09 Jun Grand Hôtel Stockholm

The Grand Hotel in Stockholm from a WWII era postcard

The Grand Hôtel in Stockholm was built in 1874 by Frenchman Régis Cadier on the street Blasieholmshamnen, just across from “Old Town.” It was indeed Stockholm’s first “grand” hotel, one that could rival fine hotels in the other European capitals.  The new hotel featured a telegraph office for the convenience of its guests and also made available to the public.  On the first floor was a very elegant two story dining room as well as reading, smoking, and banquet rooms.

In Hedy’s copy of the 1895 editions of “Baedecker’s Norway and Sweden,” you can read about the “fine view of the Palace and the busy quays and harbour.”

Over the years the hotel has been refurbished and redecorated many times, always to even greater splendor.

During World War II the international press set up their headquarters in the Grand Hôtel.  Because Sweden was a neutral country, there were representatives from Allies and Axis here so from the hotel would come both important world news stories as well as rumors galore.  It was, for sure, a hotbed of spies.  The Americans dining there could easily be seated at a table next to the Gestapo!

Lovely, isn’t it? Where Al and I spent New Years Eve and lots of other evenings. Boats tie up in front of the hotel. (Hedvig Johnson, March 1945)

Years later, Hedy explained that she often referred to Herman as “Al” because the name “Herman” was so closely identified with Hermann Göring, Commander-in-Chief of the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe.

NOTE: I have not been to Stockholm yet so have not visited the Grand Hotel. My plans are to travel there in the Spring of 2012. So, if anyone reading this has anything to add or edit, please feel free to comment. THANKS, Pat

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