Scandinavian Talks on Military Cooperation in 1946-1947: A Prelude to the Decisions of 1948-1949

Abstract

During the first two years after the Second World War, Britain took on the burden of defence arrangements for Western Europe and therefore had a special interest in the talks on military cooperation which began in September 1946 between Denmark, Norway and Sweden. These talks were primarily for the reconstruction of the armed forces of Norway and Sweden. The existence of these deliberations was revealed by the Russians at the latest in February 1947. Their confidential warning did not discourage the Scandinavians from continuing their military discussions, which were followed by consultations on a possible customs union between the three states. The proposed plans obviously angered the Kremlin who had reason to suspect a connexion with Western military integration. The resulting tension between the Soviet Union and the Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden, may have hurried the former to extend its FCMA (Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance) treaty system from Poland, Hungary and Rumania to Finland, despite the fact that Finland was not one of the 'peoples' democracies'.