Bo Gunnar Rickardsson Hägglöf (12 December 1904 – 12 January 1994) was one Sweden's most influential diplomats of the twentieth century, whose career spanned over forty years and several of the century's most turbulent decades.
He joined the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1926 and quickly rose through the ranks, serving in Paris, Madrid, London, Moscow, and Tehran. By the late 1930s, he was head of the Trade Department and director-general for trade policy. During World War II, Hägglöf was central to Sweden's complex wartime diplomacy, managing trade relations with both Nazi Germany and the Western Allies. His ability to maintain Sweden's neutrality and secure essential supplies while resisting German political and financial pressure was widely admired. He was known for his firmness and skill as a negotiator, often balancing great-power interests to preserve Sweden's independence.
After the war, Hägglöf represented Sweden in a number of key international forums. He served as envoy to The Hague and Moscow, as Sweden's first Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and took part in founding the Council of Europe in 1949. From 1948 to 1967, Hägglöf served as Sweden's Ambassador to the United Kingdom — a post that defined his legacy. During this long tenure, he became a highly respected figure in London diplomatic circles, ultimately becoming Doyen of the diplomatic corps and a trusted advisor to successive British Prime Ministers. His tenure greatly strengthened Anglo-Swedish relations and brought Sweden unusual diplomatic visibility for a neutral nation.
In 1967, he was appointed Ambassador to France, where he developed a close working relationship with President Charles de Gaulle and reinforced Franco-Swedish ties. He was also considered a candidate for Secretary-General of the OECD, with French support, though the position never materialised. After retiring in 1971, Hägglöf became a prolific author, publishing memoirs and essays that offered insight into international politics and Swedish diplomacy. His works — including Meeting with Europe, Contemporary Witness, and English Years — were well received for their historical depth and clarity.
Throughout his career, Hägglöf was recognised for his intelligence, composure, and integrity. He combined historical understanding with diplomatic pragmatism, guiding Sweden through the challenges of war and peace with a steady hand. His motto, "Duty above all," reflected the principled professionalism that made him one of Sweden's foremost and most respected diplomats.
Early life Hägglöf was born on 12 December 1904 in in Helsingborg, Sweden, the son of the industrialist, municipal politician, and deputy district judge (1865–1933) and his wife Sigrid Ryding (1873–1932). At the time of his birth, his father was the managing director of 's office in Helsingborg.
Hägglöf belonged to a family known since the 16th century in Grundsunda in Örnsköldsvik Municipality. He had many siblings, including six brothers, among them the ambassador Ingemar Hägglöf (1912–1995) and Colonel (1897–1954). He was the cousin of ambassador Göran Ryding (1916–2007). His nephew, Kjell Hägglöf, was also a diplomat, but was murdered at the age of 29 in 1972 while serving as embassy secretary in Bogotá, Colombia.
Hägglöf completed his student examination on 12 May 1922 at in Stockholm, his reserve officer's examination in 1924, and earned a Candidate of Law degree from Uppsala University in 1926. He then pursued studies in religious studies at the University of Berlin.
Career
Early Career (1926–1938) Gunnar Hägglöf entered the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1926, when he was appointed attaché. During the following years, he served in several European capitals: Paris and Madrid in 1927, London in 1928, and later in Moscow and Tehran in 1930. In 1931 he returned to the Ministry in Stockholm. That same year he was appointed acting second secretary, and in 1933 promoted to second secretary.
In 1934 Hägglöf was made first secretary in the Ministry's Trade Department, and in 1936 he became acting director, a position confirmed in 1938 when he was officially appointed Director of the Trade Department.
Throughout the early 1930s, Hägglöf participated in several important commissions and negotiations. He served on the 1930 Defence Commission (1931), acted as secretary to the Swedish delegation at the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments between 1932 and 1934, and took part in negotiations on credit agreements with the Soviet Union in 1934.
Between 1934 and 1936, he served on the delegation for Nordic Economic Cooperation, and from 1934 to 1938, he was both secretary and expert in the negotiations with Nazi Germany on the exchange of goods and payments.
World War II Years (1939–1945) In 1939, Gunnar Hägglöf was appointed director-general for trade policy (utrikesråd) and head of the Trade Department at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. On 14 October 1939, he was temporarily appointed minister without portfolio in Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson's second cabinet, with responsibility for trade policy during the early months of the war. He held this position until 13 December 1939, after which he resumed his post as head of the Trade Department.
For the following five years, until the spring of 1944, Hägglöf bore the heavy responsibility of formulating and implementing Sweden's wartime trade policy. His management of Sweden's trade relations with Nazi Germany, at a time when the country was under severe political, military, and economic pressure, earned him recognition as a highly skilled and farsighted negotiator.
Trade Negotiations and Diplomatic Roles In 1940, Hägglöf led Swedish delegations for trade negotiations with Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He undertook special assignments in Berlin and Washington in 1940 and later in London from 1944 to 1945. During the same period, he served as the Swedish chairman of the permanent Anglo-Swedish Commission for trade negotiations.
