Gladio (Sweden)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
158
|
| Country: |
Sweden |
| Date formed: |
Jan. 1, 1951 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
The group was set up in 1951. |
| Date dissolved: |
Dec. 15, 1990 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
year
|
| Details of Termination: |
The group seems to have ceased to exist with the end of the Cold War. |
| Termination Type(s): |
none
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
no |
| Former Armed Group? |
no information |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
unclear (type 1 or 2) |
| Created by the Government?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
person/minister
|
| Government Link(s): |
state (institution)
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
yes |
| Shared Personnel: |
no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
Foreign government
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
United States
|
| Other Connection(s): |
NATO |
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
The network of Gladio groups in Europe may have some semi-official status within the intelligence community. But this status is not recognized, as the groups are kept hidden even from some domestic governments and prime ministers. The groups were ultimately answerable to NATO-CIA rather than to domestic governments in event of an attack by the Warsaw Pact. In 1991 Swedish media reveals that a secret stay-behind army existed in neutral Finland with an exile base in Stockholm. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The group was as part of a stay-behind network that was intended as a fighting force prepared to counter a possible Warsaw Pact invasion. It was meant to conduct guerilla warfare and sabotage activities. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
faster mobilization; deniability of violence
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
|
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
unknown
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
|
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
The group trained with the US Green Berets and the British Special Air Services (SAS) and was equipped from underground arms caches. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The PGM was coordinated by NATO and run by the military secret services in close cooperation with the CIA and British Secret Intelligence Service. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.
Wikipedia. “Operation Gladio.” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Gladio&oldid=835600108
Evidence
