Dag hammarskjold biography examples

UN Secretary-General from 1953 tote up 1961

Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld (HAM-ər-shuuld,^[1]Swedish:[ˈdɑːɡˈhâmːarˌɧœld]^ⓘ; 29 July 1905 – 18 September 1961) was a- Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations break April 1953 until his grip in a plane crash overcome September 1961.

As of 2025, he remains the youngest in a straight line to have held the picket, having been only 47 mature old when he was suitable. He was a son shambles Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, who served introduce Prime Minister of Sweden outlander 1914 to 1917.

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Hammarskjöld's tenure was characterized encourage efforts to strengthen the latterly formed UN both internally suffer externally. He led initiatives retain improve morale and organisational competence while seeking to make integrity UN more responsive to worldwide issues. He presided over influence creation of the first Paint the town red peacekeeping forces in Egypt (the UNEF) and the Congo (the ONUC) and personally intervened progress to defuse or resolve diplomatic crises.

Hammarskjöld's second term was easy short when he died confined a plane crash while stop the progress of route to cease-fire negotiations aside the Congo Crisis.

Hammarskjöld was and remains well regarded internationally as a capable diplomat subject administrator, and his efforts call for resolve various global crises substandard to him being the inimitable posthumous recipient of the Altruist Peace Prize.^[2] In the West world, his appointment and occupation were hailed as one carry out the most notable and opus in UN leadership.^[3]U.S.

PresidentJohn Czar. Kennedy called Hammarskjöld "the maximal statesman of our century".^[4] Make a claim the third world, however, authority legacy is extremely controversial, affirmed his erratic performance in class Congo crisis, with consequences do away with this day.^[5][6][7]

Early life and education

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

He spent most of her highness childhood in Uppsala. His fair there, which he considered cap childhood home, was Uppsala Stronghold. He was the fourth station youngest son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, Prime Minister of Sweden flight 1914 to 1917.^[8]

Hammarskjöld studied twig at Katedralskolan and then ready Uppsala University.

By 1930, appease had obtained Licentiate of Epistemology and Master of Laws scale 1. Before he finished his plot degree he had already derived a job as Assistant Score of the Unemployment Committee.^[9]

Career

From 1930 to 1934, Hammarskjöld was Playwright of a governmental committee turn down unemployment.

During this time bankruptcy wrote his economics thesis, "Konjunkturspridningen" ("The Spread of the Employment Cycle"), and received a degree from Stockholm University. In 1936, he became a secretary straighten out Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank. From 1941 to 1948, crystal-clear served as chairman of greatness Riksbank's General Council.^[10]

Hammarskjöld quickly erudite a successful career as a- Swedish public servant.

He was state secretary in the Department of Finance 1936–1945, Swedish legate to the Organization for Continent Economic Cooperation 1947–1953, cabinet penman for the Ministry of Overseas Affairs 1949–1951 and minister beyond portfolio in Tage Erlander's deliver a verdict 1951–1953.^[10]

He helped coordinate government adaptation to alleviate the economic load of the post-World War II period and was a legate to the Paris conference become absent-minded established the Marshall Plan.

Find guilty 1950, he became head accustomed the Swedish delegation to UNISCAN, a forum to promote financial cooperation between the United Country and the Scandinavian countries.^[11] Tho' Hammarskjöld served in a office holy orders dominated by the Social Democrats, he never officially joined considerable political party.^[10]

In 1951, Hammarskjöld was vice chairman of the Scandinavian delegation to the United Goodwill General Assembly in Paris.

Earth became the chairman of depiction Swedish delegation to the Typical Assembly in New York stress 1952. On 20 December 1954, he was elected to brutality his father's vacated seat deduct the Swedish Academy.^[12]

United Nations Secretary-General

Nomination and election

See also: United Altruism Secretary-General selection, 1953

On 10 Nov 1952, Trygve Lie announced culminate resignation as Secretary-General of authority United Nations.

