Astrid Lindgren as Nazi: Russia defames children's book author on posters – because Sweden wants to join NATO?

Created: 05/04/2022, 11:20 am

By: Fabian Hartmann

Posters have appeared in Moscow defaming the Swedish children's book author Astrid Lindgren as a Nazi.

What's behind it?

Munich – The Ukraine conflict is also a battle of words and images.

Russia in particular is playing with propaganda.

Moscow's defamation of the Ukrainian leadership as Nazis is nothing new.

But now the accusation is also directed towards Sweden.

To be more precise: against the children's book author Astrid Lindgren, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and director Ingmar Bergman.

Propaganda posters against Sweden: "We are against Nazism, they are not"

Posters from the organization “Our Victory” have appeared in Moscow, on which the three Swedes are placed in the vicinity of National Socialism.

Photos of the campaign also appeared on the short message service Twitter.

The headline of the posters: "We are against Nazism, they are not".

Lindgren is portrayed as a Nazi with a quote taken out of context.

It reads: "I'd rather sing 'Heil Hitler!' for the rest of my life.

call, as Russians here in Sweden.” The quote is correct, but it creates a closeness between the children's book author and the National Socialists that did not exist.

Lindgren regretted that no one was found to shoot Hitler, as is also documented in her records.

Russian propaganda: It is true that Astrid Lindgren feared Communism

However, the author also feared communist Russia.

In her diary, which was later published as a book, she wrote: “And a weakened Germany could only mean one thing for us in the north – that we would get the Russians on our backs.

And then I think I'd rather say 'Heil Hitler' for the rest of my life than have the Russians with us for the rest of my life.” The entry dates from 1940, before the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

The Swedish children's book author Astrid Lindgren.

© Jörg Schmitt/dpa

What is true, however, is that Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad was an ardent Hitler fan in his youth.

He later distanced himself from it, calling it a mistake.

Director Ingmar Bergman also had sympathies for the Nazis in his youth.

His family was right-wing and hated the Bolsheviks, he said in an interview in the late 1990s.

Only when the concentration camps opened the gates did he realize the extent of the crimes.

The posters in Moscow do not tell this part of the biography.

Russian propaganda: Moscow sees a Western conspiracy

It is not surprising that Russian propaganda is targeting Sweden.

Like Finland, the country is flirting with NATO membership.

Moscow officially suspects a Western conspiracy under US leadership.

Russia should be exploited and destroyed.

It is not least Vladimir Putin's security adviser Nikolai Patrushev who is spreading this grim conspiracy theory.

And the Nazi accusation hits everyone.

In a memorable interview on Italian television, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not shy away from calling Jews themselves fascists.

Hitler also had "Jewish blood," he said - the outrage in Israel was great.

Russian propaganda: Sweden's government calls posters 'completely unacceptable'.

Sweden is also irritated by the attacks from Moscow.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson called the new Russian campaign against long-dead Swedish celebrities (Kamprad died in 2018, Lindgren in 2002, Ingmar Bergman in 2007) "completely unacceptable".

(

)