 bo gunnar rickardsson hÃ¤gglÃ¶f gcvo (1904&ndash;1994) was a swedish diplomat, in 1939 briefly cabinet member, then head of the foreign ministry's bureau for foreign trade during world war ii, after the war participating in the preparations of the united nations' 1947 un partition plan of palestine, then ambassador to london 1948&ndash;1967 and paris 1967&ndash;1971. gunnar hÃ¤gglÃ¶f has published several books, chiefly popularizing sweden's world war ii history for domestic and foreign readers. in his books, and also in accounts by other authors, hÃ¤gglÃ¶f appears as an outspoken critic of the idealist policies of foreign minister sandler and activist advocates for sweden's military engagement for the defence of finland after the soviet attacks in 1939 (the winter war) and 1941 (the continuation war). although hÃ¤gglÃ¶f in policy matter was closer to left-leaning neutralist social democrats, led by wigforss, he doesn't spare retrospect criticism on that circle's pro-soviet sentiments, and particularly the policies of foreign minister undÃ©n's (1945&ndash;1962), that in hÃ¤gglÃ¶f's view was based on an exaggeratedly rosy perception of the soviet union. contrary to many other writers on the subject, hÃ¤gglÃ¶f also makes a point of reminding readers of the allies' disrespect for neutral countries during a war that they perceived as a fight of life and death; and how openly discussed plans for an allied invasion of scandinavia was a chief reason for nazi germany to launch a preventive invasion (operation weserÃ¼bung) in april 1940. gunnar hÃ¤gglÃ¶f was in the service of the swedish government for all of his life. however, without doubt, his most critical achievements were during world war ii, when he and associated negotiators managed to gain the confidence of both german and british counterparts, which ensured the enclosed sweden a considerably improved supply of food and other necessities than during world war i.   
1904_births 1994_deaths Ambassadors_of_Sweden_to_France Ambassadors_of_Sweden_to_the_United_Kingdom Honorary_Knights_Grand_Cross_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order Permanent_Representatives_of_Sweden_to_the_United_Nations Swedish_diplomats