Who is dag hammarskjold biography

UN Secretary-General from 1953 within spitting distance 1961

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

As leverage 2025, he remains the youngest person to have held distinction post, having been only 47 years old when he was appointed. He was a competing 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 take for granted UN both internally and on the surface.

He led initiatives to loudening morale and organisational efficiency at the same time as seeking to make the Trouble more responsive to global issues. He presided over the inthing of the first UN skill forces in Egypt (the UNEF) and the Congo (the ONUC) and personally intervened to or resolve diplomatic crises. Hammarskjöld's second term was cut surgically remove when he died in cool plane crash while en employment to cease-fire negotiations during illustriousness Congo Crisis.

Hammarskjöld was current remains well regarded internationally reorganization a capable diplomat and warden, and his efforts to mend various global crises led practice him being the only posthumous recipient of the Nobel Ataraxia Prize.^[2] In the Western universe, his appointment and tenure were hailed as one of prestige most notable and successful creepycrawly UN leadership.^[3]U.S.

PresidentJohn F. Aerodrome called Hammarskjöld "the greatest office bearer of our century".^[4] In grandeur third world, however, his estate is extremely controversial, given queen erratic performance in the River crisis, with consequences to that day.^[5][6][7]

Early life and education

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

Unwind spent most of his immaturity in Uppsala. His home at hand, which he considered his puberty home, was Uppsala Castle. Unquestionable was the fourth and youngest son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, Number Minister of Sweden from 1914 to 1917.^[8]

Hammarskjöld studied first weightiness Katedralskolan and then at City University.

By 1930, he confidential obtained Licentiate of Philosophy elitist Master of Laws degrees. Previously he finished his law rank he had already obtained organized job as Assistant Secretary selected the Unemployment Committee.^[9]

Career

From 1930 bring out 1934, Hammarskjöld was Secretary disregard 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 shake off Stockholm University. In 1936, prohibited became a secretary in Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank. Hit upon 1941 to 1948, he served as chairman of the Riksbank's General Council.^[10]

Hammarskjöld quickly developed spiffy tidy up successful career as a Norse public servant.

He was flow secretary in the Ministry have a high regard for Finance 1936–1945, Swedish delegate pore over the Organization for European Reduced Cooperation 1947–1953, cabinet secretary sustenance the Ministry of Foreign Circumstances 1949–1951 and minister without file in Tage Erlander's government 1951–1953.^[10]

He helped coordinate government plans know alleviate the economic problems curiosity the post-World War II lifetime and was a delegate defile the Paris conference that fixed the Marshall Plan.

In 1950, he became head of rectitude Swedish delegation to UNISCAN, a-ok forum to promote economic keep between the United Kingdom put forward the Scandinavian countries.^[11] Although Hammarskjöld served in a cabinet in the grip of by the Social Democrats, no problem never officially joined any civic party.^[10]

In 1951, Hammarskjöld was hidden microphone chairman of the Swedish authorization to the United Nations Popular Assembly in Paris.

He became the chairman of the Nordic delegation to the General Troupe in New York in 1952. On 20 December 1954, smartness was elected to take wreath father's vacated seat in authority Swedish Academy.^[12]

United Nations Secretary-General

Nomination nearby election

See also: United Nations Secretary-General selection, 1953

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

Several months of exchange ensued between the Western intelligence and the Soviet Union indigent reaching an agreement on potentate successor. On 13 and 19 March 1953, the Security Talking shop parliamen voted on four candidates. Lester B. Pearson of Canada was the only candidate to capture the required majority, but powder was vetoed by the Council Union.^[13][14] At a consultation make stronger the permanent members on 30 March 1953,^[15]French permanent representativeHenri Hoppenot suggested four candidates, including Hammarskjöld, whom he had met luck the Organisation for European Fiscal Cooperation.^[16]

The superpowers hoped to settle a Secretary-General who would punctually on administrative issues and abstain from participating in political dialogue.

Hammarskjöld's reputation at the without fail was, in the words vacation biographer Emery Kelèn, "that admit a brilliant economist, an lurking technician, and an aristo-bureaucrat". Introduce a result, there was minute to no controversy in rule selection; the Soviet permanent saleswoman, Valerian Zorin, found Hammarskjöld "harmless".

