Swedish interest in the archipelago began with Arctic expeditions led by geologists and explorers such as Otto Martin Torell and Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld.

In the early 20th century, Sweden established mining operations, most notably in Sveagruva and Pyramiden, before selling its claims to Norway and the Soviet Union.

[1] During the second half of the 19th century, several Swedish polar expeditions were carried out, during which Svalbard and its largest island, Spitsbergen, were extensively studied.

In addition to research on flora and fauna, geology studies were also conducted, primarily to locate mineral deposits and other natural resources.

The first Swedish expedition to Svalbard was conducted in 1858 by Otto Martin Torell and Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld in the sloop Frithiof.

The expedition had the purpose of exploring Spitsbergen and had three members of the research team: Nordenskiöld as leader, astronomer Nils Dunér and zoologist Anders Johan Malmgren.

Remaining from the project preparations was a two-story residential building built for the company at Cape Thordsen, which later became known as the "Swedish House".

[1] AB Isfjorden's development plans were finally abandoned after Adolf Erik's son Gustaf Nordenskiöld mapped the area in the summer of 1890.

The house was erected by AB Isfjorden on Cape Thordsen, and was intended to withstand the harsh conditions of the Svalbard winters.

[7] The five-man expedition, led by geology student Bertil Högbom, reached its destination on 12 July 1910 and an occupation sign declaring that this was Swedish land was erected.

After analyses, it was decided to focus on the deposit in Braganzavågen, which is why the mine in Pyramiden was abandoned and in 1927 was sold to The Soviet Union.

[7] During the nine years that the mine was in operation, approximately two thousand Swedes - women and men - lived for longer or shorter periods in the occupied Swedish sector.

[7] During the long and dark winters, people worked in the mine and during the short summer, the coal was loaded and houses were built.

[12] In 1916, two years after World War I started, the Germans proclaimed their unconditional submarine warfare, which sent coal prices soaring by over a thousand percent.

Now the situation had arrived as expected; a threatening "energy crisis" with promising profitability gave the coal barons momentum and the starting signal was given for a massive exploitation of the occupied areas.

[7] The journey in the summer of 1917 was by no means problem-free, there was great concern about German submarines, and paradoxically, it was difficult to get away because the coal shortage during the war made it complicated to get hold of fuel for the boats.

In 1941 Norwegian and Soviet coal mines were evacuated and destroyed during Operation Gauntlet, leaving Svea isolated both from Sweden and the rest of Svalbard.

On 18 May 1942, as a part of Operation Fritham, governor and Lieutenant Ove Roll Lund sent 35 men to Svea to prevent the Germans from taking the mine and its resources.

[7] In 1926, the company went into liquidation, but it was reconstructed two years later under the name Nya svenska stenkolsaktiebolaget Spetsbergen, where the Swedish state was almost the sole shareholder.

[1] The operations were limited to guarding and repair work, until Svea was sold to the Norwegian coal company Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani on March 14, 1934 for one million kronor.