In Black and White

Swedish media and the Holocaust

Headlines from Trelleborgs-Tidningen, Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet.

Opened on April 25, 2025

From 1933 to 1946, countless news articles were written about Hitler, Nazi Germany, and the war. Radio broadcasts delivered daily reports from across Europe, and in Swedish cinemas, newsreels showcased global events. Within all this, the Holocaust was present – there were reports, headlines, and brief notices about the events leading up to the genocide of Europe’s Jews.

The exhibition In Black and White explores Swedish media and the Holocaust – what was written and broadcasted, but also what was erased or edited out. Here, you can also learn more about the spirit of the times, the Swedish media landscape, and the presence of antisemitism.

Sweden was, just as it is today, a country of many voices and opinions. Through a selection of headlines and articles from the country’s largest newspapers, as well as radio segments and newsreels, you can follow the Swedish media coverage of the Holocaust. The exhibition recounts the Nazis’ rise to power, the persecution of Jews, the deportations, and, finally, the liberation of the death camps. It also highlights some of the most influencial voices of the time.

In black and white, what was written about the Holocaust? Did the news coverage influence people in Sweden? And what is the difference between reading, knowing, and understanding?

Radio broadcast, May 17, 1941. Photo: Länsmuseet Gävleborg (PDM).

Articles and notices from Dagens Nyheter, December 18, 1942. Source: Kungliga Biblioteket/Dagens Nyheter.

Collage of headlines and photos from newspapers. — Collage: Ola Myrin, Swedish Holocaust Museum/SHM.

Oscar Emil Nilsson followed the news

During the war, Oscar worked as a waiter and medic on the ships of Amerikalinien. He followed the news reporting and in his scrapbook he saved articles from both Swedish and American newspapers. Articles and headlines about the war and the Holocaust were mixed in the scrapbook with postcards from a world at war. The scrapbook is part of the museum's collection and the exhibition In Black and White.

A small act of resictance

In the exhibition, you will find Agatha Christie's book "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe". In the Swedish translation, you can find a small act of resistance.

Before your visit

Visit the exhibition at the Swedish Holocaust Museum, Torsgatan 19, Stockholm. Free admission. The exhibition opened on April 25, 2025.

Important information about jackets and bags

Cloakroom: Coats and bags larger than A4 size may not be taken into the museum. Coats can be left on coat racks or in the lockers located by the entrance. Bags larger than A4 size must be left in a locker. The cabinets are 37.5 centimeters long, 27 centimeters wide and 40.5 centimeters deep. Note! We cannot be responsible for bags that do not fit in the lockers, but refer to larger lockers that are available at, for example, Stockholm's central station. Bags may not be left unattended in the museum.

Monitoring in exhibition premises

The exhibition premises at the Swedish Holocaust Museum are under camera surveillance. The camera surveillance is approved by the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection. Only the authority's own security personnel have access to the material, which is saved for a limited time. It is only in the event of an incident or suspected crime that the recorded material is examined.

For questions contact: registrator@shm.se

Accessibility

Information about accessibility

Plan your visit

Opening hours and practical information

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About the exhibition