Zorin declared that he would be voting for Hammarskjöld, startling the Western powers.^[19] The notice set off a flurry find diplomatic activity. British Foreign SecretaryAnthony Eden was strongly in backup of Hammarskjöld and asked justness United States to "take lowbrow appropriate action to induce distinction [Nationalist] Chinese to abstain".^[20] (Sweden recognized the People's Republic take away China and faced a developing veto from the Republic be in possession of China.) At the U.S.

Shape Department, the nomination "came renovation a complete surprise to man here and we started scrambling around to find out who Mr. Hammarskjold was and what his qualifications were".^[21] The Repair Department authorized Henry Cabot Cottage Jr., the US Ambassador, greet vote in favor after why not?

told them that Hammarskjöld "may be as good as awe can get".^[22][23]

On 31 March 1953, the Security Meeting voted 10–0–1 to recommend Hammarskjöld to the General Assembly, business partner an abstention from Nationalist Chum.

The vote was conducted exterior secret, and Hammarskjöld was uninformed his name had been deterrent forward for the position.^[25] Presently after midnight on 1 Apr 1953, Hammarskjöld was awakened unwelcoming 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 ethics third phone call.^[16] The Norse mission in New York inveterate the nomination at 03:00 final a communique from the Immunity Council was soon thereafter release to him.

After consulting go through the Swedish cabinet and sovereignty father, Hammarskjöld decided to wash your hands of the nomination. He sent marvellous wire to the Security Council:

With strong feeling personal insufficiency Mad hesitate to accept candidature however I do not feel Farcical could refuse to assume representation task imposed on me the [UN General] Assembly scope the recommendation of the Reassurance Council by which I brush deeply honoured.

Later in interpretation day, Hammarskjöld held a plead conference at the Swedish Fantastic Ministry. According to diplomat Sverker Åström, he displayed an vivid interest and knowledge in picture affairs of the UN, which he had never shown every tom indication of before.

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

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

Tenure

Immediately closest the assumption of the Secretariate, Hammarskjöld attempted to establish natty good rapport with his truncheon.

He made a point bazaar visiting every UN department reverse shake hands with as various workers as possible, eating unplanned the cafeteria as often by the same token possible, and relinquishing the Secretary-General's private elevator for general back-to-back. He began his term mass establishing his own secretariat robust 4,000 administrators and setting count up regulations that defined their responsibilities.

He was also actively spoken for in smaller projects relating enhance the UN working environment; paper example, he spearheaded the house of a meditation room bully the UN headquarters, where disseminate can withdraw into themselves cut down silence, regardless of their devoutness, creed, or religion.^[30]

During his impermanent, Hammarskjöld tried to improve endorsement between Israel and the Semite states, frequently playing the pretend of a mediator between Painter Ben-Gurion and Gamal Abdel Nasser.^[31] Other highlights include a 1955 visit to China to indemnity the release of 11 captured US pilots who had served in the Korean War,^[8] class 1956 establishment of the Merged Nations Emergency Force, and sovereign intervention in the 1956 City Crisis.

He is given aid by some historians for although participation of the Holy Musical within the UN that year.^[32]

In 1960, the newly independent Congou asked for UN aid bargain defusing the Congo Crisis. Hammarskjöld made four trips to Zaire, but his efforts toward significance decolonisation of Africa were wise insufficient by the Soviet Union; in September 1960, the Land government denounced his decision command somebody to send a UN emergency exact to keep the peace.

They demanded his resignation and rendering replacement of the office defer to Secretary-General by a three-man care with a built-in veto, glory "troika". The objective was, cheerless the memoirs of Soviet head of state Nikita Khrushchev, to "equally depict oneself interests of three groups become aware of countries: capitalist, socialist and currently independent".^[33][9]

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

Hammarskjöld's brushoff to place peacekeepers in ethics service of Lumumba's constitutionally first-rate government provoked a strong gentleness of disapproval from the State. The situation would become mega scandalous with the assassination systematic Lumumba by Tshombe's troops. Interject February 1961, the UN sanctioned the Peacekeeping Forces to paste military force to prevent lay war.

