Who is dag hammarskjold biography

UN Secretary-General from 1953 be acquainted with 1961

Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld (English: HAM-ər-shuuld,^[1]Swedish:[ˈdɑːɡˈhâmːarˌɧœld]^ⓘ; 29 July 1905 – 18 September 1961) was a Swedish economist and intermediary who served as the above Secretary-General of the United Generosity from April 1953 until queen death in a plane watertight in September 1961.

As make a rough draft 2025, he remains the youngest person to have held justness post, having been only 47 years old when he was appointed. He was a play a part of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, who served as Prime Minister of Sverige from 1914 to 1917.

Hammarskjöld's tenure was characterized by efforts to strengthen the newly consider UN both internally and ostensibly.

He led initiatives to consolidate morale and organisational efficiency make your mind up seeking to make the Breed more responsive to global issues. He presided over the whim of the first UN international relations forces in Egypt (the UNEF) and the Congo (the ONUC) and personally intervened to non-radical or resolve diplomatic crises.

Hammarskjöld's second term was cut concise when he died in neat as a pin plane crash while en company to cease-fire negotiations during integrity Congo Crisis.

Hammarskjöld was move remains well regarded internationally in the same way a capable diplomat and executive, and his efforts to attain various global crises led commemorative inscription him being the only posthumous recipient of the Nobel Imperturbability Prize.^[2] In the Western earth, his appointment and tenure were hailed as one of greatness most notable and successful encroach UN leadership.^[3]U.S.

PresidentJohn F. Jfk called Hammarskjöld "the greatest legislator of our century".^[4] In authority third world, however, his heritage is extremely controversial, given king erratic performance in the River crisis, with consequences to that day.^[5][6][7]

Early life and education

Dag Hammarskjöld was born in Jönköping stop the noble family Hammarskjöld (also spelled Hammarskiöld or Hammarsköld).

Illegal spent most of his immaturity in Uppsala. His home alongside, which he considered his girlhood home, was Uppsala Castle. Explicit was the fourth and youngest son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, Top Minister of Sweden from 1914 to 1917.^[8]

Hammarskjöld studied first dislike Katedralskolan and then at Upsala University.

By 1930, he difficult obtained Licentiate of Philosophy dowel Master of Laws degrees. Earlier he finished his law quotient he had already obtained marvellous job as Assistant Secretary carefulness the Unemployment Committee.^[9]

Career

From 1930 withstand 1934, Hammarskjöld was Secretary advice a governmental committee on lay-off.

During this time he wrote his economics thesis, "Konjunkturspridningen" ("The Spread of the Business Cycle"), and received a doctorate running away Stockholm University. In 1936, powder became a secretary in Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank. Circumvent 1941 to 1948, he served as chairman of the Riksbank's General Council.^[10]

Hammarskjöld quickly developed smashing successful career as a Norse public servant.

He was flow secretary in the Ministry firm footing Finance 1936–1945, Swedish delegate jump in before the Organization for European Financial Cooperation 1947–1953, cabinet secretary sect the Ministry of Foreign State 1949–1951 and minister without binder in Tage Erlander's government 1951–1953.^[10]

He helped coordinate government plans drawback alleviate the economic problems manager the post-World War II time and was a delegate closely the Paris conference that ancestral the Marshall Plan.

In 1950, he became head of grandeur Swedish delegation to UNISCAN, fine forum to promote economic collaboration between the United Kingdom swallow the Scandinavian countries.^[11] Although Hammarskjöld served in a cabinet hag-ridden by the Social Democrats, type never officially joined any partisan party.^[10]

In 1951, Hammarskjöld was degradation chairman of the Swedish empowerment to the United Nations Public Assembly in Paris.

He became the chairman of the Norse delegation to the General Company in New York in 1952. On 20 December 1954, agreed was elected to take authority father's vacated seat in high-mindedness Swedish Academy.^[12]

United Nations Secretary-General

Nomination with the addition of election

See also: United Nations Secretary-General selection, 1953

On 10 November 1952, Trygve Lie announced his abandonment as Secretary-General of the Pooled Nations.

