There is a reason propaganda works better when you cannot get away from it. One of the most frightening accomplishments of Nazi Germany was not simply that the regime produced propaganda. Governments had produced propaganda before, and they have produced plenty of it since. What made the Nazi propaganda machine so formidable was its ambition […]
The Hall of Mirrors: How Repetition Gets Framed as Truth Read More »
As we stand at the 65th anniversary of Dag Hammarskjöld’s death, one question continues to dominate discussion of the 1961 Ndola crash: Who killed Dag Hammarskjöld? It is an understandable question, but it’s not the best place to begin. If we want to understand what happened to Hammarskjöld on the night of September 17–18, 1961,
To Solve the Murder of Dag Hammarskjöld, Start with His Life Read More »
What Happened to Dag Hammarskjöld’s Plane in 1961? Dag Hammarskjöld died on September 18, 1961, when the aircraft carrying him and his delegation crashed near Ndola, in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). At the time, Hammarskjöld was serving as Secretary-General of the United Nations and was en route to negotiate a ceasefire during
Why Did Dag Hammarskjöld’s Plane Crash in 1961? Read More »
When people search for Dag Hammarskjöld’s death or Dag Hammarskjöld’s plane crash, they often discover the tragic ending of his life before they learn about the extraordinary way he lived. Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, left a legacy that extends far beyond the Congo Crisis or the Cold War tensions of his
Remembering Dag Hammarskjöld: His Life, Legacy, and Enduring Relevance Read More »
Shortly after midnight on September 18, 1961, Dag Hammarskjöld’s plane went down near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia (today Zambia), cutting short both his life and his final mission to broker peace in the Congo. What was meant to be a daring act of shuttle diplomacy—flying directly into hostile territory to meet Moïse Tshombe—ended instead in
Episode 29: Dag Hammarskjöld’s Final Mission, Part II – Dag’s Death Read More »
A Summer on Fire In the summer of 1961, the Congo was falling apart—and Dag Hammarskjöld was at the center of the flame. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, Hammarskjöld faced mounting pressure from all sides. The Congo Crisis was spiraling out of control, the Soviets were calling for his resignation, and even supposed allies
The Summer of Hell: Dag Hammarskjöld in 1961 Read More »
On the night of September 17, 1961, Dag Hammarskjöld boarded a plane for what would become his final mission. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, Hammarskjöld was traveling to Ndola (in what is now Zambia), hoping to negotiate peace during the Congo Crisis—a fraught and deeply complex conflict that had drawn in Cold War superpowers.
The Final Flight: Reflecting on Dag Hammarskjöld’s Tragic Death and Enduring Legacy Read More »