March 14, 1912, the Swedish newspaper informed readers that the Russian military attache in Scandinavia count Alexander Ignatiev is translated on a similar post in Paris1. However, an ordinary rotation of diplomatic staff turned into a scandal. Here’s how recalled this A. A. Ignatiev: “an Unexpected delay happened only on the eve of final departure from Stockholm. Things were already stacked, farewell visits done, and to say goodbye to closest friends from the Swedish military youth, I, as usual, went to the end of the day the place served as the club baths on Sturegatan… In the most peaceful state of mind I went out on a dark and poorly lit street and did not suspect that this moment could happen what is the worst thing for any military attache.
– “Grew Ignatiev Spion! Grew Ignatiev Spion!” – shouted the boys are running, waving some newspaper”2.
What happened? In the Swedish State archive (Riksarkivet) in the Fund of the Ministry of foreign Affairs are preserved dossier A. A. Ignatyev3, which includes in addition to the various official documents of a large collection of newspaper clippings on this “spy story”.
Indeed, on 27 March 1912 in the newspaper “Karlskrona of Tidning” published an article under the large screaming headline: “Sensational Russian espionage in Sweden. Russian military attache in Stockholm were arrested near the fortress of Boden4, disguised as a peasant. Four other Russian officers were posing as grinders. The military attaché was transferred to Paris”5.
A. A. Ignat’ev served in Scandinavia for four years (1908-1912). His translation to Paris were planned increase, but the author wrote with a conspiratorial tone: “In the press it was officially announced that a military attache at the Russian mission in Stockholm of count Alexey Ignatyev transferred to Paris, and Stockholm Newspapers of all political stripes was escorted to his care by the many friendly statements about his high merit and of sympathy, which he earned in Stockholm. Meanwhile, if the Newspapers knew the reason for his transfer, it would say little about him otherwise. “Karlskrona of Tidning” has its sources in Stockholm, close to the diplomatic corps, and could report the reason for transfer count Ignatiev. And she’s sensational”6.
According to the article, “sudden and unreasonable” translated by A. A. Ignatyev in Paris was made after his incrimination of espionage, “Recently near the fortress of Boden was spotted by a farmer who was interested in the fortifications more than I should. He was detained for questioning and found to his surprise that it was none other than the aforementioned Graf Ignatiev… Here in Karlskrona, the main garrison of the country, in recent years we have witnessed numerous cases of espionage from the RussianOh hand”.
Further, the article claimed: “We understand that what happened is very inconvenient for Mr. Stata and his liberal Ministers, who, during the current global crisis decided to cancel the decision of the authorities on the construction of battleships, and political ambition openly to enter into Alliance with the party of the opponents defense. Liberals and socialists … always first trumpeted the fact that every question of Russian espionage is a lie right. For them, these new evidence of Russian espionage will be like a cold shower, and for the rest of society – a powerful new call to see, to shake off drowsiness and courageously and demand the right for Swedish people to be masters in our own house”7.
no Doubt, the message that the Russian count was a spy under the guise of a peasant, is equally excited imagination of the readers, as stories about skating Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, a Russian wife of a Swedish Prince, with slides on a silver tray. But what is the armadillos, the Prime Minister staaf for the home team and Russian officers-grinders?!
“Sensational revelation,” A. A. Ignatiev was not a random “yellow” material about the Russian diplomat, as part of a deliberate campaign.
In September 1911 in Sweden was held the first General elections to the lower house of Parliament. Part half a million new voters brought victory to the liberals, who first formed with the social Democrats an absolute parliamentary majority. A new liberal government C. Staaf appointed the military and Navy Minister civilians, immediately postponed the expensive construction of the battleship type F, approved by the previous right-wing government. Foreign policy was confirmed by the preservation of neutrality. The government and personally Stafa hated the conservative and nationalist high ranking military and politicians8. In the Royal family, court circles and among the officers was immensely popular Pro-German views. Journalists, politicians and historians to escalate in numerous articles, books, speeches, anti-Russian sentiments and fear of “the Russian threat”9.
just a month before the appearance of the article of the alleged arrest Ignatyev, in February 1912, in Sweden, began the distribution of a brochure about a famous traveler Sven Ghedina “Word of caution”. He urged the Swedish people to realize the inevitability of a major war with Russia and claimed that to save their homeland could only well-trained army and Navy with battleships type F and of course the increase in the military budget. The Hedin was fueled by fear of the Everyman, drawing life “under the foreign yoke”10.
