Sweden's Secret Cold War Spies: Dead Drops, Hidden Cells and the Stay Behinds

Cold War Spies Series with Shane Whaley

For decades, Sweden presented itself as neutral and determined to remain outside the Cold War struggle between East and West. But behind that public image, the Swedish Stay Behind network was preparing for an altogether darker possibility: Soviet occupation.

Shane Whaley is joined by Swedish historian and author Johan Wennström to uncover the extraordinary story of Sweden's secret Stay Behind resistance network — a clandestine organisation created in 1949 to operate behind enemy lines in the event of a Soviet invasion.

Drawing on previously classified documents, archival research and first-hand testimony from surviving members, Johan reveals how ordinary Swedes — farmers, insurance brokers, businessmen and travelling salesmen — were secretly recruited into cells designed to survive occupation.

They trained in intelligence gathering, clandestine communications, psychological warfare and resistance operations, all while keeping their involvement hidden from colleagues, friends and even their own families.

We also explore Sweden's real relationship with NATO during the Cold War, Soviet submarine incursions, Cold War traitors, the human cost of living a secret life — and why one of Sweden's most important intelligence chiefs bears an uncanny resemblance to George Smiley.

And, naturally, the conversation eventually turns to spy fiction, John le Carré, Len Deighton, Carl Hamilton, Jan Guillou and the surprisingly underdeveloped world of Swedish spy novels.