Several months of relationships ensued between the Western capabilities and the Soviet Union keep away from reaching an agreement on circlet successor. On 13 and 19 March 1953, the Security Legislature voted on four candidates. Lester B. Pearson of Canada was the only candidate to accept the required majority, but sharp-tasting was vetoed by the Land Union.^[13][14] At a consultation hold the permanent members on 30 March 1953,^[15]French permanent representativeHenri Hoppenot suggested four candidates, including Hammarskjöld, whom he had met extra the Organisation for European Worthless Cooperation.^[16]

The superpowers hoped to chair a Secretary-General who would issue on administrative issues and eschew from participating in political reason.

Hammarskjöld's reputation at the offend was, in the words conduct operations biographer Emery Kelèn, "that warrant a brilliant economist, an reserved technician, and an aristo-bureaucrat". Translation a result, there was diminutive to no controversy in coronet selection; the Soviet permanent purveyor, Valerian Zorin, found Hammarskjöld "harmless".

Zorin declared that he would be voting for Hammarskjöld, unexpected the Western powers.^[19] The proclamation set off a flurry produce diplomatic activity. British Foreign SecretaryAnthony Eden was strongly in aid of Hammarskjöld and asked ethics United States to "take man appropriate action to induce illustriousness [Nationalist] Chinese to abstain".^[20] (Sweden recognized the People's Republic look up to China and faced a likely veto from the Republic simulated China.) At the U.S.

Disclose Department, the nomination "came chimp a complete surprise to world here and we started scrambling around to find out who Mr. Hammarskjold was and what his qualifications were".^[21] The Asseverate Department authorized Henry Cabot Tarry Jr., the US Ambassador, be bounded by vote in favor after do something told them that Hammarskjöld "may be as good as amazement can get".^[22][23]

On 31 March 1953, the Security Conference voted 10–0–1 to recommend Hammarskjöld to the General Assembly, challenge an abstention from Nationalist Prc.

The vote was conducted of great consequence secret, and Hammarskjöld was chance his name had been position forward for the position.^[25] Erelong after midnight on 1 Apr 1953, Hammarskjöld was awakened unreceptive a telephone call from shipshape and bristol fashion journalist with the news, which he dismissed as an Apr Fool's Day joke.^[a] He in the end believed the news after high-mindedness third phone call.^[16] The Scandinavian mission in New York habitual the nomination at 03:00 build up a communique from the Succour Council was soon thereafter at large to him.

After consulting process the Swedish cabinet and emperor father, Hammarskjöld decided to devastate the nomination. He sent dialect trig wire to the Security Council:

With strong feeling personal insufficiency Funny hesitate to accept candidature however I do not feel Side-splitting could refuse to assume nobleness task imposed on me obligated to the [UN General] Assembly be given the recommendation of the Relaxation Council by which I tell somebody to deeply honoured.

Later in rank day, Hammarskjöld held a control conference at the Swedish Transalpine Ministry. According to diplomat Sverker Åström, he displayed an upsurge interest and knowledge in dignity affairs of the UN, which he had never shown lowbrow indication of before.

The UN Common Assembly voted 57–1–1 on 7 April 1953 to appoint Flap Hammarskjöld as Secretary-General of interpretation United Nations.

Hammarskjöld was creature in as Secretary-General on 10 April 1953. He was unopposed reelected on 26 September 1957 for another term, taking conclusion on 10 April 1958.

Tenure

Immediately followers the assumption of the Thoroughbred, Hammarskjöld attempted to establish uncluttered good rapport with his standard.

He made a point admire visiting every UN department suggest shake hands with as diverse workers as possible, eating bed the cafeteria as often monkey possible, and relinquishing the Secretary-General's private elevator for general be inspired by. He began his term rough establishing his own secretariat living example 4,000 administrators and setting compute regulations that defined their responsibilities.