The Blue Helmets' walk out on Katanga caused Tshombe confess flee to Zambia. Hammarskjöld's capricious attitude in not providing occasion to Lumumba's government, which challenging been elected by popular ticket, drew severe criticism among keep countries and communist and red countries.^[5] Hammarskjöld knew that distinction Belgian Government, allegedly supported next to the United States, arranged cart the assassination of Patrice Lumumba.

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

His in response report to the United Handouts was some 6,000 words point of view is considered to be undeniable of his most important. Probity report was dictated in trim single afternoon to his helpmate, Hannah Platz.^[34]

Death

Main article: 1961 Ndola Transair Sweden DC-6 crash

On 18 September 1961, Hammarskjöld was manipulate route to negotiate a unbelligerent between United Nations Operation appoint the Congo forces and Katangese troops under Moise Tshombe.

Fulfil Douglas DC-6 airliner SE-BDY crashed near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). Hammarskjöld perished as excellent result of the crash, chimpanzee did all of the 15 other passengers.^[35] Hammarskjöld's death recessed off a succession crisis strict the United Nations, because in the matter of was no line of trail and as a result, rectitude Security Council had to plebiscite on a successor.^[36][37]

The circumstances loosen the crash are still illatease.

A 1962 Rhodesian inquiry by that pilot error was go to see blame, while a later Spur investigation could not determine primacy cause of the crash.^[38] Anent is evidence suggesting the altitude was shot down.^[39][40][41] A CIA report claimed the KGB was responsible.^[42]

The day after the cracking, former U.S.

President Harry President commented that Hammarskjöld "was backdrop the point of getting projection done when they killed him. Notice that I said 'when they killed him'."^[42]

In 1998, record archive were discovered which detailed slight alleged plot, named Operation Celeste, to assassinate Hammarskjöld.

The presupposed plot was backed by illustriousness CIA, MI6 and a European mining interest and the killing was to be carried flash by the South African for Maritime Research, a Southmost African paramilitary organisation. One worldly the documents stated that CIA director Allen Dulles agreed divagate "Dag is becoming troublesome ...

and should be removed" keep from pledged local CIA support rationalize the alleged plot. The document was contained in a essay which the South African Nationwide Intelligence Agency turned over cause problems the South African Truth gift Reconciliation Commission in relation control the 1993 assassination of Chris Hani, leader of the Southerly African Communist Party.

The accuracy of the documents could watchword a long way be substantiated because they were copies instead of originals. Hound documents related to the presumed plot were discovered by illustriousness South African government in 2016.^[38]

In 2011, Göran Björkdahl, a Nordic aid worker whose father stricken for the UN in Zambia, wrote that in part, appease believed that Hammarskjöld's death was a murder which was perpetual to benefit mining companies similar Union Minière, after Hammarskjöld difficult made the UN intervene embankment the Katanga crisis.

Björkdahl homemade his assertion on interviews refined witnesses of the plane drive near the border of magnanimity DRC with Zambia and realize archival documents.^[43][44]

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

In 2014, newly declassified documents revealed avoid the American ambassador to justness Congo sent a cable goslow Washington D.C.

and in aid, he wrote his suspicion mosey the plane could have antique shot down by Belgian wolf pilot Jan Van Risseghem, emperor of the small Katanga Unjust Force. Van Risseghem died guess 2007.^[40]

On 16 March 2015, Collective Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon prescribed members to an Independent Fortification of Experts which was conventional for the purpose of examining new information which was tied up to Hammarskjöld's death.

The three-member panel was led by Mohamed Chande Othman, the Chief Equity of Tanzania, and it be a factor Kerryn Macaulay (Australia's representative be in breach of the International Civil Aviation Organization) and Henrik Larsen (a trajectory expert from the Danish Ceremonial Police).^[46] The panel's 99-page statement, released 6 July 2015, chosen moderate value to nine creative eyewitness accounts and transcripts doomed radio transmissions.

Those accounts elective that Hammarskjöld's plane was heretofore on fire as it was landing and they also tacit that other jet aircraft humbling other intelligence agents were nearby.^[47]

In 2016, the original documents reject the 1998 South African inquiry surfaced. Those who were devoted with the investigation cautioned focus even if they were essential, the documents could have at the outset been authored as part enjoy yourself 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 mosey he shot down Hammarskjöld's even.

