Industrialization of Sweden
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During and after World War I, in which Sweden remained neutral, the country benefitted from the world-wide demand for Swedish steel, ball-bearings, wood pulp, and matches.
 History of Sweden series |
| Pre-history |
| Viking Age |
| Early History |
| Kalmar Union |
| Modern Sweden |
| A New Great Power |
| The Swedish Empire |
| The Great War |
| Absolute Monarchy |
| Union with Norway |
| Modernization |
| Industrialization |
| World War II |
| Realm of Sweden |
| List of monarchs |
| List of wars |
Post-war prosperity provided the foundations for the social welfare policies characteristic of modern Sweden. Foreign policy concerns in the 1930s centered on Soviet and German expansionism, which stimulated abortive efforts at Nordic defence co-operation. Sweden followed a policy of armed neutrality during World War II and currently remains non-aligned. Sweden became a member of the European Union in 1995.
Connections
The main line railways were of importance for the development of the industry. The two first main line railways were the Southern, stretching from Malmö in south, and the Western, to Gothenburg in the west. The were finished between 1860-1864.
The Northern railway goes alongside the coast up to Boden in northern Sweden, and was finished 1894. The Inlandsrailway goes through the midth of Sweden, and was built between 1908-1937.
Other railways have been built later. However, the importance of the earlier railways were of chief importance for the development of the industry in Sweden. The mines in the north now had a fast and safe connection to the rest of Sweden, and travelling for businessmen (aswell as private travels) was now no longer a difficult process requiring carriages and a lot of time.
Sweden_Main_Line_Railways.png