Sweden had been neutral since the End of the Napoleonic Wars, even if they helped their Neighbor Finland during the Finno-Soviet Winter War, and 8,000 Swedes fought in it as volunteers. Since Nazi Germany has occupied the neutral States Denmark and Norway in "Operation Weserübung", the country's almost cut off from the rest of the world and has to consider the Great power which is now so close. E.g. regarding the supply of the latter's war machinery with Swedish iron ore. Whether long-time Social Democrat Prime minister Per Albin Hansson likes this or not. Even if the Swedish Imports (coal, Petrol) are already suffering.
Because of the threat, the Hemvärnet (Home Guard) under Gustaf Petri was formally established on May 29, 1940. Also, "The Organization" makes sure that 320,000 men were able to be raised in a few weeks.
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Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Svalbard |