The permanent exhibition, Expecting the Worst - Sweden During the Cold War, tells the story of how Sweden prepared itself for a war that never started, but which the world expected and prepared for, for more than four decades.
Beginning in the middle of the 1940s, the world was divided into East and West. The fight was between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States, and their respective allies. It was a cold war, neither war nor peace. Sometimes the world was close to the brink, while at other times, war was comfortably distant.
The Cold War never resulted in direct armed hostilities between the powers, but was constantly fought in other arenas. Who had the largest atom bomb? Who was leading space race? Who was best in sport? When actual conflicts broke out, the superpowers chose their sides, and there was always competition for allies.
Swedish non-alignment
Wedged between the Soviet Union and the United States, Sweden chose to meet this insecure world with a strong air force and a secure, stable society. Non-alignment, co-operation with the West, a nuclear programme, fear of the Russians, surveillance and hunts for submarines represent a part of the story. But so does welfare and social security.
Airplanes in the exhibit
MiG-15, J 33 Venom, TP 47 Catalina, S 31 Spitfire, J 28 Vampire, J 29 Tunnan, J 34 Hunter, J 35 Draken, AJS 37, A 32 Lansen, SK 60, Hkp 3, Hkp 4, Hkp 9 and RB 68 (robot).