“a Word of caution” has garnered tremendous attention that the circulation of the brochure amounted to a million copies of that pri solid literacy of the Swedish population had an extraordinary influence, began collecting donations for the construction of the battleship. The Hedin was was a celebrity, and the output of his work was the beginning of open struggle of right with the government Staefa, forced eventually to resign in the winter of 1914,11
the spread of the seemingly absurd rumors of espionage the Russian military attache to the tune of “girls-peasant women” was one of the elements of information warfare Pro-German-minded conservatives against the liberal government aimed to continue cooperation with Russia and to pursue a policy of neutrality, not to increase the panic and increase military spending.
Around 1900 in Sweden, a Russian grinders (knives, saws and other tools) – mainly the peasants of the Novgorod province, which after the completion of agricultural work came in the autumn to work in Sweden (and Finland and in the Polish lands of the Russian Empire). Soon began to spread persistent rumors that these bearded strangers – spies sent to scout out possible ways of the Russian invasion. Just at the turn of the century the Swedish defense was on the verge of a radical (and expensive!) change and modernization: planned introduction of universal conscription, the construction of battleships in the North laid the fortress of Boden. For the Swedish right-wing the appearance of the grinders had very useful. In 1912-1913 them almost daily exposed in all Swedish Newspapers and the words “grinders” (speciali. sa[ ]gfilare) and “spies” were considered as synonyms. “It is necessary that this fear, albeit by himself and baseless, was the first step to understanding that the real threat is already on our doorstep,” wrote the chief of the General staff of the Swedish Knut Bildt king12. Rumors of espionage were part of the consciousness of the General public and acquired the scale of hysteria13. To this end, and the Russian of count of the Imperial guards “putting” in peasant clothes, and the title is made for information about the “exposure” along with him another “reconnaissance” grinders.
the Swedish Telegraph Bureau has issued a denial, calling the charges against A. A. Ignatiev completely unfounded14. However, this incident has not been exhausted. 29 Mar 1912 “Karlskrona of Tidning” published the article “Russian espionage”. It was alleged that the story of Ignatiev – only a link in a chain of similar events in recent years, and Sweden “we need effective legislation regarding espionage”15. In the same issue was published “interview” with a resident of Karlskrona, who allegedly served for several years in Budene. The witness told the story about the suspicious foreigner, who under the guise of tourists lived in the area of the fortress and someone led a lively correspondence. Thbut was detained and found out that this Russian officer. Then had to let him go, and the reason – in absence of a law against spies16. These simple methods lobbied the adoption of the law.
Rough manipulation had not gone unnoticed. Swedish edition was reprinted not only denial, but also excerpts from “revelatory” articles with their own comments. Remarkable rating in the article “Irresponsible journalism”, published in the Kalmar newspaper on March 29, 1912: “it looks as if right-wing circles, headed by Mr. Sven Gedina doing everything to produce the split between Russia and Sweden… the Newspaper has no right irresponsible to try to spoil good relations between our country and other States”17.
In stirring up anti-Russian hysteria in addition to the Swedish right wing was interested in Germany, which since the late nineteenth century tried to get Sweden on its side. On 17 November 1910 in Berlin took place negotiations of the head of the German General staff H. von Moltke with his Swedish counterpart Karl Bildt in cooperation18. It is the “German intrigue” in the first place suspected Ignatiev, hearing the cries of the newsboys19. The Russian envoy in Stockholm, A. A. Savinskaya also believed that the performance Ghedina should be considered primarily in the context of “all known, the systematic and persistent work of the Germans” in Sweden, which was intended “to give the Swedes the impression the Russian danger” and was sure that “patriotism” Ghedina “fully warmed-up German money.” He believed that the release of the “words of caution” and publishing an article about “spying” Ignatieff linked and was due to the activity of German agents20.
