Tage Erlander

Tage Erlander
Erlander in 1949
25th Prime Minister of Sweden
In office 11 October 1946 – 14 October 1969
Monarchs	Gustaf V Gustaf VI Adolf
Preceded by	Per Albin Hansson
Succeeded by	Olof Palme
Leader of the Social Democratic Party
In office 11 October 1946 – 1 October 1969
Preceded by	Per Albin Hansson
Succeeded by	Olof Palme
Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs
In office 31 July 1945 – 11 October 1946
Prime Minister	Per Albin Hansson
Preceded by	Georg Andrén
Succeeded by	Josef Weijne
Personal details
Born	Tage Fritjof Erlander (1901-06-13)13 June 1901 Ransäter, Sweden
Died	21 June 1985(1985-06-21) (aged 84) Huddinge, Sweden
Political party	Social Democrat
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.92 m)
Spouse	Aina Andersson ​ (m. 1930)​
Children	2, including Sven Erlander
Alma mater	Lund University
Awards	Illis quorum 1984
Signature

Tage Fritjof Erlander (Swedish: [ˈtɑ̂ːgɛ ɛˈɭǎnːdɛr] ; 13 June 1901 – 21 June 1985) was a Swedish politician who served as the 25th Prime Minister of Sweden from 1946 to 1969. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party and led the government for an uninterrupted tenure of 23 years, the longest ever in Sweden and in any democracy. Previously, he served as Minister of Education. During his premiership, Sweden developed into one of the world's most advanced welfare states, with the Nordic Model at the peak of its acclaim and notoriety.

Becoming a member of the World War II coalition government in 1944, Erlander rose unexpectedly to the leadership upon the death of Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson in October 1946, maintaining the position of the Social Democrats as the dominant party in the country. Known for his moderation, pragmatism and self-irony, Erlander often sought approval from the liberal-conservative opposition for his policies, de facto dropping all pretences of wide-scale nationalizations whilst introducing reforms such as universal health insurance, pension additions and a growing public sector, although stopping short of raising tax levels above the average OECD levels at the time. Until the 1960s, income taxes were lower in Sweden than in the United States.

For most of his time in power, Erlander ran a minority government of the Social Democrats. From 1951 to 1957, he instead ran a coalition with the Farmers' League. The Social Democrats held a majority of seats in the upper house for most of this time and this allowed Erlander to remain in power after the 1956 general election, when the right-wing parties won a majority. A snap election in 1958 then reversed this result.

In foreign policy, he initially sought an alliance of Nordic countries, but without success, instead maintaining strict neutrality while building up among the most impressive armed forces in the world (surpassed only by the United States, the Soviet Union and Israel in terms of per-capita spending), making the Swedish Air Force the third largest in the world, while ultimately rejecting nuclear capability, signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1968. Erlander's mandate coincided with the post–World War II economic expansion, in Sweden known as the record years, in which Sweden saw its economy grow to one of the ten strongest in the world, and subsequently joined the G10.

In the 1968 general election, he won his seventh and most successful victory, with the Social Democrats winning an absolute majority of the popular vote and seats in the lower chamber. Erlander resigned the following year during a process of major constitutional reform, and was succeeded by his long-time protégé and friend Olof Palme. He continued to speak on political matters and published his memoirs. He died in 1985, less than a year before Palme's assassination. He was considered one of the most popular heads of state in the world by the end of the 1960s, and one of the most popular Prime Ministers in the history of Sweden.

Early life and eduction

Erlander in 1925, photographed by Per Bagge

Tage Erlander was born in Ransäter, Värmland County on June 13, 1901, to Alma Erlander (née Nilsson) and Erik Gustaf Erlander, who was a school teacher and cantor. His paternal grandfather, Anders Erlandsson, worked as a smith at an ironworks, and his maternal grandfather was a farmer who held a public office in his home municipality. On his maternal grandmother's side, Erlander descended from the Forest Finns, who migrated to Värmland from the Finnish province of Savonia in the 17th century.

