Sven Hedin

Sven Hedin (February 19, 1865 - November 26, 1952) was a Swedish explorer.

Related Topics:
February 19 - 1865 - November 26 - 1952 - Swedish

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Hedin was born in Stockholm. Between 1886 and 1892 he studied geology, mineralogy, zoology, and Latin in Stockholm, Uppsala, Berlin, and Halle. Student of Ferdinand von Richthofen.

Related Topics:
Stockholm - 1886 - 1892 - Geology - Mineralogy - Zoology - Latin - Stockholm - Uppsala - Berlin - Halle - Ferdinand von Richthofen

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Between his graduation in 1892 and 1935 he led several expeditions to Central Asia. In 1902 he was the last Swede ever to be ennobled with a hereditary title. He became a member of the Swedish Academy in 1913.

Related Topics:
1892 - 1935 - Central Asia - 1902 - Ennobled - Swedish Academy - 1913

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His achievements include the production of the first detailed maps of vast parts of Pamir, Taklamakan, Tibet, the ancient Silk Road, and the Himalayas. He seems to be the first European to realise that the Himalayas are a single mountain range.

Related Topics:
Pamir - Taklamakan - Tibet - Silk Road - Himalaya

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He was a personal friend of Gustav V of Sweden (and his queen Victoria of Baden) and paid them regular visits. He was the co-author (together with Carl Bennedich) of the so-called borggårdstalet (the speech at the royal castle) which was read during the peasant armament support march (bondetåget) arrival at the royal castle. In this speech the king denounced the government (headed by Karl Staaff) defence policy, which led to its resignation.

Related Topics:
Gustav V of Sweden - Victoria of Baden - Carl Bennedich - Bondetåget - Karl Staaff

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Being a Germanophile since his days of study in Berlin, Hedin was together with Queen Victoria of Sweden a strong advocate for a Swedish alliance with Germany during WWI, and he wrote several books about his experiences from journeys along the front lines, in west, east and south-east. This caused him to lose several influencial friends in England and the US, among them Lord Kitchener.

Related Topics:
Berlin - Queen Victoria of Sweden - Germany - WWI - Lord Kitchener

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Sven Hedin felt that Russia was a dangerous threat to the West, and this may be part of the reason why he supported and admired Adolf Hitler (who in turn admired him) before and during the Third Reich. Still, Hedin was not a Nazi and he was rather deceived by the Nazis. Hedin wrote in his book Tyskland och världsfreden (Germany and world peace), a magnificent effort originally funded by the German government:

Related Topics:
Russia - Adolf Hitler - Third Reich

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:In my blood, every sixteenth drop is of Jewish origin. I cherish this sixteenth drop and I do not want to lose it. (Wallström 1983:265)

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The book was banned in Germany.

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