This gallery consists of Hjördis Genberg hat-shots, taken for Nordiska Kompaniet’s ‘Franska’ department from 1943-1945. All photos are courtesy of the DigitaltMuseum, who have also created a Swedish language Wiki page for Hjördis.
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. “GOIN’ HIGH HAT. Green felt hat with veil. shown for suit wear by Sweden’s Nordiska Kompaniet.” Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet.
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1943. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1944. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1944. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1944. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1944. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1945. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1945. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1945. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1945. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Hjördis Genberg, 1945. Photo: Holmén, Erik / Nordiska museet
Next page: Something big and demanding
Hjördis Genberg Niven 
I found this website after re-reading David Niven’s “the Moon’s a Balloon’, and then “the man behind the balloon” by Michael Munn.
Hjördis’ story is almost as interesting as David’s. One does get the feeling that however kind and loving – infidelities aside – David was with her, he never truly let her be anything more than Mrs David Niven. And he paid the price for it.
And it’s sad that her very tragic experience at a young age was not taken seriously, by her or anybody – that was probably the root of her problems.
Women didn’t always have it easy in those days.
Thank you for sharing g this fascinating and well-documented story and insight.
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Hi Timothy. Thank you for your thoughts. You have made some valid points. I haven’t used material about Hjordis from one of the books that you’ve read, as I consider the source interviews to be fictional: https://hjordisniven.com/bibliography/ (the Guardian link at the bottom of the page is worth a read).
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I worked for Mrs Niven for several months at Chalet St Andre in Chateau Do,ex. She was very demanding,unfriendly,and with no other staff there I found it a very lonely position. My job as Cook/ Housekeeper did not last long thank goodness,as she decided to go off to America to visit her daughters. I originally was told the job was in Cap Ferrat but never even saw it. I was very relieved when I left to return to the UK !
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