Dag Hammarskjöld

Lore & Background

Hammarskjöld served until his death on 18 September 1961, when his plane crashed en route to cease-fire negotiations during the Congo Crisis. U.S. president John F. Kennedy called him 'the greatest statesman of our century'.

Reader's Guide

Hammarskjöld's legacy is sharply divided. In the Western world, his tenure was hailed as one of the most notable in UN leadership. He was the only posthumous recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. His efforts to strengthen the UN included improving morale and organizational efficiency, creating the first UN peacekeeping forces in Egypt (UNEF) and the Congo (ONUC), and personally intervening to defuse diplomatic crises. His second term was cut short when he died in a plane crash while en route to cease-fire negotiations during the Congo Crisis. He was succeeded by U Thant, who was appointed Acting Secretary-General six weeks after Hammarskjöld's death.

Did You Know?

• Dag Hammarskjöld was killed in a plane crash en route to cease-fire negotiations during the Congo Crisis on 18 September 1961.
• He was the only posthumous recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
• U.S. president John F. Kennedy called him 'the greatest statesman of our century'.
• He created the first UN peacekeeping forces: UNEF in Egypt and ONUC in the Congo.
• He was succeeded by U Thant, who was appointed Acting Secretary-General six weeks after Hammarskjöld's death.