Swedish Bureaucrat Helped Free Jews From Nazis

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The Swedish Connection on Netflix is a biopic about Gosta Engzell, a Swedish bureaucrat who helped rescue thousands of Jews from the Nazis during World War II. Set in 1942 Stockholm, the film follows Engzell as he navigates the bureaucracy of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to process visa applications and find ways to help Jewish refugees escape to safety in Sweden, despite resistance from his superiors.

Why it matters

Engzell's story is an inspiring example of how an ordinary person can make a difference in the face of great evil. The film sheds light on Sweden's complex role during WWII, as a neutral country that allowed some Nazi activity but also facilitated the rescue of many Jews. Engzell's efforts to combat the Holocaust through bureaucratic maneuvering highlight the power of individual action.

The details

Engzell, played by comedian Henrik Dorsin, is a meek bureaucrat who initially ignores the piling visa requests from Jewish refugees. But after hiring a new assistant, Rut Vogl (Sissela Benn), who challenges him to take action, Engzell begins finding loopholes and paperwork workarounds to help Jews escape to Sweden, even as his superiors try to stop him. The film focuses on the office politics and bureaucratic battles Engzell navigates to facilitate the rescue of an estimated 100,000 Jews.

• The events of the film take place in Stockholm, Sweden in 1942, during the height of World War II.
• Engzell begins actively processing visa applications and assisting Jewish refugees in the summer of 1942.

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What’s next

The film highlights Engzell's ongoing efforts to continue processing visa applications and find ways to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis, despite resistance from his superiors.