till politiska, religiösa, ekonomiska, offentliga eller privata särintressen. Den är varken kontrollerad eller ägd av någon tredje part.

Spionpodden har inte tagit emot någon extern finansiering, utöver 100 % anonyma, privata och helt frivilliga donationer. Innehållet produceras fritt och självständigt, utan påverkan från utomstående aktörer. Ansvarig utgivare är Mikael Hylin.