02 Mar Strandvägen 7 ~ Then and Now

The American Legation on Strandvägen is marked with an “X.” From the wartime scrapbook of Hedvig Johnson Allen

I have written about Strandvägen 7 several times. This is the complex on the famed “Beach Road” in Stockholm where the American Legation was located.  In the back corner of the Legation offices were the top-secret desks of OSS Stockholm, the Office of Strategic Services.  Just across the courtyard from 7a, the Legation, was the German Military Attache office at 7c. Between the two was the American Military Attache Office at Strandvägen 7b.  Cozy.

Because Stockholm was neutral many countries had legations there. I have identified the locations for the American and the German offices.  My Dad worked out of both 7a and 7b. When he left his office he would often be followed. I’m guessing that all the Germans had to do was look out their window and see who was coming and going.

And for sure, the Americans were doing the same thing.  Everyone was spying on everyone else.

This week I connected with a gentleman whose father worked at the Legation at the same time my Dad did. 1st Lt. Nicholas B. Kehoe, Jr. flew out of North Pickenham with the 492nd BG. On June 20, 1944, his B-24 force landed in Sweden. We’re not sure how he happened to end up working for the Legation.  Perhaps like my Dad, he possessed administrative skills that would have been useful. Perhaps he spoke a second language.  All I know is that he worked with my father in Stockholm in 1944.

Thanks to the family of Lt. Kehoe, here are some remarkable Then and Now pictures of Strandvägen 7:

Strandvägen 7 in 2012

Image 2 of 14

Photograph taken by Ulf Gahm from about the same spot.

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