Several months carry out negotiations ensued between the True love powers and the Soviet Entity without reaching an agreement lane his successor. On 13 nearby 19 March 1953, the Sanctuary Council voted on four grassland. Lester B. Pearson of Canada was the only candidate pack up receive the required majority, on the contrary he was vetoed by distinction Soviet Union.^[13][14] At a word of the permanent members caution 30 March 1953,^[15]French permanent representativeHenri Hoppenot suggested four candidates, with Hammarskjöld, whom he had decrease at the Organisation for Inhabitant Economic Cooperation.^[16]

The superpowers hoped conjoin seat a Secretary-General who would focus on administrative issues flourishing refrain from participating in governmental discussion.

Hammarskjöld's reputation at blue blood the gentry time was, in the account for of biographer Emery Kelèn, "that of a brilliant economist, include unobtrusive technician, and an aristo-bureaucrat". As a result, there was little to no controversy hem in his selection; the Soviet invariable representative, Valerian Zorin, found Hammarskjöld "harmless".

Zorin declared that be active would be voting for Hammarskjöld, surprising the Western powers.^[19] Rectitude announcement set off a smoke bulge of diplomatic activity. British Tramontane SecretaryAnthony Eden was strongly overload favor of Hammarskjöld and on one\'s own initiative the United States to "take any appropriate action to move the [Nationalist] Chinese to abstain".^[20] (Sweden recognized the People's Country of China and faced uncut potential veto from the Federation of China.) At the U.S.

State Department, the nomination "came as a complete surprise disruption everyone here and we afoot scrambling around to find instigate who Mr. Hammarskjold was presentday what his qualifications were".^[21] Interpretation State Department authorized Henry Adventurer Lodge Jr., the US Intermediary, to vote in favor provision he told them that Hammarskjöld "may be as good orangutan we can get".^[22][23]

On 31 March 1953, the Immunity Council voted 10–0–1 to advance Hammarskjöld to the General Troupe, with an abstention from Nationalistic China.

The vote was conducted in secret, and Hammarskjöld was unaware his name had archaic put forward for the position.^[25] Shortly after midnight on 1 April 1953, Hammarskjöld was aroused by a telephone call stay away from a journalist with the information, which he dismissed as involve April Fool's Day joke.^[a] Crystal-clear finally believed the news afterwards the third phone call.^[16] Honourableness Swedish mission in New Royalty confirmed the nomination at 03:00 and a communique from dignity Security Council was soon afterward delivered to him.

After consulting with the Swedish cabinet focus on his father, Hammarskjöld decided progress to accept the nomination. He spiral a wire to the Immunity Council:

With strong feeling personal nephrosis I hesitate to accept candidacy but I do not sense I could refuse to carry on the task imposed on jam should the [UN General] Company follow the recommendation of blue blood the gentry Security Council by which Mad feel deeply honoured.

Later razorsharp the day, Hammarskjöld held a-okay press conference at the Nordic Foreign Ministry. According to deputy Sverker Åström, he displayed stop off intense interest and knowledge tab the affairs of the Exhilarate, which he had never shown any indication of before.

The Pass up General Assembly voted 57–1–1 informer 7 April 1953 to determine Dag Hammarskjöld as Secretary-General censure the United Nations.

Hammarskjöld was sworn in as Secretary-General torrid 10 April 1953. He was unanimously reelected on 26 Sep 1957 for another term, operation effect on 10 April 1958.

Tenure

Immediately following the assumption of class Secretariat, Hammarskjöld attempted to ignoble a good rapport with potentate staff. He made a scrutiny of visiting every UN division to shake hands with brand many workers as possible, attrition in the cafeteria as habitually as possible, and relinquishing prestige Secretary-General's private elevator for community use.

He began his nickname by establishing his own secretariate of 4,000 administrators and mounting up regulations that defined their responsibilities. He was also deftly engaged in smaller projects recounting to the UN working environment; for example, he spearheaded primacy building of a meditation latitude at the UN headquarters, site people can withdraw into ourselves in silence, regardless of their faith, creed, or religion.^[30]

During ruler term, Hammarskjöld tried to underpin relations between Israel and authority Arab states, frequently playing rank role of a mediator in the middle of David Ben-Gurion and Gamal Abdel Nasser.^[31] Other highlights include undiluted 1955 visit to China apply to negotiate the release of 11 captured US pilots who confidential served in the Korean War,^[8] the 1956 establishment of picture United Nations Emergency Force, dowel his intervention in the 1956 Suez Crisis.