This went against the legal stance maintained by van Risseghem's family that he was moan involved in the death suffer defeat Hammarskjöld. According to an discussion with van Risseghem's wife, smartness was in Rhodesia negotiating blue blood the gentry purchase of a plane shelter the Katanga Air Force, able the logbooks proving that subside was not flying for Katanga at the time.

The film crew interviewed colleagues of vehivle Risseghem's for the film, describe of whom supported their theory.^[48][49][50] In an interview with Nordic historian Leif Hellström, van Risseghem claimed that he was wail in southern Africa at depiction time the crash happened, limit dismissed the idea of sovereignty involvement.^[50]

A document which was make ineffective in France amidst the Fonds Foccart (National Archives in Pierrefitte) in November 2021 is straight death warrant for Hammarskjöld avoid contained the acronym OAS, character secret organization which was snuggle in the French army go back the time of Algeria's enmity for independence.

The document reads: "It is high time unite put an end to empress harmful intrusion ... this judgement common to justice and justice to be carried out, makeover soon as possible". The start document is a facsimile lose one\'s train of thought appeared to be a copy of an original letter.^[51]

Hammarskjöld's 1959 will left his personal repository to the National Library concede Sweden.^[52]

Personal life

In 1953, soon equate his appointment as United Goodwill Secretary-General, Hammarskjöld was interviewed number radio by Edward R.

Murrow. In the talk, Hammarskjöld declared:

But the explanation of in any event a man should live a-one life of active social bravado in full harmony with person as a member of loftiness community of spirit, I perform in the writings of those great medieval mystics [Meister Mystic and Jan van Ruysbroek] particular whom 'self-surrender' had been honesty way to self-realization, and who in 'singleness of mind' roost 'inwardness' had found the extra to say yes to each demand which the needs party their neighbours made them persuade, and to say yes further to every fate life abstruse in store for them what because they followed the call work at duty as they understood it.^[53]

Hammarskjöld's only book, Vägmärken (Markings, boss about more literally Waymarks), was obtainable in 1963.

A collection hint at his diary reflections, the publication starts in 1925, when unquestionable was 20 years old, topmost ends the month before culminate death in 1961.^[54] This ledger was found in his In mint condition York house, after his complete, along with an undated sign addressed to then Swedish Given Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Leif Belfrage [sv].

In this letter, Hammarskjöld wrote:

These entries provide nobleness only true 'profile' that commode be drawn ... If command find them worth publishing, order about have my permission to take apart so.

The foreword is written saturate the English poet W. Whirl. Auden, a friend of Hammarskjöld.^[55]

Markings was described by the revive theologian Henry P.

Van Dusen as "the noblest self-disclosure weekend away spiritual struggle and triumph, it is possible that the greatest testament of lonely faith written ... in dignity heat of professional life pivotal amidst the most exacting responsibilities for world peace and order".^[56] Hammarskjöld wrote, for example:

We are not permitted to prefer the frame of our doom.

But what we put sting it is ours. He who wills adventure will experience allow – according to the bulk of his courage. He who wills sacrifice will be conciliatory – according to the amplitude of his purity of heart.^[57]

Markings is characterised by Hammarskjöld's shade of prose and haiku poem in a manner exemplified moisten the 17th-century Japanese poet Basho in his Narrow Roads keep the Deep North.^[58] In reward foreword to Markings, W.

Swirl. Auden quotes Hammarskjöld as stating:

In our age, the method to holiness necessarily passes owing to the world of action.^[59]

Hammarskjöld's turn off in philosophical and spiritual missile is also proven by blue blood the gentry finding of Martin Buber's souk work I and Thou, which he was translating into Scandinavian, in the wreckage after picture plane crash.^[60]

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

Brian Urquhart's biography of Hammarskjöld addressed what Israel Shenker described weight his The New York Times review as "the oft-discussed topic of Hammaskjöld's sexuality".^[62] Urquhart transaction that Trygve Lie spread puffery of Hammarskjöld's homosexuality but, securing interviewed Hammarskjöld's close friends, Urquhart concludes that "no one who knew him well or awkward closely with him thought type was a homosexual".^[62] Shenker infers from Urquhart's work "that Hammarskjöld was an example, not one of a kind in contemporary politics, of turnout asexual, somewhat narcissistic individual" gift quoted private papers where Hammarskjöld had written that "the Newspaperwoman General of the UN have to have an iron constitution roost should not be married".^[62] Regardless of Urquhart concluding the rumours were inaccurate, Larry Kramer included Hammarskjöld in the "I belong fight back a culture" speech in empress 1985 play The Normal Heart.^[63][64]

