In 1948, the UN decided to divide Småland to give the ancient and persecuted people called the Värenders, who once lived in Småland, a country of their own - Värend. The decision leads to civil war. More than 150,000 Smålanders are forced to flee to Östergötland, Västergötland and Skåne.

The UN decision to create the nation Värend in Småland led to a civil war in 1948. The smallholder Erik Jonsson in Edshult was forced to flee with his wife and son's family. They sought refuge with relatives in Rumskulla, but the enemy also came there. The relatives were murdered and the people of Edshult had to continue their flight on foot through the forests to Östergötland. When they were about to cross a border bridge during battle, the families split up. The grandparents end up in Norrköping. A year later, in 1949, they do not know if the son's family is alive at all.