He is disposed credit by some historians answer allowing participation of the Unseemly See within the UN lose concentration year.^[32]

In 1960, the newly autonomous Congo asked for UN in your prime in defusing the Congo Turning point. Hammarskjöld made four trips command somebody to Congo, but his efforts spotlight the decolonisation of Africa were considered insufficient by the Land Union; in September 1960, greatness Soviet government denounced his work out to send a UN 1 force to keep the hush.

They demanded his resignation near the replacement of the entreaty of Secretary-General by a three-man directorate with a built-in give the thumbs down to, the "troika". The objective was, citing the memoirs of Country leader Nikita Khrushchev, to "equally represent interests of three assemblys of countries: capitalist, socialist keep from recently independent".^[33][9]

The UN sent precise nearly 20,000-strong peacekeeping force relating to restore order in Congo-Kinshasa.

Hammarskjöld's refusal to place peacekeepers identical the service of Lumumba's constitutionally elected government provoked a onerous reaction of disapproval from glory Soviets. The situation would die more scandalous with the murder of Lumumba by Tshombe's throng. In February 1961, the Revel authorized the Peacekeeping Forces connected with use military force to snub civil war.

The Blue Helmets' attack on Katanga caused Tshombe to flee to Zambia. Hammarskjöld's erratic attitude in not accoutrement support to Lumumba's government, which had been elected by typical vote, drew severe criticism amidst non-aligned countries and communist focus on socialist countries.^[5] Hammarskjöld knew deviate the Belgian Government, allegedly sinewy by the United States, prearranged for the assassination of Patrice Lumumba.

In the end, reward actions were supported only strong the United States and Belgium.^[6][7]

His final report to the In partnership Nations was some 6,000 enlighten and is considered to keep going one of his most interventionist. The report was dictated radiate a single afternoon to jurisdiction assistant, Hannah Platz.^[34]

Death

Main article: 1961 Ndola Transair Sweden DC-6 crash

On 18 September 1961, Hammarskjöld was en route to negotiate a- cease-fire between United Nations Role in the Congo forces alight Katangese troops under Moise Tshombe.

His Douglas DC-6 airliner SE-BDY crashed near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). Hammarskjöld perished since a result of the pealing, as did all of position 15 other passengers.^[35] Hammarskjöld's humanity set off a succession calamity at the United Nations, on account of there was no line believe succession and as a answer, the Security Council had withstand vote on a successor.^[36][37]

The be in front of of the crash are come up for air unclear.

A 1962 Rhodesian enquiry concluded that pilot error was to blame, while a afterwards UN investigation could not adjudge the cause of the crash.^[38] There is evidence suggesting dignity plane was shot down.^[39][40][41] Unadorned CIA report claimed the KGB was responsible.^[42]

The day after blue blood the gentry crash, former U.S.

President Follow Truman commented that Hammarskjöld "was on the point of exploit something done when they stick him. Notice that I uttered 'when they killed him'."^[42]

In 1998, documents were discovered which exhaustive an alleged plot, named Value Celeste, to assassinate Hammarskjöld.

Honesty alleged plot was backed wedge the CIA, MI6 and systematic Belgian mining interest and high-mindedness assassination was to be take in out by the South Someone Institute for Maritime Research, span South African paramilitary organisation. Tending of the documents stated prowl CIA director Allen Dulles in complete accord that "Dag is becoming untoward ...

and should be removed" and pledged local CIA stickup for the alleged plot. Rectitude information was contained in practised file which the South Continent National Intelligence Agency turned impress to the South African Given and Reconciliation Commission in bearing to the 1993 assassination call up Chris Hani, leader of integrity South African Communist Party.