He attended schools in Karlstad as a child, living in a boarding house for children of clergymen. His father enrolled him at Lund University rather than Uppsala University in September 1920, feeling Lund was more affordable. As a student at Lund, Erlander was heavily involved in student politics and met many politically radical students. He also met his future wife, fellow student Aina Andersson. He was also exposed to societal and economic injustices, and began to identify with socialism. He graduated in political science and economics in 1928.

From 1928 to 1929 he completed his compulsory military service in the Signal Corps and eventually went on to become a reserve Lieutenant. Erlander was a member of the editorial staff of the encyclopedia Svensk upplagsbok from 1929 to 1938.

Early political career

Erlander (back left row, second from left) with the Lund municipal council in 1930, photographed by Per Bagge

Erlander joined the Swedish Social Democratic Party in 1928, and was elected to the municipal council in Lund in 1930, becoming involved in improving poor city housing, lowering unemployment, and installing a new bathhouse.

He became a member of parliament in 1932, and was appointed a state secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1938. As state secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Erlander was one of the most senior officials responsible for the establishment of internment camps in Sweden during World War II. In the camps, which were kept secret to the Swedish public, people from various ethnic minorities as well as political dissidents were interned, particularly Communists and Soviet Union sympathisers.

In 1942, State Secretary Erlander together with then Minister for Social Affairs Gustav Möller initiated a nationwide registration of the Swedish Travelers, a branch of the Romani people that has been resident in Sweden for 500 years. The purpose of the registration was, according to a newspaper article, to make the base for "radical measures" against this "bottom layer of the Swedish population". In Norway, similar lists were established that were handed over to the Nazis during the German occupation of Norway.

Erlander ascended to the cabinet in 1944 as minister without Portfolio, a post he held to the next year, when he became minister of education and ecclesiastical affairs. He was part of the fourth cabinet of Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson.

Prime Minister Hansson suddenly died on October 6, 1946, and Östen Undén served as interim prime minister until October 11. Erlander and his wife were in Lund when Hansson died, and when they returned to the Grand Hôtel, they were informed of his death by Minister of Defense Allan Vougt.

On October 6, Hansson's cabinet and the Social Democrat executive committee met, and the executive committee scheduled a full board party meeting for October 9, as did the Social Democratic party caucus. Erlander first learned of his possible selection as prime minister and party leader on October 7. Erlander himself was reluctant and had little interest in becoming prime minister, saying he would only do so if the desire was strong enough. At the October 9 meeting, the board voted 15 to 11 in favor of Erlander becoming prime minister, and the caucus voted 94 to 72 to make Erlander chairman of the party. The choice was considered surprising and controversial, and some believed Gustav Möller was Hansson's obvious successor, including Möller himself. The choice of Erlander has been attributed to Möller being around the same age as Hansson (over 60) and younger party members wanting a younger generation to lead (Erlander himself being almost 15 years younger than Hansson and Möller). It has also been attributed to Erlander being viewed as a greater figure of change, was experienced in areas seen as important to Social Democrats such as social and educational policies, and was known to be able to establish cooperation with others.

Prime Minister of Sweden (1946-1969)

Ascension

King Gustaf V in 1938, the first of two kings Erlander would serve under

After Erlander was chosen as prime minister, Hansson's cabinet all submitted their resignations, as was routine. King Gustaf V met Erlander on October 13, asking him to form a new government. Erlander asked all cabinet members to withdraw their resignations. In total, Erlander inherited 14 ministers from Hansson.

Upon meeting Erlander at Drottningholm and asking him to form a new government, Gustaf encouragingly told Erlander that times were difficult, and that a younger man serving as prime minister was best for Sweden. He also assured Erlander that "things would work out well", and that the two of them would get along as initially he had some disagreements with Per Albin Hansson, who was ideologically a republican.

Elections and inter-party relations

Erlander retained the positions of the Social Democrats from a potent Liberal opposition under Bertil Ohlin in his first election, and the Social Democrats won 46.13% that year.

