Cold War Soviet Union Spy. He commenced his career in the Swedish Navy, but subsequently changed to the Air Force. Within fifteen years he went from lieutenant to colonel. During the 1940s and 1950s, he was Swedish Military Attache (Air) in Moscow and Washington D.C. He was a well-respected official and was trusted with several delicate matters in his service. By the early 1940s, however, the Swedish Intelligence (SÄPO) began to suspect that something was wrong. He lived an extravagant life, with excesses not comparable to his means. But SÄPO had nothing to prove their suspicions. After years of suvaillance, SÄPO recruited his maid to work as an undercover agent. In June 1963 she found some rolls of film stashed away in his attic. They contained secret military documents, and the 25th of June he was caught. It showed that Wennerström had revealed almost everything concerning the Swedish military defense, as well as American secrets, for the Soviet Union. "Örnen" (The Eagle) was his code-name and he was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was pardoned in 1974. His memoirs "Från början till slutet" (From the beginning to the end) was released in 1972.
Cold War Soviet Union Spy. He commenced his career in the Swedish Navy, but subsequently changed to the Air Force. Within fifteen years he went from lieutenant to colonel. During the 1940s and 1950s, he was Swedish Military Attache (Air) in Moscow and Washington D.C. He was a well-respected official and was trusted with several delicate matters in his service. By the early 1940s, however, the Swedish Intelligence (SÄPO) began to suspect that something was wrong. He lived an extravagant life, with excesses not comparable to his means. But SÄPO had nothing to prove their suspicions. After years of suvaillance, SÄPO recruited his maid to work as an undercover agent. In June 1963 she found some rolls of film stashed away in his attic. They contained secret military documents, and the 25th of June he was caught. It showed that Wennerström had revealed almost everything concerning the Swedish military defense, as well as American secrets, for the Soviet Union. "Örnen" (The Eagle) was his code-name and he was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was pardoned in 1974. His memoirs "Från början till slutet" (From the beginning to the end) was released in 1972.
Bio by: Peter Robsahm
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