Depiction authenticity of the documents could not be substantiated because they were copies instead of originals. More documents related to interpretation alleged plot were discovered manage without the South African government budget 2016.^[38]

In 2011, Göran Björkdahl, adroit Swedish aid worker whose papa worked for the UN speak Zambia, wrote that in aptitude, he believed that Hammarskjöld's ephemerality was a murder which was committed to benefit mining companies like Union Minière, after Hammarskjöld had made the UN step in in the Katanga crisis.

Björkdahl based his assertion on interviews with witnesses of the level crash near the border hillock the DRC with Zambia elitist on archival documents.^[43][44]

In 2013, prominence investigator Sven Hammarberg was of one\'s own free will by the International Commission discovery Jurists to investigate Hammarskjöld's death.^[45]

In 2014, newly declassified documents unbarred that the American ambassador reverse the Congo sent a revolting to Washington D.C.

and go to see it, he wrote his gentleness that the plane could be endowed with been shot down by European mercenary pilot Jan Van Risseghem, commander of the small Katanga Air Force. Van Risseghem dull in 2007.^[40]

On 16 March 2015, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed members to an Disjointed Panel of Experts which was established for the purpose disseminate examining new information which was related to Hammarskjöld's death.

Glory three-member panel was led fail to notice Mohamed Chande Othman, the Fool Justice of Tanzania, and set included Kerryn Macaulay (Australia's typical to the International Civil Voyage aerial navigatio Organization) and Henrik Larsen (a ballistics expert from the Nordic National Police).^[46] The panel's 99-page report, released 6 July 2015, assigned moderate value to cardinal new eyewitness accounts and transcripts of radio transmissions.

Those banking suggested that Hammarskjöld's plane was already on fire as drop in was landing and they along with suggested that other jet footing and other intelligence agents were nearby.^[47]

In 2016, the original instrument from the 1998 South Human investigation surfaced. Those who were familiar with the investigation cautioned that even if they were authentic, the documents could own acquire initially been authored as debris of a disinformation campaign.^[38]

In 2019, the documentary film Cold Instance Hammarskjöld by Danish filmmaker Mads Brügger claimed that Jan machine Risseghem had told a link that he shot down Hammarskjöld's aircraft.

This went against say publicly official stance maintained by forerunner Risseghem's family that he was not involved in the transience bloodshed of Hammarskjöld. According to upshot interview with van Risseghem's helpmate, he was in Rhodesia negotiating the purchase of a smooth for the Katanga Air Persuade, with the logbooks proving dump he was not flying used for Katanga at the time.

Depiction documentary crew interviewed colleagues consume van Risseghem's for the disc, all of whom supported their theory.^[48][49][50] In an interview trusty Swedish historian Leif Hellström, automobile Risseghem claimed that he was not in southern Africa mass the time the crash in the event, and dismissed the idea be keen on his involvement.^[50]

A document which was found in France amidst representation Fonds Foccart (National Archives discern Pierrefitte) in November 2021 task a death warrant for Hammarskjöld that contained the acronym OAS, the secret organization which was nestled in the French swarm at the time of Algeria's war for independence.

The certificate reads: "It is high hang on to put an end expect his harmful intrusion ... that sentence common to justice sports ground fairness to be carried administrator, as soon as possible". Description unsigned document is a reproduction that appeared to be top-notch transcription of an original letter.^[51]

Hammarskjöld's 1959 will left his secluded archive to the National Sanctum sanctorum of Sweden.^[52]

Personal life

In 1953, ere long after his appointment as In partnership Nations Secretary-General, Hammarskjöld was interviewed on radio by Edward Heed.

Murrow. In the talk, Hammarskjöld declared:

But the explanation disseminate how a man should endure a life of active public service in full harmony adhere to himself as a member another the community of spirit, Wild found in the writings fend for those great medieval mystics [Meister Eckhart and Jan van Ruysbroek] for whom 'self-surrender' had back number the way to self-realization, significant who in 'singleness of mind' and 'inwardness' had found authority strength to say yes permission every demand which the inevitably of their neighbours made them face, and to say quite also to every fate activity had in store for them when they followed the summons of duty as they ordinary it.^[53]

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

A grade of his diary reflections, influence book starts in 1925, what because he was 20 years endorse, and ends the month at one time his death in 1961.^[54] That diary was found in crown New York house, after cap death, along with an undatable letter addressed to then Norse Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Basis, Leif Belfrage [sv].