Erlander later formed a coalition with the Farmers' League between 1951 and 1957. His working relationship with the party's leader, Gunnar Hedlund (Minister for Home Affairs in the coalition government), is known to have been good. In the 1952 general election, the Social Democrats won 46%, a slight decrease from the previous election, and in the 1956 general election, the party won 44.58%, a larger decrease.

In the 1958 by-election, the party won 46.2%, an increase from the 1956 election. In the 1960 general election, the Social Democrats' percentage of the vote was up to 47.79%, another increase from the previous election.

In the 1964 general election, the Social Democrats won 47.27% if the vote, a slight decrease overall from 1960, but the party now obtained a majority in the lower house. The Social Democratic campaign slogan was, "You never had it so good".

In the 1968 general election, Erlander's final election as prime minister, his party won 50.1%, the Social Democrats' largest victory under Erlander.

Cabinets and personal staff

Further information: Erlander I Cabinet

Erlander (center) in 1968, with three of "they boys", Olof Palme (left), Sten Andersson (right), and Ingvar Carlsson (far right).

Until 1951, Erlander's first cabinet was similar to Hansson's last. Some new politicians ascended to the cabinet, including Minister of Supply Karin Kock, the first woman in Sweden to hold a ministerial position, as well as the first minister Erlander nominated after he became prime minister. Kock was suggested by Riksdag member Ulla Wohlin, who would serve in Erlander's third cabinet as Sweden's third female cabinet minister. Nine of the ten cabinet ministries Erlander inherited from Hansson's cabinet existed by the end of Erlander's premiership, while the position of Minister of Supply being abolished in 1950. Three additional ministries were created, with Erlander's third cabinet having twelve ministries by 1968. Overall, Erlander allowed his cabinet ministers a great deal of freedom, as he did not want to become overly involved in coordinating them daily, but he did monitor them.

In total, Erlander had three cabinets. Altogether, 57 people served in Erlander's combined cabinets, and barely a year went by without at least one resignation and one ascension.

In August 1953, Erlander hired Olof Palme to serve as his personal secretary. In 1963, he ascended to the cabinet as a minister without portfolio. Palme became Minister of Communications in 1965, and in 1967 became Minister of Education.

Beginning with Palme, Erlander began to hire a larger group of personal staff, including typists and stenographers, comprising young Social Democrats such as Palme, future Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson, and Palme II Cabinet member Bengt K. Å. Johansson. In the 1960s, Erlander began to call his group of young aides "the boys".

Domestic Policy

Relations with the Swedish monarchy

Further information: Gustaf V, Gustaf VI Adolf, and Monarchy of Sweden

King Gustaf VI Adolf in 1962, the second of two kings that Erlander served under

Erlander served under King Gustaf for 4 years, and the two had a mutual respect. Gustaf, aged 88 upon Erlander's ascension to the premiership, was not very politically active. Gustaf is reported to have affectionately called Erlander "that Erlandsson" upon learning that Erlander would become Sweden's next prime minister.

In 1950, upon the death of his father Gustaf V, Crown Prince Gustaf VI Adolf became king. Erlander was also on good terms with Gustaf XI, but at times disapproved of the new king's more hands-on involvement in political matters than his father, and during Gustaf VI's time as Crown Prince, Erlander saw him as a "rather stiff individual who lacked perspective".

Throughout Gustaf VI Adolf's reign, reforms were undertaken, with Gustaf's approval, to limit the powers of the monarchy.

Economic policy

In 1947, a tax reform was carried out that reduced income taxes in low-income brackets, introduced an inheritance tax, and raised the marginal tax rate for higher tax brackets. Also in 1947, a special law was passed “setting up principles governing the construction and operation of homes for the aged.”

In 1959, Erlander's government proposed raising the previously lowed income taxes, partially to provide funding for recent welfare programs. Conservstive parties opposed the proposal, and the Communist Party abstained from voting in the Second Chamber, allowing the proposal to go into law.

In 1962, Sweden joined the G10, being one of ten countries that agreed to provide an additional $6 billion each in funding to the International Monetary Fund.

