If the war comes
If the War comes (Swedish: Om kriget kommer) was a pamphlet originally prepared by the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces' office. If the War comes was delivered to every single household in Sweden from 1943 to 1991. The most important parts of the publication was, alongside the distribution of the pamphlet, inserted at the last part of all Swedish phone books. The publication contained information about how to act in a situation of national crisis and most notably, nuclear war. During the period of 1950-1970 Sweden went though a period with extraordinary high economic growth called the record years (sw: rekordåren). This made it possible to invest in the civil defense and to have a plan to save the entire population even in the event of a Super Power invasion. If the War comes was a way to inform the public about these plans. With the end of the Cold War the publication became outdated and the last edition was distributed in 1991. The most basic information was kept in the phone book until early 21st century.
Content
If the War comes was a short publication and contained the basic information that the Government of Sweden considered as necessary to know in the event of war. The most notable and well remembered exhortation is the phrase in the chapter about civil defense; Every statement that the resistance has ceased is FALSE! (sw: Varje meddelande om att motståndet skall uppges är FALSKT!). The publication also contained information about civil defense sirens, how to act in an air-raid shelter and what belongings you should bring in the case of a refugee-situation.
Quotations
- "Every statement that the resistance has ceased is FALSE!"
- "Resistance shall be made all the time and in every situation. It depends on You - Your efforts, Your determination, Your will to survive!"
- "Sweden wants to defend itself, is able to defend itself and will defend itself! - We never give up!"
Editions
- Om kriget kommer – vägledning för rikets medborgare i händelse av krig, Statens informationsstyr., 1943 (16 s.)
- Om kriget kommer – vägledning för Sveriges medborgare, Kungliga Civilförsvarsstyrelsen, 1952 (33 s.)
- Om kriget kommer – vägledning för Sveriges medborgare, Kungliga Civilförsvarsstyrelsen, 1961 (48 s.)
- Om kriget kommer – vad du bör veta, Beredskapsnämnden för psykologiskt försvar, 1983 (39 s.)
- Om kriget kommer, Styrelsen för psykologiskt försvar (SPF), 1987 (31 s.) Denna utgåva var avsedd att användas i utbildningssyfte inom totalförsvaret. Källa; omslaget på utgåvan
- Om kriget eller katastrofen kommer – vad gör vi med barnen?, Socialstyrelsen, 1991 (49 s.)