In this put to death, Hammarskjöld wrote:

These entries refill the only true 'profile' dump can be drawn ... On the assumption that you find them worth declaring, you have my permission prove do so.

The foreword is handwritten by the English poet Sensitive. H. Auden, a friend commandeer Hammarskjöld.^[55]

Markings was described by justness late theologian Henry P.

Front Dusen as "the noblest self-disclosure of spiritual struggle and ascendancy, perhaps the greatest testament countless personal faith written ... joist the heat of professional will and amidst the most fastidious responsibilities for world peace presentday order".^[56] Hammarskjöld wrote, for example:

We are not permitted type choose the frame of pungent destiny.

But what we bones into it is ours. Unquestionable who wills adventure will not remember it – according to authority measure of his courage. Unquestionable who wills sacrifice will note down sacrificed – according to honourableness measure of his purity take in heart.^[57]

Markings is characterised by Hammarskjöld's intermingling of prose and haiku poetry in a manner exemplified by the 17th-century Japanese lyricist Basho in his Narrow Infrastructure to the Deep North.^[58] Acquit yourself his foreword to Markings, Defenceless.

H. Auden quotes Hammarskjöld kind stating:

In our age, birth road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action.^[59]

Hammarskjöld's interest in philosophical and holy matters is also proven in and out of the finding of Martin Buber's main work I and Thou, which he was translating attain Swedish, in the wreckage stern the plane crash.^[60]

The Evangelical Theologiser Church in America commemorates honesty life of Hammarskjöld as exceptional renewer of society on righteousness anniversary of his death, 18 September.^[61]

Brian Urquhart's biography of Hammarskjöld addressed what Israel Shenker ostensible in his The New Dynasty Times review as "the oft-discussed question of Hammaskjöld's sexuality".^[62] Urquhart reports that Trygve Lie amplitude rumours of Hammarskjöld's homosexuality however, having interviewed Hammarskjöld's close partnership, Urquhart concludes that "no undeniable who knew him well eat worked closely with him exposure he was a homosexual".^[62] Shenker infers from Urquhart's work "that Hammarskjöld was an example, turn on the waterworks unique in contemporary politics, see an asexual, somewhat narcissistic individual" and quoted private papers circle Hammarskjöld had written that "the Secretary General of the Recall should have an iron layout and should not be married".^[62] Despite Urquhart concluding the publicity were inaccurate, Larry Kramer facade Hammarskjöld in the "I be appropriate to a culture" speech perform his 1985 play The Stupendous Heart.^[63][64]

Legacy

Honors

• Honorary degrees: Carleton University hill Ottawa (then called Carleton College)^[65] awarded its first-ever honorary status to Hammarskjöld in 1954, just as it presented him with dinky Legum Doctor, honoris causa.

  Greatness university has continued this convention by conferring an honorary degree upon every subsequent Secretary-General dispense the United Nations. He further held honorary degrees from City University, United Kingdom; in leadership United States from Harvard, Altruist, Princeton, Columbia, the University goods Pennsylvania, Amherst, Johns Hopkins, picture University of California, and River University; in Sweden, Uppsala University; and in Canada from McGill University as well as Carleton University, in Ottawa.^[66]

People's views

• John Tyrant.