Hägglöf also participated in political talks with Germany from 15 to 17 April 1940 and again on 11 May 1940, shortly after the German invasion of Denmark and Norway.
In recognition of his service, Hägglöf was given the title of Envoy in 1943 and later accredited to the Belgian and Dutch governments-in-exile in London in 1944.
Swedish Trade Policy and Relations with Germany Between 1939 and 1944, Hägglöf carried the main responsibility for Sweden's foreign trade policy. His decisive and often bold handling of complex wartime negotiations helped maintain Sweden's independence and essential supply lines. One of his notable achievements was maintaining a favourable price parity between Swedish iron ore and German coal — the two key commodities in Swedish-German trade — while firmly resisting German demands for Swedish state loans. Sweden thus became the only European country that did not extend government credit to Nazi Germany.
Some members of the Swedish government regarded Hägglöf's policies as daring, even risky. The German leadership was at times angered by his firm stance. During one negotiation, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring reportedly lost his temper and declared: "Mr Hägglöf, you are an incorrigible lawyer and diplomat. You understand nothing of the great destinies of nations!"
Shift Toward the West As the war progressed, Hägglöf advocated a shift in Swedish trade policy towards the Western Allies. He conducted negotiations in London on a new trade agreement with the British government, which at first was considered too pro-Western by the Swedish cabinet. Six months later, however, the government realised he had been correct, and the agreement was concluded.
By that time, Hägglöf had been reassigned to the comparatively less influential post of envoy to the Belgian and Dutch governments-in-exile in London. Despite this, his reports from London attracted attention in Stockholm, and his abilities were soon recognised once again.
The Turning Point of the War In early 1941, Sweden obtained permission from both belligerent sides to continue trade routes essential to its economy. Sweden exported pulp, steel, paper, and ball bearings, while depending on oil imports for shipping. Hägglöf travelled frequently between Stockholm, Berlin, and London to secure these arrangements. Public criticism, notably from editor-in-chief Torgny Segerstedt in Gothenburg, was directed at Sweden's concessions to Germany. The full scale of Nazi atrocities against Europe's Jewish population only became known when Allied forces liberated the concentration camps in 1945.
Following the German defeats at El Alamein in November 1942 and Stalingrad in January 1943, Swedish policy shifted further towards the Western Allies. They demanded that Sweden end German military transit through its territory by 1 October 1943 and substantially reduce its iron ore exports to Germany. In exchange, Sweden would receive significant fuel supplies.
Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson expressed gratitude for Hägglöf's role in achieving agreements with the Western powers in September 1943 and subsequently with Germany in January 1944. Germany was forced to accept the reduction of imports. Alongside Erik Boheman and the Wallenberg brothers, Marcus and Jacob, Hägglöf played a central role in safeguarding Sweden's interests amid the conflicting demands of the warring powers.
Postwar Diplomacy (1946–1967) After the end of the Second World War, Gunnar Hägglöf's diplomatic career continued with new and significant assignments. In 1946, he was appointed Swedish envoy to The Hague and, later the same year, to Moscow, where he served until 1947. In 1947, Hägglöf became Sweden's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and was a delegate to the Interim Committee of the General Assembly that same year.
European Cooperation and International Missions Hägglöf represented Sweden in negotiations leading to the establishment of the Council of Europe in 1949, demonstrating his continuing engagement in European integration efforts. He also took part in the Suez Conference of 1956, which addressed the international crisis following Egypt's nationalisation of the Suez Canal.
Within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, he later became chairman of the Ministry's Recruitment Commission in 1957 and, from 1967, chairman of the Ministry's Admissions and Training Board.
Ambassador in London (1948–1967)
In 1948, Hägglöf was appointed Ambassador to the United Kingdom, a position he would hold for almost two decades. His tenure in London became one of the most remarkable periods in modern Swedish diplomatic history.
The Swedish Embassy at 27 Portland Place was the centre of his activities. Hägglöf's diplomatic skill and his extensive contacts with British government circles soon earned him an exceptional reputation. In 1958, he became Doyen of the diplomatic corps in London — its senior member — and was said to have a "direct line to 10 Downing Street." Swedish journalist later described him as "an institution, an oracle, almost a legend in London's political and diplomatic circles." Hägglöf maintained close relations with successive British Prime Ministers and Foreign Office officials, a rare achievement for the representative of a small neutral state.
The ambassador's wife, Anna Hägglöf, also played a prominent role in London's social and cultural life. She was known for her charm, wit, and talent for creating a warm and distinguished atmosphere at the Swedish Embassy. According to journalist Barbro Alving, Anna Hägglöf combined "beauty with a mischievous humour" that made her one of "the wittiest and most captivating women in London's grand circles." Under the couple's leadership, the Swedish Embassy became regarded as one of the most sought-after and elegant venues in the city's diplomatic scene.