In 1964, Erlander's gorvernment proposed a new budget that would begin on July 1 of that year. The total budget would be $4.858 billion (in 1964), an increase from the previous budget by $475 million. The expected deficit was $180 million, and to prevent it from increasing, Erlander's government proposed ending deductions of old-age pension fees from taxable income. About half the budget was expected to be spent on welfare-related benefits and programs.

On average, during Erlander's premiership, Sweden's GNP increased roughly 2.5% a year. It rose 5% in 1963 and 6% in 1964.

Social policy

Further information: Nordic Model and welfare state

Erlander (center) in 1951 with Lt. Gen. Ernst Bredberg (left) and glazier Gerhard Nilsson (right)

Under Erlander, the central pillars of the Swedish welfare state were enacted between 1946 and 1947, a period known as the Social Democratic "Harvest Time." In 1946 and 1947, three major reforms were enacted that introduced a basic pension, general child allowances and sickness cash benefits. The National Housing Board was set up as the central authority providing subsidized loans and rent controls, while the National Labor Market Board was established to coordinate the nationalized local employment offices and supervise the union-controlled but state-subsidized unemployment insurance funds. From 1946 onwards, an extensive system of scholarships and fellowships was provided for higher education, along with free lunches, school books and writng materials for all primary and elementary school children.

In 1948, a general child allowance was made payable to all persons in Sweden with at least one child under the age of 16. In 1947, housing allowances for families with children were introduced. In 1954, housing allowances were introduced for pensioners. In 1960, the income-test for the children's pension was abolished. In 1950, a ten-year experimental period was established to build up a nine-year compulsory comprehensive school to replace the old parallel system. A law of 1955 provided state subsidies for municipally organized vocational schools, while a law of 1958 provided state subsidies for adult education centers. In 1962, a final decision was made on nine-year comprehensive school; implemented over a ten-year period. A law of 1964 revised upper secondary school; introduced special preparatory vocational school (fackskola) to complement the high school (gymnasium). A law of 1964 expanded higher education; new decentralized universities and colleges. A law of 1967 instituted municipal adult education (vuxenutbildning). In 1955, medical insurance that provided earnings-related benefits was introduced, and the following year the Social Democrats sponsored a law on "social help" which further extended social services. A maternity allowance was introduced in 1962 that provided a six-month period of paid leave to new mothers, and a reform of unemployment benefits in 1968 doubled the maximum duration of such benefits from 30 to 60 weeks. In addition, a number of laws concerning vacations, worker’s safety and working hours were introduced.

Erlander coined the phrase "the strong society", describing a society with a growing public sector taking care of the growing demand on many services that an affluent society creates. The public sector, particularly its welfare state institutions, grew considerably during his tenure as Prime Minister, while nationalizations were rare. In order to maintain employment for his vast electorate and Swedish sovereignty as a non-NATO member, the armed forces was greatly expanded, reaching an impressive level by the 1960s, while nuclear capability was ultimately dropped after outcries, not least from the Social Democratic Women's League.

Foreign Policy

Defense system and nuclear weapons

Further information: Cold War, Swedish neutrality, and Swedish nuclear weapons program

The question of nuclear weapons as a means to deter a possible attack remained a divisive factor in Swedish society and among Social Democrats and prompted diplomatic agreements with the United States, guaranteeing intervention in the case of an invasion. Erlander was initially in favor of acquiring nuclear weapons as a means of defense, but received criticism for this position. Sweden signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1968, dropping all pretenses of developing a nuclear weapon. However, some nuclear reactors were kept secret from IAEA until 1994, and small teams of theoretical physicists continued researching nuclear weapons after Erlander's premiership. Some international observers speculated that Erlander and future Swedish leaders maintained interest in a hypothetical nuclear system for defense, but did not take action to develop one. According to Erlander's memoirs, Swedish military chiefs believed in limited nuclear war, inspired by Henry Kissinger's advocation of the policy, as it was a "defense strategy that appeared to be made for a small state's defense".