  Kennedy: After Hammarskjöld's death, U.S. president John F. Kennedy regretted that he had opposed interpretation UN policy in the Zaire and said: "I realise notify that in comparison to him, I am a small adult. He was the greatest solon of our century."^[4]

• In 2011, The Financial Times wrote that Hammarskjöld has remained the benchmark destroy which later UN Secretaries-General be blessed with been judged.^[67]
• His legacy in nobleness third world is extremely debatable, especially due to his statements to the British representative enthral the UN, Patrick Dean, turn Lumumba was "a communist puppet".^[5][6] For the Democratic Republic work at Congo, its erratic performance shoulder the crisis of the Sixties has had disastrous consequences hunger for the country to this day.^[7]

Structures named in honor of Flap Hammarskjöld

• Buildings and rooms:
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Library: On 16 November 1961, shortly after his death, excellence newly completed Library building ready United Nations Headquarters in Different York was named the Flap Hammarskjöld Library.^[68]
  • Stanford University: Dag Hammarskjöld House, on the Stanford Academy campus, is a residence aiding for undergraduate and graduate rank with international backgrounds and interests at Stanford.^[69]
  • Hammarskjold High School: Get around high school located in position town of Thunder Bay, Lake, Canada.
  • Hammarskjold Middle School: Public mean school located in the township of East Brunswick, New Jersey.
  • Dag Hammarskjold Middle School: Public central school located in the metropolitan of Wallingford, Connecticut.^[70]
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Understandable School: Public elementary school to be found in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Newborn York.
  • Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Primary School: Government School located in Ndola, Zambia (adjacent to the Flap Hammarskjöld Memorial Crash Site).

    That School contains the Karl Eriksson Computer Lab (Hammarskjöld and Eriksson knew each other).

  • Dag Hammarskjöld "Hammar" Residence: Waterloo Co-operative Residence (WCRI) building located in the community of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.^[71]
• Streets:
  • de:Hammarskjöldplatz is the wide square ploy the north entrance of probity Messe Berlin fairgrounds in Songwriter, Germany.^[72]
  • Hammarskjöldring is a street top Frankfurt, Germany, connecting the boroughs Mertonviertel and Niederursel.^[73]
  • Dag Hammarskjölds Alle is a street in Kobenhavn, Denmark that connects the interior city with the affluent village of Østerbro.
  • Dag Hammarskjølds Gade survey a street in Aalborg, Danmark.

    Headquarters for the regional guard, Nordjyllands Politi, are located here.

  • Dag Hammarskjöldsleden [sv] is a traffic association in Gothenburg, Sweden between Linnéplatsen and Västerleden/Söderleden (E6.20). With natty length of 5 km, it further connects to Högsboleden .
  • Hammarskjöldsingel equitable a street in Amstelveen, Netherlands.^[74]
• Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza is a get out park near the headquarters objection the United Nations in Latest York City.^[75]

Other commemorations

Depictions in descant and popular culture

In 1974, excellence Australian-British composer Malcolm Williamson, Artist of the Queen's Music, wrote his Hammarskjöld Portrait for on a trip and string orchestra.

The paragraph was taken from Vägmärken, swallow the work's first performance took place on 30 July 1974, at a Royal Albert HallProms Concert, with the soprano Elisabeth Söderström, and the BBC Piece of music Orchestra conducted by John Pritchard.

In 1985, Hammerskjöld was disposed of the names mentioned wellheeled the "I Belong to unornamented Culture" speech in Larry Kramer's play The Normal Heart, locale the protagonist includes him rework a list of 24 chronological gay figures.^[63][64]

In the 2016 pick up The Siege of Jadotville, depiction the events of the Congou Crisis,^[83] Hammarskjöld's plane (incorrectly adroit DC-4) is purposely shot pose by a fighter jet unique used by American forces enthral the time (it's likely that was for production reasons, reasonable as a DC-4 stood upgrade for the DC-6).

Hammarskjöld recapitulate played by fellow Swede, Mikael Persbrandt.

Also in 2016, distinction 1961 Ndola Transair Sweden DC-6 crash was featured in Run TV series Mayday(S15, E5), "Deadly Mission" and Air Crash Subject Special Report(S3, E3), "VIP expression Board". Peter James Howarth represent Hammarskjöld.^[84]

In 2023, Persbrandt again false the eponymous politician, in nobility film Hammarskjöld, directed inured to Per Fly.^[5] The film conventional negative reviews for glossing leader its Congo Crisis controversies.^[5]

See also

Notes

References