In Sweden, the slow preparation of minds for the possibility of war

Cans, filter & portable water, pharmacy and radio. "Hereà what the State recommends storing " to survive the first days of a war, said, at his neighbor à Stockholm, survival expert Harry Sepp.

“The Swedes must mentally prepare for war,” declared the commander-in-chief of the Swedish armed forces, Micael Bydén, in January, alarming some of his compatriots.

He has prompted the population to question its degree of preparation in the face of an offensive Russia, while Sweden became the 32nd member of NATO a few days ago.

Survival expert Harry Sepp shows what to stock up on to survive the first days of war, February 23, 2024 in Sundbyberg, near Stockholm, Sweden © AFP – Jonathan NACKSTRAND

“These statements were necessary. Remember the situation at the time of the Covid pandemic”, notes Harry Sepp, a retired survival expert, who provided training for more than 20 years .

In front of his neighbor, the former trainer insists on the small dynamo radio which is recharged by cranking: “it's the most important because if you don't know don't know what's going on outside, you won't know how long you have to last.”

Survival expert Harry Sepp shows a dynamo radio to store for the first days of a war, February 23, 2024 in Sundbyberg, near Stockholm, Sweden © AFP – Jonathan NACKSTRAND

Rebecca, the neighbor who attended the demonstration and did not wish to give her last name, soaks up this advice. “You can prepare the equipment but that doesn't mean you are mentally ready for war,” argues this mother of three.

Swedish authorities have reactivated their concept of “total defense” in 2015, after Russia's occupation of Crimea and intensified this effort after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, appointing a Minister of Civil Defense.

Survival expert Harry Sepp (l) shows his neighbor Rebecca what products to stock up on to survive the first days of war, February 23, 2024 in Sundbyberg, near Stockholm, Sweden © AFP – Jonathan NACKSTRAND

On the military front, Sweden reintroduced limited conscription in 2017, reopened a garrison on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea the following year and massively increased its defense spending after reducing it during the Cold War.

The principle of total defense ? “Everyone can contribute and has a duty to contribute” to defense, Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, the director, explains to AFP General of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), responsible for coordinating preparations in the event of a crisis.

– Water for three days –< /p>

“If you are in good health, you should be able to take care of yourself for a week” because “the State will take care of those who are least capable,” she emphasizes.

Survival expert Harry Sepp shows a pharmacy box to store to last the first days of a war, February 23, 2024 in Sundbyberg, near Stockholm, Sweden © AFP – Jonathan NACKSTRAND

In this context, the brochure “In case of crisis or war”, sent to 4.9 million Swedish households in 2018 and translated into 14 languages, will be updated by the end of the year.

Sweden has not experienced any war for 210 years but cultivated its civil defense during the Cold War before abandoning it after the collapse of the 'USSR.

After the statements of the head of the army, the MSB commissioned a poll on the reaction of the population. A third of the 1,000 people surveyed felt increased anxiety, particularly young people, and one in three people thought more about preparing their home.

However, “the preparation of homes (for war, editor's note) is a very long process of change, which evolves very slowly”, estimates Herman Andersson, researcher at the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI).

Water filters, candles, batteries to store to last the first days of a war, February 23, 2024 in Sundbyberg, near Stockholm, Sweden © AFP – Jonathan NACKSTRAND

Example, more than one in two Swedes estimates that they only have enough to drink for three days maximum in the event of a power outage and this rate has not changed between 2018 and 2022, according to the study carried out by the researcher.

Martin Svennberg, a 52-year-old computer engineer, has been passionate about +prepping+, preparation for crisis situations, for five years.

“We have lived in peace for so long in Sweden that we have forgotten the damage caused by war”, he believes, saying he is “very happy that finally a political leader says we could have problems”.

– Small steps –

This specialist runs a website on +prepping+, YouTube videos and broadcasts podcasts with three friends. Their popularity has accelerated since the start of the year.

Survival expert Harry Sepp opens the door to a shelter in his neighborhood on February 23, 2024 in Sundbyberg, near Stockholm, Sweden © AFP – Jonathan NACKSTRAND

“Taking measures to prepare individually for a war is taking a giant step,” he judges. “We try to make things more accessible” to interested parties, by telling them to think about what they would do in the event of a fire in their home, for example.

“It’s a +personal apocalypse+ and it’s a good start to prepare,” adds Mr. Svennberg.

However, he finds the MSB's recommendation to be self-sufficient in food for seven to 10 days insufficient.

“A week is a good start but I would recommend a month or even three months of reserve,” he explains. “The most important thing is to take small steps and buy one thing every time you go shopping.”

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