The outburst of the First World War was an imperative analysis to Sweden’s military neutrality. Though members of the Swedish royalty, aristocracy and industry imputed military responsibility to the Central Powers while fearing a concerted attack across the Baltic Sea from the Russians, most of the population saw little advancement in entering the war, including Independent conservative Prime Minister, Hjalmar Hammarskjold, along with Social Democrat Hjalmar Branting, hence upholding a neutral stance.
Domestically the unsuccessful harvest of 1916, along with choked imports from Britain’s 1917 blockade and torpedoed merchant ships, led to economic hardships as staple commodities became limited, food shortages and bread rationing in September of 1916 impeded restrictions. In April of 1917, as food riots became frequent occurrences and without a solution to disruptions of supplies and international trade, the government of Hjalmar Hammarskjold …show more content…
Initially, with its nonalignment and trade blockade during the war, Sweden’s economy was in a tenuous state. Severe unemployment, with up to a quarter of the working population without a livelihood, followed directly as economic crisis clashed to stabilized the financial system. Economic pressures to satisfy material demand while averting military infringement hastened the development from an agricultural system into an industrial society as industries expanded to feed the belligerents’ insatiable mandate for Swedish steel, ball bearings, wood pulp, and matches. When industrialism gained momentum in the UK , the demand for Swedish timber and ore increased along with Germany’s need for Swedish horses, sales proceeded with diminutive hindrance. As matters began to improve, industries developed, unemployment rates declined, and between 1919 and 1939, the annual growth rate of the Swedish economy increased by
Domestically the unsuccessful harvest of 1916, along with choked imports from Britain’s 1917 blockade and torpedoed merchant ships, led to economic hardships as staple commodities became limited, food shortages and bread rationing in September of 1916 impeded restrictions. In April of 1917, as food riots became frequent occurrences and without a solution to disruptions of supplies and international trade, the government of Hjalmar Hammarskjold …show more content…
Initially, with its nonalignment and trade blockade during the war, Sweden’s economy was in a tenuous state. Severe unemployment, with up to a quarter of the working population without a livelihood, followed directly as economic crisis clashed to stabilized the financial system. Economic pressures to satisfy material demand while averting military infringement hastened the development from an agricultural system into an industrial society as industries expanded to feed the belligerents’ insatiable mandate for Swedish steel, ball bearings, wood pulp, and matches. When industrialism gained momentum in the UK , the demand for Swedish timber and ore increased along with Germany’s need for Swedish horses, sales proceeded with diminutive hindrance. As matters began to improve, industries developed, unemployment rates declined, and between 1919 and 1939, the annual growth rate of the Swedish economy increased by