For a long time, neutrality held the status of a security policy overdoctrine in Sweden, which was neither seriously questioned nor critically discussed. Originating from the negative experiences of its own hegemonic policies, it was regarded in Sweden in the 20th century as the undisputed golden path. However, the image of the peaceful Nordic nation is now wavering. After the end of the Soviet Union, archival materials became accessible that painted a very different picture. Sweden's neutrality was seemingly far less unassailable than officially emphasized. Did the government collude with the German Nazi regime to maintain its status? A heated historical debate began. Ingolf Notzke analyzes the phenomenon of Swedish neutrality in the light of Sweden's historiography. He addresses the background of the pursuit of neutrality and Sweden's neutral political actions during World War II.