Svend Anker

Anker in February 2146, during the first years of World War Three

Svend Anker was a Danish Politician, known for being the Third Commissioner of Nordica. He served as Vice-Commissioner to Kaia Halverson between 2131 and 2132 and as Commissioner from 2132, until his suicide in 2151.

## Early Life

Svend Anker was born to Upper-Middle class Danish parents, in **Vejen, Denmark**, on the 5th March 2094. Anker was the great grandson of disgraced politician, and the last Prime minister of Denmark, **Jørgen Anker**. Jørgen had tarnished his family name as he fiercely opposed unification. His lack of co-operation led to plans for Copenhagen-Malmö becoming the capital of Nordica being scrapped, making Stockholm the capital instead. This upset a lot of Danes, making him deeply unpopular, and tarnishing the family name. Svend Anker wanted to rectify this. He was privately schooled, specialising in politics. Anker studied Political Science at the **University of Copenhagen**, also taking a sandwich course in Geopolitics. Anker did well at university, and was noticed during a visit by Aidas Mielkus, a high ranking member of the Second Commission.

## Political Career

Anker was the first candidate to be given a scholarship under the Second Commission. When he met with Commissioner Halverson, she saw massive potential in him: Anker had a very natural ability for intuition, as he was very good at quickly finding an appropriate solution, where the relatively indecisive Commissioner would usually struggle. Knowing the perilous political climate developing between Nordica and GUISS, She recognised Anker's usefulness. She would personally train Anker for the role, although did not wish to officially announce it. The only people who knew were trusted senior staff, and Anker's close friend, and fellow Scholarship participant, Annaliisa Lund. Commissioner Halverson appointed Anker as her Vice-Commissioner, shortly after her own, Leena Ilves, was assassinated. Anker served briefly as Vice-Commissioner, before Kaia's resignation.

## Commission Years

Anker acted quickly in taking over, the role, re-establishing Nordica's Alliance with Neo-Europe, and consolidating his own position in The Realm. Within his first year in office, he had chosen Lund to be his Vice-Commissioner. His first significant major speech occured at the **Centenary of Nordica**, where he warned of the increasingly expanding rift between them and GUISS. The following year, he moved to defend their ally, when Neo-Europe was accused of mass assassination at **Krivoy Rog**.

Nordica's position would deteriorate as the **Republicans** rose to power in Neo-Europe. Anker found himself having to choose where the country would fall, either with their historical ally, or with the Ideologically closer Republican party. Despite mounting international pressure, Anker chose to stay loyal to the **Nationals**. Anker continued to support them in exile after the **Silent Revolution**. Following a NESR attack on the city of Nice, he would declare war on both them and GUISS, beginning the Third World War. During the war, Anker would advocate immoral acts, such as the release of **Mirravirus 46C** on NESR, in retaliation for the destruction of Halifax and Grimsby. Anker's worst atrocity came after the detonation of the **People's Wrath**, under the captured city of Leningrad, now Petersburg. Anker permitted the use of **Seismic Bombs** on the cities of Kazan, Samara, and Nizhny Novgorod, which caused significant civilian casualties, and is frequently classed as a war crime.

Although Nordica would win the war, Anker had deemed his own actions in it unnecessary. Believing himself responsible for the dramatic loss of life, and having only further tarnished his family name, Anker became depressed, and was temporarily removed as Commissioner, being placed in therapy. Lund would serve as **Acting Commissioner** until he recovered. However, Anker took his own life on the 8th October 2151. He felt Nordica was better off in the hands of Lund than his own, officially naming her as his successor in his suicide letter.

## Legacy

Anker is a very controversial figure, as while he did defend Nordica from GUISS during the third world war, many of his actions in doing this were labelled as **War Crimes**. However, since Anker did acknowledge this prior to his death, he is viewed a little more favourably in Nordica. He also helped to solidify the relationship between Nordica and Neo-Europe.