In 2018, the Swedish government sent a brochure to all homes explaining what to do in case of war. It is not mentioned, but the reference to Russia is obvious
What would you do if your life turned upside down? Imagine that the heating goes out, it is difficult to cook and store food that is already scarce, there is no running water, you cannot fill up with fuel or use credit cards, public transport and communications do not work and forget to get medicines . Thus begins ‘Om krisen eller kriget kommer’, translated as «If the crisis or war comes», a brochure published five years ago by the Swedish government that explains to citizens how to act in the event of a conflict.
The last war Sweden experienced was two centuries ago and lasted barely a month. Since then there has been peace in the country. That is why citizens were so surprised when they received this booklet in their mailbox. The last recorded case dated back to the Cold War and the situation was far from being the same. Or maybe?
International news from Sweden often has to do with Russia. Every few months a submarine washes up on the coast or a fighter jet invades the skies. In February, they arrested a Russian citizen who flew a drone over the Royal Palace. The media attaches great importance to these provocations and talk about them for weeks. When Putin threatened to use nuclear weapons at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the Swedes took it very seriously.
Russian maneuvers in the Baltic Sea led Sweden to reactivate conscription for both men and women and increased the army to 90,000 soldiers. The rapprochement with NATO is clearer than ever and was integrated into the US anti-missile shield in 2017. Military spending soared in a way not seen since the Cold War and the civilian population was prepared for resistance, although the latter had come a long way.
“In the first building in Sweden where I lived, a staircase went down to the basement. There was an iron gate there with a round handle, like those on a ship. That’s when I discovered it was a bunker.” Julio Alonso is from Seville and has lived in different cities in Sweden for eight years. This is how he tells us how he met Fredrick, ‘El Ronco’. «I hadn’t been in Skövde for two weeks when an anti-missile alert went off. It was three o’clock in the afternoon and neither my partner nor I understood what was going on. When we peeked into the street, we saw that everyone was going through life quietly. Then we found out that they hold a bombing exercise every three months. They call that signal Hesa Fredrick.”
Gema Alfaro left for the Scandinavian country almost ten years ago to work as a doctor and currently lives in Gothenburg. “Sweden has a lot of shelters spread over different places. They have a logo and are open to the public. At first it just seemed like an extravagance in this country, but when the pamphlet about the war arrived, we wondered what was happening to the hand. Were we in a country in danger? When he asks his colleagues, he finds that they are quite concerned. “All Swedes between the ages of 16 and 70 are obliged to act in the event of total defence, and medical personnel is of particular importance.”
Surviving a war situation is not something that is taught in schools. The Swedish government’s book gives certain tips on how to proceed. Given the basic recommendations, such as having food that does not require cooking, canned goods, and water, other tips are added, such as having a radio and batteries to receive messages from authorities in the event of a blackout. If it is missing, you can use it in the car. They add that the most important telephone numbers and certain documents such as insurances and certificates are on paper, which makes them easier to consult. They also don’t forget to have a full first aid kit or cash in small amounts.
Dependence on Russian gas has led public opinion to turn down the thermostat. Spain is not a cold country, but the Swedish case is different and they suggest “get together in a room, hang blankets on the windows, cover the floor with rugs and make a kind of hut under a table to keep warm.” stay.” They add that they have a stove, flashlight and the essential batteries.
Part of the brochure is devoted to topics such as terrorist attacks, floods, fires, cyber attacks and fake news, the well-known ‘fake news’. The population is invited to question the information that reaches them and not to spread rumors that try to diminish “our resistance and our will to defend ourselves”. The text places special emphasis on the need to endure at all costs. A prominent red frame reads: “If Sweden is attacked by another country, we will never surrender. Any news that you have to stop resisting is false,” a phrase that the Ukrainian people seem to have learned well.
‘Om krisen eller kriget kommer’ is available in several languages, including Spanish, and can be viewed on the government website msb.se.
Source: La Verdad
I am David Jackson, a highly experienced professional in the news industry. I have been working as an author at Today Times Live for over 10 years, and specialize in covering the entertainment section. My expertise lies in writing engaging stories that capture readers’ attention and deliver timely information about the latest developments.