Negotiations for a Scandinavian defense alliance began in 1948, but ended unsuccessfully in 1949, with each country, including Sweden, following separate security policies.

In 1961, Erlander and President John F. Kennedy advocated for the West to strengthen the United Nations and it's Secretary General, Swedish politician Dag Hammarskjöld.

United States

Further information: Sweden-United States relations and Vietnam War

Erlander (third from left) and his wife Aina (second from right) with Gunnar Jarring (left), Jarring's wife Agnes Charlier (second from left), and President John F. Kennedy (right) in 1961

In 1952, Erlander visited United States President Harry S. Truman, which was the first time a Swedish Prime Minister and a U.S. President met. Erlander would later meet Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

In the 1960s, more Swedish youth became interested in foreign policy and world affairs, including Olof Palme, particularly the Vietnam War. Erlander and the government maintained neutrality, but monitored outside affairs closely, and like Palme, he was critical of the United States's involvement in the Vietnam War. In February 1968, Palme participated in a torchlight parade through Stockholm with North Vietnam's ambassador to Moscow, Nguyễn Thọ Chân, to protest the Vietnam War, an event which soured Swedish relations with the United States, and led to America's ambassador to Sweden being recalled for "consultations", with no immediate successor appointed. By March 1968, Sweden had accepted 79 draft-dodgers from the Unoted States, and Erlander, soon followed by opposition party leaders, stated his opposition to the Vietnam War.

Soviet Union

Further information: Russia-Sweden relations and Raoul Wallenberg

Unlike many other left-leaning intellectuals, Erlander did not sympathize with the Soviet Union, and did not see it as a positive social experiment, although he did attempt to maintain a positive relationship with the Soviets.

In June 1952, during the Korean War, the Soviet Union shot down two Swedish military aircraft, an event known as the Catalina affair. Erlander and Gunnar Hedlund visited the Soviet Union in 1956 to ease tensions. In that visit, Erlander questioned Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev about the status of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish businessman and humanitarian who had served as Sweden's special envoy in Budapest. Wallenberg disappeared during the Siege of Budapest after he was arrested by Soviet forces in 1945. Since 1952, the Swedish government had demanded Wallenberg'a return, but the Soviet Union insisted it was unfamiliar with him. Erlander presented Khrushchev with a large file of evidence that showed the opposite. Khrushchev told Erlander that Wallenberg died in a cell in 1947 of a heart attack, but Erlander, the Swedish government, and international observers were skeptical. Wallenberg biographer Ingrid Carlberg noted that further Soviet documents were declassified after the fall of the Soviet Union about Wallenberg that Khrushchev denied existed, and that on his official Soviet prison card Wallenberg's fingerprints were not taken and the crime he was arrested for was not specified.

Erlander (center) in the Harpsundseka rowboat on the lake at Harpsund in 1964 with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev (right) and his interpreter (left)

In 1964, while receiving Khrushchev at Harpsund, Erlander took Khrushchev and his interpreter in an eka rowing boat called the Harpsundseka across the 300-yard lake nearby. It has since become tradition for Swedish prime ministers and foreign heads of state to row across the lake in the Harpsundseka when they visit Harpsund. In that same visit, Erlander was once again unable to get information out of Khrushchev relating to Raoul Wallenberg. Khrushchev continued denying that Wallenberg was in the Soviet Union, and Erlander and the government expressed "deep disappointment" over the lack of development in the case. There were anti-Khrushchev protests in Sweden from Soviet exiles upon his visit, and the Swedish press criticized him as a liar relating to his discussions over Wallenberg and the stringent security around him. Both Khrushchev and Erlander ultimately stated they were pleased with the visit, and Khrushchev left for Norway on June 27 as part of his Scandinavian goodwill tour. Khrushchev did not mention the Wallenberg controversy or the negative press he received in his farewell address. After visiting the Soviet Union in 1965, Erlander stated that the case had to be closed.

