A brand new decade begins. There is unrest in many places in Africa and Sweden is sending UN troops to the Congo. The Shah of Persia visits Stockholm and Lena Larsson writes an article she calls "Buy, wear and throw away" - and the debate about this will continue for years.

1956 - the year when Elvis Presley breaks through and Grace Kelly celebrates a fairytale wedding in Monaco. In Ställdalen, a rail bus carrying schoolchildren is crushed and off New York m/s Stockholm collides with Andrea Doria. Frances Bulwark runs its last race and Swedish UN soldiers are flown to Suez. But most of all, it is the year of the Hungarian refugees.