IKEA founder had Nazi Youth ties for years, author claims
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A new book has claimed that the founder of the IKEA chain, Ingvar Kamprad, had youth ties with Nazi groups for longer than he admitted, saying Sweden's intelligence agency even set up a special file on him.
Elisabeth Asbrink, a respected Swedish author and journalist, claims that Mr Kamprad joined the Swedish Nazi party in 1943 when he was 17, prompting the security police to set up a file on him the same year. Ms Asbrink also claims in her book, And in Wienerwald the Trees Remain, that he was in contact with Nazi sympathisers until at least 1950, two years longer than Mr Kamprad had acknowledged.
Per Heggenes, a spokesman for IKEA, said that Mr Kamprad regards his Nazi involvement as the "biggest mistake" of his life. "There are no Nazi-sympathising thoughts in Ingvar's head whatsoever," Mr Heggenes said.
The Swedish intelligence service refused referred calls about the documents to the national archives. Calls to the archives went unanswered.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments