Karl Gustaf Westman

Karl Gustaf Westman (18 August 1876 – 24 January 1944) was a Swedish historian and political leader.

Karl Gustaf Westman
Minister of Justice
In office
28 September 1936  30 August 1943
Prime MinisterPer Albin Hansson
Preceded byThorwald Bergquist
Succeeded byThorwald Bergquist
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
19 June 1936  28 September 1936
Prime MinisterAxel Pehrsson-Bramstorp
Preceded byRickard Sandler
Succeeded byRickard Sandler
Minister of Education
In office
17 February 1914  30 March 1917
Prime MinisterHjalmar Hammarskjöld
Preceded byFridtjuv Berg
Succeeded byAlexis Hammarström
Personal details
Born(1876-08-18)18 August 1876
Gothenburg, Sweden
Died24 January 1944(1944-01-24) (aged 67)
Stockholm, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
Political partyAgrarian
Spouse(s)Margit Printz
Children3
OccupationHistorian
Politician

Biography

Westman attended Uppsala University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1897, Licentiate of Philosophy in 1904 and a Ph.D. 1905. He was professor of the History of Law in the faculty of law at Uppsala University (1910–1941).

In political office, he represented the Agrarian Bondeförbundet, which was established in 1913. He was Minister for Education, Culture and Church matters (1914–1917). He served as Foreign Minister (1936), and Justice Minister (1936–1943). Although not the chairman of his party, Westman was without doubt his party's most influential cabinet member.

As a Justice Minister, and as one of the cabinet members with a say in matters of foreign policy during World War II, Westman has been criticized for what some observers have perceived as exaggerated adaptation to Nazi Germany's expected victory in the war, and for a limited respect for the freedom of the press to criticize foreign powers.[1]

Personal life

Karl Gustaf Westman was the son of the postmaster Carl Johan Westman and Tonny (Andersson) Westman. He was the brother of the diplomat Karl Ivan Westman. He was married in 1935 to Margit Printz. Children: Ingun Margareta (born 1936), Sighild Margareta (born 1937) and Karl Joar (born 1939). Westman was buried on 2 February 1944 at Gamla kyrkogården in Uppsala.[2]

In the Swedish television movie Four days that shook Sweden - The Midsummer Crisis 1941, from 1988, he is played by Swedish actor Allan Svensson.

References

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