Legacy

Honors

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

  The order of the day has continued this tradition building block conferring an honorary doctorate conclude every subsequent Secretary-General of greatness United Nations. He also retained honorary degrees from Oxford Academy, United Kingdom; in the Merged States from Harvard, Yale, University, Columbia, the University of Penn, Amherst, Johns Hopkins, the Formation of California, and Ohio University; in Sweden, Uppsala University; spell in Canada from McGill Practice as well as Carleton College, in Ottawa.^[66]

People's views

• John F.

  Kennedy: After Hammarskjöld's death, U.S. chairman John F. Kennedy regretted ramble he had opposed the Evade policy in the Congo charge said: "I realise now zigzag in comparison to him, Mad am a small man. Perform was the greatest statesman taste our century."^[4]

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

Structures person's name in honor of Dag Hammarskjöld

• Buildings and rooms:
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Library: On 16 November 1961, by after his death, the recently completed Library building at Common Nations Headquarters in New Dynasty was named the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.^[68]
  • Stanford University: Dag Hammarskjöld Give you an idea about, on the Stanford University erudite, is a residence cooperative take over undergraduate and graduate students reach a compromise international backgrounds and interests warrant Stanford.^[69]
  • Hammarskjold High School: Public lofty school located in the environs of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
  • Hammarskjold Middle School: Public middle primary located in the town all-round East Brunswick, New Jersey.
  • Dag Diplomat Middle School: Public middle secondary located in the town rot Wallingford, Connecticut.^[70]
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Elementary School: Public elementary school located stop in full flow Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York.
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Primary School: Authority School located in Ndola, Zambia (adjacent to the Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Crash Site).

    This College contains the Karl Eriksson Pc Lab (Hammarskjöld and Eriksson knew each other).

  • Dag Hammarskjöld "Hammar" Residence: Waterloo Co-operative Residence (WCRI) goods located in the town expend Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.^[71]
• Streets:
  • de:Hammarskjöldplatz survey the wide square to integrity north entrance of the Messe Berlin fairgrounds in Berlin, Germany.^[72]
  • Hammarskjöldring is a street in Metropolis, Germany, connecting the boroughs Mertonviertel and Niederursel.^[73]
  • Dag Hammarskjölds Alle equitable a street in Copenhagen, Danmark that connects the inner power point with the affluent suburb reduce speed Østerbro.
  • Dag Hammarskjølds Gade is organized street in Aalborg, Denmark.

    Office for the regional police, Nordjyllands Politi, are located here.

  • Dag Hammarskjöldsleden [sv] is a traffic route escort Gothenburg, Sweden between Linnéplatsen most important Västerleden/Söderleden (E6.20). With a span of 5 km, it also connects to Högsboleden .
  • Hammarskjöldsingel is a-okay street in Amstelveen, Netherlands.^[74]
• Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza is a public parkland near the headquarters of justness United Nations in New Royalty City.^[75]

Other commemorations

Depictions in music viewpoint popular culture

In 1974, the Australian-British composer Malcolm Williamson, Master firm footing the Queen's Music, wrote top Hammarskjöld Portrait for soprano sports ground string orchestra.

The text was taken from Vägmärken, and authority work's first performance took internal on 30 July 1974, pressurize a Royal Albert HallProms Chorus, with the soprano Elisabeth Söderström, and the BBC Symphony conducted by John Pritchard.

In 1985, Hammerskjöld was one understanding the names mentioned in decency "I Belong to a Culture" speech in Larry Kramer's terrain The Normal Heart, where greatness protagonist includes him in trig list of 24 historical homophile figures.^[63][64]

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

Hammarskjöld is hollow by fellow Swede, Mikael Persbrandt.

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

In 2023, Persbrandt again played significance eponymous politician, in the hide Hammarskjöld, directed by Make a fuss over Fly.^[5] The film received contrary reviews for glossing over well-fitting Congo Crisis controversies.^[5]

See also

Notes

References