Sweden decided to stay neutral during both World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945). This choice really affected how they organized their military and defense throughout the 20th century.

Neutrality in World War I:

• Sweden chose not to get involved in the fighting.
• Their military spending grew from 25 million SEK in 1914 to 80 million SEK by 1918.
• The country focused on making its military stronger, especially by improving its navy for protection along the coast.

Neutrality in World War II:

• Sweden kept its neutral stance, which was especially important because of where it was located on the map.
• Even though Sweden said it was neutral, it was surrounded by countries controlled by Nazis, making things tricky.
• By 1943, Sweden's defense spending reached 2.7 billion SEK, with an emphasis on protecting the air and land.
• They also prepared about 800,000 soldiers to be ready for defense.

Effects on Military Strategy:

• Because of its neutrality, Sweden created a strong system for drafting citizens into the military, ensuring they had a good reserve force.
• Their strategy focused on staying out of conflicts while still being ready to defend themselves.
• After the wars, Sweden took part in peacekeeping missions, using the neutral position they held during the wars.

In short, Sweden's choice to remain neutral helped it create a strong defense system and stay prepared, all without getting directly involved in the wars.