A freight train carrying wagons for the German military explodes in Krylbo. Sabotage is suspected, but never proven.
After the invasion of Norway in April 1940, Germany demands the right to send munitions through Sweden to Norway. These demands are rejected, but Sweden agrees to let Germany transport vehicles and “other equipment”. After further negotiation, transport of munitions and military personnel, mainly soldiers on their way to and from leave in Germany, is also allowed.
In June 1941, new demands are made. The German Engelbrecht Division’s 15,000 soldiers are to be sent by rail from Norway to Finland via Sweden. Many consider the German demands to be in conflict with Sweden’s neutrality. They are approved anyway, but this leads to a serious political crisis.
At times, German traffic takes up 10 percent of the Swedish railway's capacity in the period 1940–1942.