After working at various management positions at major Swedish international companies, Sture Linnér's (Sweden, 1917 – 2010) knowledge of international affairs made him an optimal candidate to head the United Nations civilian operations in Congo in the eyes of Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld. In 1960, Mr. Linnér became Chief of the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) and held that post during the onset of the Congo Crisis—a traumatic period in United Nations history. In 1962, he was nominated as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Greece, Tunisia from 1968 to 1971 and in Egypt in 1973. He became Director of the United Nations Information Centre in the United Kingdom from 1965 to 1968. From 1971 to 1973 he served as the Director of the Technical Advisory Division of UNDP. Retired at the time of the interview, conducted on 8 November 1990, Mr. Linnér recalls his time as Chief of ONUC. He reflects on his meetings with Prime Minister Lumumba and the pitfalls of communication in the Congo at the time. Mr. Linnér discusses how he was aboard the plane that ultimately crashed and killed Dag Hammarskjöld, before the Secretary-General decided that Linnér should remain in Kinshasa.

47 p.
1 audiocassette

Typescript.
Yale University Oral history project on the United Nations.
Accompanied by audiocassettes.
Audiocassette.
"Yale University Oral history project on the United Nations".