He was also actively betrothed in smaller projects relating be selected for the UN working environment; execute example, he spearheaded the house of a meditation room clichйd the UN headquarters, where mankind can withdraw into themselves involve silence, regardless of their confidence, creed, or religion.^[30]

During his designation, Hammarskjöld tried to improve kindred between Israel and the Semite states, frequently playing the position of a mediator between Painter Ben-Gurion and Gamal Abdel Nasser.^[31] Other highlights include a 1955 visit to China to acquire the release of 11 captured US pilots who had served in the Korean War,^[8] goodness 1956 establishment of the Combined Nations Emergency Force, and tiara intervention in the 1956 Metropolis Crisis.

He is given bring into disrepute by some historians for granted participation of the Holy Give onto within the UN that year.^[32]

In 1960, the newly independent Congou asked for UN aid lecture in defusing the Congo Crisis. Hammarskjöld made four trips to River, but his efforts toward illustriousness decolonisation of Africa were ostensible insufficient by the Soviet Union; in September 1960, the Country government denounced his decision show consideration for send a UN emergency power to keep the peace.

They demanded his resignation and primacy replacement of the office finance Secretary-General by a three-man administration with a built-in veto, interpretation "troika". The objective was, sensationalist the memoirs of Soviet head Nikita Khrushchev, to "equally advocate interests of three groups be fond of countries: capitalist, socialist and new independent".^[33][9]

The UN sent a virtually 20,000-strong peacekeeping force to heal order in Congo-Kinshasa.

Hammarskjöld's choice to place peacekeepers in righteousness service of Lumumba's constitutionally choose government provoked a strong focal point of disapproval from the State. The situation would become addition scandalous with the assassination faultless Lumumba by Tshombe's troops. Play a role February 1961, the UN sanctioned the Peacekeeping Forces to conduct military force to prevent civilized war.

The Blue Helmets' rush on Katanga caused Tshombe longing flee to Zambia. Hammarskjöld's disobedient attitude in not providing aid to Lumumba's government, which challenging been elected by popular poll, drew severe criticism among railings countries and communist and collectivist countries.^[5] Hammarskjöld knew that honourableness Belgian Government, allegedly supported contempt the United States, arranged provision the assassination of Patrice Lumumba.

In the end, his deeds were supported only by decency United States and Belgium.^[6][7]

His in reply report to the United Handouts was some 6,000 words take is considered to be freshen of his most important. Goodness report was dictated in top-hole single afternoon to his aide, Hannah Platz.^[34]

Death

Main article: 1961 Ndola Transair Sweden DC-6 crash

On 18 September 1961, Hammarskjöld was crash route to negotiate a amity between United Nations Operation take away the Congo forces and Katangese troops under Moise Tshombe.

Crown Douglas DC-6 airliner SE-BDY crashed near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). Hammarskjöld perished as splendid result of the crash, likewise did all of the 15 other passengers.^[35] Hammarskjöld's death rot off a succession crisis uncertain the United Nations, because in attendance was no line of circuit and as a result, say publicly Security Council had to plebiscite on a successor.^[36][37]

The circumstances introduce the crash are still all fingers and thumbs.

A 1962 Rhodesian inquiry finished that pilot error was interrupt blame, while a later Try-out investigation could not determine interpretation cause of the crash.^[38] Nearly is evidence suggesting the echelon was shot down.^[39][40][41] A CIA report claimed the KGB was responsible.^[42]

The day after the clatter, former U.S.

President Harry President commented that Hammarskjöld "was gen up on the point of getting inconsequential in reference to done when they killed him. Notice that I said 'when they killed him'."^[42]

In 1998, diaries were discovered which detailed rule out alleged plot, named Operation Celeste, to assassinate Hammarskjöld.

The accepted plot was backed by leadership CIA, MI6 and a European mining interest and the murder was to be carried allot by the South African for Maritime Research, a Southmost African paramilitary organisation. One pills the documents stated that CIA director Allen Dulles agreed drift "Dag is becoming troublesome ...

and should be removed" weather pledged local CIA support en route for the alleged plot. The ideas was contained in a tilt which the South African Strong Intelligence Agency turned over sharp the South African Truth remarkable Reconciliation Commission in relation show accidentally the 1993 assassination of Chris Hani, leader of the Southern African Communist Party.

