17 Jan German and American Legations in Stockholm
The German Legation at Hovslagargatan 2 on April 30, 1945, the day of Hitler’s death. Photo by Lennart af Petersens, from Wikipedia.
Like the American Legation during World War II, the German Legation had several locations for their offices. I am trying to clarify what was where. My thanks to Tommy Jonason and Ulf Gahm who have helped me with these.
Hovslagargatan 2 – The German Legation (main building.) This was likely where the Nazi party’s intelligence organization (SD) was housed. According to Wikipedia, the former German “Legation” was converted in 1956 to the “Embassy.” The current German Embassy was built in 1958 at Skarpö 9. Today at Hovslagargatan 2 is the Lydmar Hotel.
Karlavägen 59 – German RadioCentral
Strandvägen 7C – German Military Attaché. On my mother’s postcard, she indicated that this address was the German Legation. It was not their main headquarters.
Kaptensgatan 8 – German Information or Propaganda Bureau
Karlavägen 99 – German Air Attaché
Nybrogatan 27– The Abwehr office (military intelligence) as mentioned in resource book by C.G. McKay, From Information to Intrigue: Studies in Secret Service: based on the Swedish experience, 1939-45.
Kungsgatan 18 – German Tourist Bureau
On the American side, I have written about The American Legation but there were other offices also.
From a 1944 postcard. My mother indicated that the German Legation was right next to the American Legation. Actually Strandvägen 7C was the office of the German Military Attaché.
Strandvägen 7A – The Chancery. The Military Attaché and OSS offices were also here.
Strandvägen 7 B – Military Air Attaché
Nobelgatan 2 – Annex A. Press Section, All State Department, the Press. The Naval Attaché’s Office.
Biblioteksgatan 26 – Annex B. Foreign Countries Division.
Kommelndörsgatan 16 – Annex C. Swedish Division, Politico-Economic Section, Press Telegram Section, Commercial Section.
Smålandsgatan 2 – Annex D. Military Attaché Finance. Military Air Attaché’s Internee Section.
Strandvägen 63 – Annex E. Financial Attaché’s Office, War Refugee Board.
Strandvägen 59 – KIBRE Section. I need help here … don’t know what this means.
As always, what I have written is to the best of my knowledge … I welcome additions, edits, and comments!
View The American and German Legations in a larger map
On the Google map above I have tried to pinpoint each of the addresses. No wonder the Americans and the Germans were always running into each other!
Tommy Jonason
Posted at 13:25h, 17 JanuaryAn excellent idea to place everything on the map!
Nybrogatan 27 was the Abwehr office – Bureau Wagner with Colonel Hans Wagner as the boss.
There was also a Bureau Finke – the office of the Nazi Party’s intelligence organisation Sicherheitsdienst (SD). Probably they had their office, with August Finke as boss, on Hovslagargatan.
The German Tourist Bureau was on Kungsgatan, with Baron Berndt von Gossler as chief, who in reality was a SD-man. He was revealed to the Swedish Secret Sevice by the actress Sonja Wigert (code name Bill)
Pat
Posted at 15:57h, 17 JanuaryThank you … I will make some changes above. You’ve been a wonderful help!
Renee Payne
Posted at 01:22h, 05 JulyI have a letter written in 1945 that gives Karlavagen 59 as the address of the French Legation
Moi Ramirez
Posted at 12:38h, 18 SeptemberAloha Pat! As i write this i will be returning to Stockholm on Sept 28th and be there for a week in case you need any more follow-ups in the city.
As for Strandvagen 59 (KIBRE Section) this refers to the microfilm unit that was run by Dr Adele Kibre under the direction of the OSS / Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications. This is detailed in the book , “Covert and Overt: Recollecting and Connecting Intelligence Service and Information Science” by Robert V. Williams and Ben-Ami Lipetz.
The info is on page 119. Essentially, sounds like the location was collecting intel from Germany and other foreign countries, putting it on microfilm and then shipping it back to the States on microfilm..
I will be conducting some more research at the Armee Museum in Stockholm too in case you need something from their archives as well. Keep me posted. You can find me on Instagram now to see my pics under HEPSAINT.
all the best,
Moi