The Dahlerus Mission refers to a series of frantic, ultimately futile diplomatic efforts by a Swedish businessman to prevent the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Johan Birger Essen Dahlerus leveraged an unusual network of high-level German and British contacts to act as an intermediary during the final weeks of peace preceding the German invasion of Poland.
Network and Affiliations
Born in Stockholm in 1891, Dahlerus maintained significant connections across Europe. He possessed an early acquaintance with Hermann Göring, a key leader of the Third Reich. Unknown to the British government at the time, Dahlerus was deeply entangled with the German hierarchy. His wife was a German national with significant landholdings in Germany, and he acted as guardian to Göring's stepson. Furthermore, Göring had facilitated his marriage permit in 1934, creating a clear conflict of interest that compromised his neutrality.
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On 7 August 1939, Dahlerus hosted seven British businessmen at his home near the Danish border in Schleswig-Holstein to meet with Göring. The participants included representatives such as A. Holden, Charles Spencer, Stanley Rawson of John Brown & Company, Brian Mountain, Sir Robert Renwick, and Charles Maclaren. The group attempted to convince the German leadership that Britain would uphold its treaty obligations to Poland. Later that month, Dahlerus shuttled between Berlin and London, meeting with Neville Chamberlain, Lord Halifax, Sir Horace Wilson, and Sir Alexander Cadogan to relay proposals regarding Danzig and border guarantees.
Final Diplomatic Failure
As the deadline for military action neared, Dahlerus attempted to bridge the communication gap between Berlin and London. He delivered German demands—including the controversial sixteen points—to British officials and the Polish Ambassador, Józef Lipski. On 1 September 1939, following the start of hostilities, he continued to act as a conduit for German claims. Even as the British ultimatum approached expiration on 3 September, he unsuccessfully pushed for a meeting between Göring and British leaders. Post-war analysis at the Nuremberg trials revealed that he had been heavily manipulated by German officials throughout the process.
Fast facts
- Born: 1891, Stockholm
- Died: 1957, Stockholm
- Occupations: Businessperson, merchant, diplomat
- Burial site: Djursholms Begravningsplats
- Key German contact: Hermann Göring
- Nationality: Sweden
Questions readers ask
Was Birger Dahlerus an official government diplomat?
No, he was a Swedish businessman who operated as an amateur diplomat.
Why was his involvement criticized by the British?
The British government later discovered his personal ties to Hermann Göring and his wife's German landholdings, which undermined his claims of neutrality.
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