The faithfulness of the documents could categorize be substantiated because they were copies instead of originals. Additional documents related to the claimed plot were discovered by picture South African government in 2016.^[38]

In 2011, Göran Björkdahl, a Norse aid worker whose father troubled for the UN in Zambia, wrote that in part, smartness believed that Hammarskjöld's death was a murder which was emphatic to benefit mining companies intend Union Minière, after Hammarskjöld locked away made the UN intervene get in touch with the Katanga crisis.

Björkdahl supported his assertion on interviews convene witnesses of the plane sensible near the border of representation DRC with Zambia and sequence archival documents.^[43][44]

In 2013, accident scientist Sven Hammarberg was asked unused the International Commission of Jurists to investigate Hammarskjöld's death.^[45]

In 2014, newly declassified documents revealed zigzag the American ambassador to honesty Congo sent a cable acquiescence Washington D.C.

and in hose down, he wrote his suspicion prowl the plane could have back number shot down by Belgian predator pilot Jan Van Risseghem, ruler of the small Katanga Acceptable Force. Van Risseghem died acquire 2007.^[40]

On 16 March 2015, Collective Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon determined members to an Independent Screen barricade of Experts which was personal for the purpose of examining new information which was agnate to Hammarskjöld's death.

The three-member panel was led by Mohamed Chande Othman, the Chief Fair-mindedness of Tanzania, and it focus Kerryn Macaulay (Australia's representative simulation the International Civil Aviation Organization) and Henrik Larsen (a trajectory expert from the Danish Governmental Police).^[46] The panel's 99-page slay, released 6 July 2015, chosen moderate value to nine additional eyewitness accounts and transcripts fend for radio transmissions.

Those accounts advisable that Hammarskjöld's plane was by that time on fire as it was landing and they also implied that other jet aircraft turf other intelligence agents were nearby.^[47]

In 2016, the original documents stick up the 1998 South African interrogation surfaced. Those who were seal off with the investigation cautioned go even if they were real, the documents could have primarily been authored as part accuse a disinformation campaign.^[38]

In 2019, depiction documentary film Cold Case Hammarskjöld by Danish filmmaker Mads Brügger claimed that Jan van Risseghem had told a friend renounce he shot down Hammarskjöld's degree.

This went against the endorsed stance maintained by van Risseghem's family that he was remote involved in the death prime Hammarskjöld. According to an interrogate with van Risseghem's wife, settle down was in Rhodesia negotiating illustriousness purchase of a plane purport the Katanga Air Force, understand the logbooks proving that put your feet up was not flying for Katanga at the time.

The infotainment crew interviewed colleagues of forefront Risseghem's for the film, disturbance of whom supported their theory.^[48][49][50] In an interview with Norse historian Leif Hellström, van Risseghem claimed that he was troupe in southern Africa at glory time the crash happened, jaunt dismissed the idea of cap involvement.^[50]

A document which was support in France amidst the Fonds Foccart (National Archives in Pierrefitte) in November 2021 is shipshape and bristol fashion death warrant for Hammarskjöld give it some thought contained the acronym OAS, rendering secret organization which was cuddle up in the French army outburst the time of Algeria's clash for independence.

The document reads: "It is high time carry out put an end to her highness harmful intrusion ... this verdict common to justice and moderation to be carried out, in that soon as possible". The honest document is a facsimile prowl appeared to be a translation of an original letter.^[51]

Hammarskjöld's 1959 will left his personal annals to the National Library be keen on Sweden.^[52]

Personal life

In 1953, soon sustenance his appointment as United Humanity Secretary-General, Hammarskjöld was interviewed law radio by Edward R.

Murrow. In the talk, Hammarskjöld declared:

But the explanation of increase a man should live calligraphic life of active social arbitrate in full harmony with yourselves as a member of representation community of spirit, I perform in the writings of those great medieval mystics [Meister Theologian and Jan van Ruysbroek] take to mean whom 'self-surrender' had been picture way to self-realization, and who in 'singleness of mind' splendid 'inwardness' had found the extra to say yes to from time to time demand which the needs ensnare their neighbours made them features, and to say yes as well to every fate life difficult in store for them while in the manner tha they followed the call put a stop to duty as they understood it.^[53]

Hammarskjöld's only book, Vägmärken (Markings, alternatively more literally Waymarks), was accessible in 1963.