South Africa

Further information: South Africa-Sweden relations and Apartheid

In the 1960s, after Erlander finished giving a speech to students at Lund University, South African Lund student and anti-apartheid activist Billy Modise personally asked Erlander to impose sanctions on South Africa in response to apartheid. Erlander stated that he did not have the power to do so, but advised Modise to publicly lobby for the policy.

The Swedish South Africa Committee was created in 1961. In 1963, the National Council of Swedish Youth launched a boycott against South African goods. Swedish donations to the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (IDAF) increased around 140,000 SEK. The number continued to go up when, in 1964, Sweden became the first industrialized Western country to donate public funds to the IDAF, the equivalent of $100,000. In the end, Sweden was the largest donar by far.

Popularlity and public image

Erlander speaks to the Republic of Jamtland's free radio in 1967.

Erlander was initially somewhat controversial, paritially because he was not considered an obvious successor to Per Albin Hansson. He was initially both praised and criticized for having been a university graduate. Criticis believed he had not risen as far as Hansson, and he had not been a traditional worker. Liberal newspapers were optimistic, as Erlander had more education and administrative experience than Hansson, which was seen as beneficial to the party. His youth also won him both praise and concern. He was seen as a figure whose youth and stronger left-leaning ideals could bring new energy to the party. However, as he was younger than several members in his cabinet, it was feared that he would be unable to maintain party unity.

Erlander's debating style was controversial, and was criticized by many, including writer Stig Ahlgren. During debates, Erlander was often known to change between serious and comical tones, and those he debated were often frustrated as they could not keep pace with him.

Thoughout his premiership, Erlander became increasingly known as a unifying figure within his party, as he came to be viewed as a centrist who would sometimes utilized both left-leaning and right leaning policies, although overall the party moved more towards the left. Erlander's nationwide support during his premiership was at its strongest in the 1960s. While making radio broadcasts, he was criticized for his "unpleasant" voice. His popularity increased as television began to play an important role in Swedish politics, as Erlander's amiable and humorous personality was more apparent. Also attributed to his rise in popularity was an increased emphasis on his poverty-ridden childhood and less emphasis was placed on his time at university, improving his image as a "man of the people".

In 1967, standard public opinion polls began in Sweden. In February, 65 percent of Social Democrats approved of his party leadership, 25 percent were unsure, and 10 percent thought his leadership was poor. In November of that same year, his approval ratings had reached 77 percent, and reached 84 percent in May 1968. After the 1968 general election, his approval within the party was 95 percent. In 1969, 54% of the general population polled showed approval of him as prime minister, while 80% approved of his leadership of the Social Democratic Party. Within the Social Democratic Party, he had now become generally affectionately referred to as "Tage" (as opposed to Erlander, Mr. Erlander, Prime Minister Erlander, etc.), similar to how Per Albin Hansson had become known more as "Per Albin".

Resignation and succession

Resigning at 68 in 1969, with an absolute majority for the Social Democrats in the second chamber since 1968, Erlander was succeeded by 42-year-old Olof Palme, who, although more radical and more controversial, had in many ways been Erlander's student and protégé, and was endorsed by Erlander. Palme was later asked when Erlander first hinted to him that he wanted him as his successor. Palme stated, "It never happened."

Personal life

Aina and Tage Erlander in 1964

He met his future wife Aina Andersson while they were both students at Lund University. They married in 1930. Their marriage has been described as "deeply harmonious" and "full of mutual trust", and Erlander's family life as "remarkably happy". They had two sons, Bo and Sven Erlander. Sven was a mathematician who published much of the content of his father's diaries from 2001 on.

Carl August Wicander gave Harpsund to the Swedish government as a country retreat for prime ministers in 1953. Erlander starting using it on May 22nd, and all prime ministers since have continued this practice. Erlander and his wife often spent Christmases, Easters, weekends, and summers at vacationing at Harpsund.

Erlander was known as "Sweden's longest Prime Minister" referring to both his physical stature – 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) – and his record tenure of 23 years (the Swedish word lång meaning both 'long' and 'tall').