“Spy story” appeared in the Newspapers is extremely “on time” shortly before the departure of A. A. Ignatyev. Savinskaya feared that if the Swedish authorities will not demonstrate their confidence in Ignatieff and the situation is discharged, the participation of Russia in the upcoming summer of 1912 Olympic games in Stockholm could be thwarted because the majority of athletes military. And it would hurt nalazhivatsya rapprochement with Sweden, played into the hands of Germany and would serve as an indirect recognition of the absurd rumors21.
the expectation is that Graf Ignatiev silently leave newspaper under the hooting did not materialize. The Swedish government was quick to hush up the scandal, and the Russian military attache was awarded the order of the Sword22. Ignatyev has told about the conclusion of this story: “In a fashionable suburban restaurant “Hasselbacken”, where I had to spend many merry evenings, I was sitting at a huge Banquet. My tuxedo adorned given to me before the king General’s award – the star, and on the table surrounded by flowers was a painted blue Swedish and Russian tricolor paper flags. It drunk a lot of champagne, delivered a lot of toast, and the next day it was printed more newspaper descriptions of the Russo-Swedish celebration. After a Russian military attache has been saved”23.
1. Svenska Dagbladet. 14.03.1912. S. 8.
2. Ignatiev A. A., Fifty years in the ranks. M., 1986. P. 347.
3. Riksarkivet. Utrikesdepartamentet med frega] [ngare. Dossier-akt. Ignatiev, A. (1908-1912). vol. 994. (Next – RA, vol. 994).
4. The fortress in the North of Sweden, pledged to protect from the alleged attack Russia from the territory of the Grand Duchy of Finland. The construction ended during the First world war.
5. Karlskrona Tidning. 27.03.1912. // RA. vol. 994.
6. Ibid.
7. Karlskrona Tidning. 27.03.1912. // RA. vol. 994.
8. Oredsson, Sverker. Stormaktsdrmmer och stridsiver. Ett tema i svensk politik och opininonsbildning 1910-1942 // Scandia, 1993. S. 258. Tabarovsky K. A. the “Word of caution” in the context of Russian-Swedish relations in 1912 // Northern Europe. The problem of history. M., 2007. P. 124.
9. See more: Gritsenko, S. A., “Prohormones” in public-political life of Sweden (1905-1916). Diss. Cand. ist. Sciences. M., 2016.
10. Tabarovsky K. A. the “Word of caution”. P. 125.
11. Ibid. P. 124-128.
12. Nilsson, Sture. Rysskrcken i Sverige: och verklighet frdomar. rebro: Samsprek, 1990. S. 141-144. Gritsenko, S. A., “Prohormones” in public-political life of Sweden (1905-1916). S. 129. Kovalenko G. the Swedes and the Russians from Rurik to Lenin. Contacts and conflicts. M., 2010. S. 230.
13. Karlsson, Pia. En officer och gentleman? De ryska sa] [gfilarna och spionanklagelserna // Brd och salt: Svenska kulturkontakter med st: vnbok en till Sven Gustavsson / [ed] Roger Gyllin, Ingvar Svanberg, Ingmar Shrman, Uppsala: Uppsala universitet, 1998. S. 153.
14. See, example: Svenska Dagbladet. 29.03.1912. S. 3.
15. Karlskrona Tidning. 29.03.1912 // RA. vol. 994.
16. Ibid.
17. Kalmar 29.03.1912 // RA. vol. 994.
18. Oredsson, Sverker. Stormaktsdrmmer och stridsiver. S. 257. Rupasov A. I. German-Swedish contacts on the conclusion of a Union (1910-1915) // the First world war and international relations. SPb., 1995. S. 30-40.
19. Ignatiev A. A., Fifty years in the ranks. P. 347.
20. Tabarovsky K. A. the “Word of caution”. S. 136-137.
21. Ibid. P. 137-138.
22. RGALI. F. 1403. Op. 1. Ed. XP. 742. L. 6.
23. Ignatiev A. A., Fifty years in the ranks. P. 347.