A collection clever his diary reflections, the softcover starts in 1925, when put your feet up was 20 years old, careful ends the month before ruler death in 1961.^[54] This journal was found in his Another York house, after his fatality, along with an undated note addressed to then Swedish Inevitable Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Leif Belfrage [sv].

In this letter, Hammarskjöld wrote:

These entries provide character only true 'profile' that crapper be drawn ... If paying attention find them worth publishing, prickly have my permission to hullabaloo so.

The foreword is written inured to the English poet W. Pirouette. Auden, a friend of Hammarskjöld.^[55]

Markings was described by the socialize theologian Henry P.

Van Dusen as "the noblest self-disclosure pay the bill spiritual struggle and triumph, the greatest testament of outoftheway faith written ... in honourableness heat of professional life post amidst the most exacting responsibilities for world peace and order".^[56] Hammarskjöld wrote, for example:

We are not permitted to select the frame of our providence.

But what we put assay it is ours. He who wills adventure will experience invalid – according to the practice of his courage. He who wills sacrifice will be conciliatory – according to the authority of his purity of heart.^[57]

Markings is characterised by Hammarskjöld's unite of prose and haiku verse in a manner exemplified give up the 17th-century Japanese poet Basho in his Narrow Roads outlook the Deep North.^[58] In government foreword to Markings, W.

Spin. Auden quotes Hammarskjöld as stating:

In our age, the side street to holiness necessarily passes subjugation the world of action.^[59]

Hammarskjöld's afraid in philosophical and spiritual space launch is also proven by prestige finding of Martin Buber's be work I and Thou, which he was translating into Nordic, in the wreckage after distinction plane crash.^[60]

The Evangelical Lutheran Religion in America commemorates the assured of Hammarskjöld as a renewer of society on the outing of his death, 18 September.^[61]

Brian Urquhart's biography of Hammarskjöld addressed what Israel Shenker described invoice his The New York Times review as "the oft-discussed problem of Hammaskjöld's sexuality".^[62] Urquhart feat that Trygve Lie spread puff of Hammarskjöld's homosexuality but, acquiring interviewed Hammarskjöld's close friends, Urquhart concludes that "no one who knew him well or hollow closely with him thought agreed was a homosexual".^[62] Shenker infers from Urquhart's work "that Hammarskjöld was an example, not sui generis in contemporary politics, of rest asexual, somewhat narcissistic individual" captain quoted private papers where Hammarskjöld had written that "the Lady of the press General of the UN be required to have an iron constitution suffer should not be married".^[62] Insult Urquhart concluding the rumours were inaccurate, Larry Kramer included Hammarskjöld in the "I belong rescind a culture" speech in queen 1985 play The Normal Heart.^[63][64]

Legacy

Honors

• Honorary degrees: Carleton University in Algonquin (then called Carleton College)^[65] awarded its first-ever honorary degree completed Hammarskjöld in 1954, when creativity presented him with a Legum Doctor, honoris causa.

  The formation has continued this tradition by means of conferring an honorary doctorate raise every subsequent Secretary-General of justness United Nations. He also set aside honorary degrees from Oxford Routine, United Kingdom; in the Combined States from Harvard, Yale, University, Columbia, the University of University, Amherst, Johns Hopkins, the Sanatorium of California, and Ohio University; in Sweden, Uppsala University; keep from in Canada from McGill Founding as well as Carleton School, in Ottawa.^[66]

People's views

• John F.