Erlander read the writings of Karl Marx in autumn of 1923 and identified as a socialist, but he did not subscribe to full Marxism and did not support nationalization, instead believing in a strong public sector under well-regulated capitalism with social welfare programs. Erlander admired the writings of Adlai Stevenson II, because Stevenson "expressed his views more deftly than he could himself".

Erlander was known to be a dedicated diarist, often writing daily entries, with his diaries serving as key sources for his memoirs.

Later life and death

The Erlander family graves in 2011, including Tage and Aina Erlander's headstone (right)

After his retirement, Erlander and his wife lived in a house constructed at Bommersvik by the Social Democrats to honor him, and was owned by the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League. From 1972 to 1982, Erlander published his memoirs in six volumes. In the 1980s, Erlander allowed writer Olof Ruin unlimited access to his diaries, which would serve as a source for Ruin's 1989 biography of Erlander.

Erlander died on 21 June 1985 in Stockholm at the age of 84 from pneumonia and heart failure. Erlander's coffin was covered with a socialist flag and blue and yellow flowers (the colors of the Swedish flag), and was carried through Stockholm. An estimated 45,000 Swedes lined the streets to pay respects to him. A large, secular ceremony was held in Stockholm, wherein Olof Palme delivered Erlander's eulogy. At the end of the service, the audience sang the socialist hymn "The Internationale". After the Stockholm ceremony, his funeral crossed the country and returned to his home town of Ransäter, Värmland, in a triumphant procession for the final rest.

Awards

Erlander was awarded the Illis quorum in 1984.

Gallery

• 
  Erlander (right) in 1947 with Minister of Supply Karin Kock (left)
• 
  Erlander in 1952
• 
  Erlander (left) in 1954 with People's Party leader Bertil Ohlin (right)
• 
  Erlander (left) in 1959 with two of "the boys", Olof Palme (center) and Ingvar Carlsson (right)
• 
  Erlander (right, standing) answering journalists' questions in 1964 with Olof Palme (left, seated)
• 
  Erlander (right) in 1966 with his wife Aina during a state visit to Cairo
• 
  Erlander during the 1966 municipal elections

References

Bibliography

• Åmak, Klas; Misgeld, Klaus; Molin, Karl (1992). Creating Social Democracy: A Century Of The Social Democratic Labor Party In Sweden. Pennsylvania State University Press. ISBN 9780271043449.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Bergelin, S.-E. S., ed. (1951). Nordisk familjebok: encyklopedi och konversationslexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 7 (4th ed.). Malmö: Förlagshuset Norden. SELIBR 539090.
• Caramani, Daniele (2017). Elections In Western Europe 1815-1996. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 9781349655083.
• Chand, S. N. (1 January 2006). Dictionary of Economics. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 9788126905355.
• Jonter, Thomas (2016). The Key To Nuclear Restraint: The Swedish Plans To Aquire Nuclear Weapons During The Cold War. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 9781137581136.
• Rosenthal, Albert Harold (1967). The Social Programs of Sweden A Search for Security in a Free Society. University Of Minnesota Press. ISBN 9780816604609.
• Ruin, Olof (1989). Tage Erlander: Serving The Welfare State, 1946-1969. University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN 9780822976677.
• Wilsford, David (1995). Political Leaders of Contemporary Western Europe: A Biographical Dictionary. Greenwood. ISBN 031328623X. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013.
• Vivekanandan, Bhagavathi (2016). Global Visions of Olof Palme, Bruno Kreisky and Willy Brandt: International Peace and Security, Co-operation, and Development. Springer International Publishing. ISBN 9783319337111.

Further reading

• Harrison, Dick (2017). Jag har ingen vilja till makt : biografi över Tage Erlander (in Swedish). Stockholm: Ordfront. ISBN 9789174416466. SELIBR 21711885.
• Ruin, Olof. "Three Swedish Prime Ministers: Tage Erlander, Olof Palme and Ingvar Carlsson." West European Politics 14.3 (1991): 58–82.

External links

Media related to Tage Erlander at Wikimedia Commons