  Kennedy: After Hammarskjöld's death, U.S. mr big John F. Kennedy regretted avoid he had opposed the Evoke policy in the Congo duct said: "I realise now renounce in comparison to him, Irrational am a small man. Appease was the greatest statesman hold our century."^[4]

• In 2011, The Cash Times wrote that Hammarskjöld has remained the benchmark against which later UN Secretaries-General have archaic judged.^[67]
• His legacy in the bag world is extremely controversial, addition due to his statements stick at the British representative at honesty UN, Patrick Dean, that Lumumba was "a communist puppet".^[5][6] Oblige the Democratic Republic of Congou, its erratic performance in magnanimity crisis of the 1960s has had disastrous consequences for justness country to this day.^[7]

Structures denominated in honor of Dag Hammarskjöld

• Buildings and rooms:
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Library: On 16 November 1961, in a short while after his death, the recently completed Library building at Pooled Nations Headquarters in New Royalty was named the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.^[68]
  • Stanford University: Dag Hammarskjöld Studio, on the Stanford University erudite, is a residence cooperative divulge undergraduate and graduate students walk off with international backgrounds and interests finish Stanford.^[69]
  • Hammarskjold High School: Public giant school located in the vicinity of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
  • Hammarskjold Middle School: Public middle institute located in the town faultless East Brunswick, New Jersey.
  • Dag Diplomatist Middle School: Public middle nursery school located in the town slate Wallingford, Connecticut.^[70]
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Elementary School: Public elementary school located welcome Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York.
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Primary School: Pronounce School located in Ndola, Zambia (adjacent to the Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Crash Site).

    This Grammar contains the Karl Eriksson Machine Lab (Hammarskjöld and Eriksson knew each other).

  • Dag Hammarskjöld "Hammar" Residence: Waterloo Co-operative Residence (WCRI) edifice located in the town discovery Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.^[71]
• Streets:
  • de:Hammarskjöldplatz remains the wide square to distinction north entrance of the Messe Berlin fairgrounds in Berlin, Germany.^[72]
  • Hammarskjöldring is a street in Frankfort, Germany, connecting the boroughs Mertonviertel and Niederursel.^[73]
  • Dag Hammarskjölds Alle commission a street in Copenhagen, Danmark that connects the inner authorization with the affluent suburb accuse Østerbro.
  • Dag Hammarskjølds Gade is span street in Aalborg, Denmark.

    Situation appointment for the regional police, Nordjyllands Politi, are located here.

  • Dag Hammarskjöldsleden [sv] is a traffic route effort Gothenburg, Sweden between Linnéplatsen gleam Västerleden/Söderleden (E6.20). With a reach of 5 km, it also connects to Högsboleden .
  • Hammarskjöldsingel is clean up street in Amstelveen, Netherlands.^[74]
• Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza is a public glimmering near the headquarters of probity United Nations in New Royalty City.^[75]

Other commemorations

Depictions in music sit popular culture

In 1974, the Australian-British composer Malcolm Williamson, Master inducing the Queen's Music, wrote sovereign Hammarskjöld Portrait for soprano countryside string orchestra.

The text was taken from Vägmärken, and position work's first performance took dislodge on 30 July 1974, disdain a Royal Albert HallProms Go to the trouble of, with the soprano Elisabeth Söderström, and the BBC Symphony Merge conducted by John Pritchard.

In 1985, Hammerskjöld was one do paperwork the names mentioned in righteousness "I Belong to a Culture" speech in Larry Kramer's arena The Normal Heart, where prestige protagonist includes him in simple list of 24 historical brilliant figures.^[63][64]

In the 2016 film The Siege of Jadotville, depicting distinction events of the Congo Crisis,^[83] Hammarskjöld's plane (incorrectly a DC-4) is purposely shot down descendant a fighter jet only ragged by American forces at interpretation time (it's likely this was for production reasons, just though a DC-4 stood in perform the DC-6).

Hammarskjöld is pretended by fellow Swede, Mikael Persbrandt.

Also in 2016, the 1961 Ndola Transair Sweden DC-6 thunder was featured in Canadian Video receiver series Mayday(S15, E5), "Deadly Mission" and Air Crash Investigation Vain Report(S3, E3), "VIP on Board". Peter James Howarth portrayed Hammarskjöld.^[84]

In 2023, Persbrandt again played prestige eponymous politician, in the single Hammarskjöld, directed by Solid Fly.^[5] The film received disputing reviews for glossing over academic Congo Crisis controversies.^[5]

See also

Notes

References