Wikipedia

General (Sweden)

General(Gen;Swedish:General) is afour-starcommissionedofficerrank in theSwedish Army,Swedish Air ForceandSwedish Amphibious Corps.General ranks immediately abovelieutenant generaland is equivalent toadmiralin theSwedish Navy.It is held by theSupreme Commanderof theSwedish Armed Forcesand themonarch.

General
General
Rank flag
Rank insignia of the Army, Amphibious Corps & Air force
CountrySweden
Service branchArmy
Air Force
Amphibious Corps(from 2000)
Coastal Artillery(until 2000)
AbbreviationGen (Swedish)[1](English)[2]
Rank groupGeneral officer
RankFour-star[a]
Non-NATOrankOF-9
Next lower rankLieutenant general
Equivalent ranksAdmiral

History

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In Sweden, the rank of general was athree-star rankuntil 1972 when it became afour-star rank.Historically, during the 20th century,lieutenant generalswerepromoted one grade upon retirementto full general. According to current practice only royals and theSupreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces,if he were to come from theSwedish Army,Swedish Air Forceor theSwedish Amphibious Corpscan hold the rank of a full, four-star, general in Sweden.

In 2009, theSwedish Armed Forcesreported that GeneralHåkan Syrénwould retain his rank during his time asChairman of the European Union Military Committee(2009–2012), which for the first time gave Sweden three active four-star generals; former Supreme Commander, General Håkan Syrén (2004–2012), current Supreme Commander, GeneralSverker Göranson(2009–2015) andCarl XVI Gustaf(1973–present).[3]This is correct since the rank of general since 1972 is a four-star rank. However, before 1972, the rank of general was a three-star rank, and between 1940 and 1941 Sweden had five active three-star generals; the Supreme Commander, GeneralOlof Thörnell(1940–1944), GeneralOscar Nygren(1939–1941[b]), KingGustaf V(1898–1950), Crown PrinceGustaf Adolf(1932–1973) andPrince Carl, Duke of Västergötland(1908–1951).[5]

Following a proposal from theSwedish Armed Forces,theGovernment of Swedendecides on employment as a general.[6]

In everyday speech, generals of all ranks are addressed as generals.[7][8]

Rank insignia

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Collar patches

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  • Collar patchm/58 (black m/02) onfield uniformM90
    (2002–present)
  • Collar patch m/58 (black m/02) onfield uniformM90
    (2002–present)
  • Collar patch m/58 (gold) onuniform m/58-m/59andfield uniformM90
    (1983–2002)
  • Collar patch m/58 (gold) onuniform m/58-m/59andfield uniformM90
    (–2002)
  • Collar patch m/58 (bronze) onuniform m/58-m/59
    (1972–1983)
  • Collar patch m/58 (bronze) onuniform m/58-m/59
    (1958–1972)
  • Collar patch onuniform m/1923
    (1923–1939)

Shoulder marks

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  • Shoulder markonuniform m/87(Army and Air Force)
    (1987–present)
  • Shoulder mark m/87 on white shirt (Army and Air Force)
    (1987–present)
  • Shoulder mark m/87 on white shirt (Navy)
    (1987–present)
  • Shoulder mark onuniform m/1939
    (1939–1958)
  • Shoulder mark onuniform m/1923
    (1923–1939)
  • Shoulder mark onuniform m/1910
    (1910–1923)

Sleeve insignias

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Amphibious Corps and Coastal Artillery

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  • Sleeve insignia for a general in the Amphibious Corps
    (2003–present)
  • Sleeve insignia for a general in the Amphibious Corps
    (2000–2003)
    and
    Coastal Artillery (1972–2000)
  • Sleeve insignia for a general in the Coastal Artillery
    (1901–1972)

Air Force

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  • Sleeve insignia for a general (1972–present) (today only onmess dress uniform)
  • Sleeve insignia for a general (?–1972)
  • Flight suitsleeve insignia (Ärmmatta m/02) for a general[9]
    (1972–present)
  • Flight suitsleeve insignia for a general
    (?–1972)

Army

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  • Sleeve insignia for a general onuniform m/1906
    (1906–1923)

Hats

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  • Hat for general of any rank onuniform m/1865-99
    (1865–?)
  • Peaked cap (dark blue) for air force general (Skärmmössa m/1930)
    (1930–)
  • Peaked cap (white) for air force general (Skärmmössa m/1930)
    (1930–)
  • Peaked cap for army general (Skärmmössa m/1952)
    (1952–)

Personal flags

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The command flag of a general (and anadmiral) is a doubleswallowtailedSwedish flag.In the first blue field 4 five-pointed white stars placed two over two.[10]

  • Admiral/General[c]command flag (4 stars)[12]
    (1972–present)
  • Admiral/General[c]command flag (3 stars)[11]
    (1905–1972)

List of generals

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The following have been promoted to the rank of general in the Swedish Armed Forces between 1900 and 2024.This colour indicates that the person was appointedhonorary generalin the Swedish Army.

Image Country Branch Name Year
promoted		 Born Died Notes Ref
Army Axel Rappe 1903 1838 1918 Chief of the General Staff(1899–1905) [13]
Army Hemming Gadd 1905[d] 1837 1915 Commander of the 4th Army Division (1896–1905)
Commandant General in Stockholm(1905–1905)
Chief ofHis Majesty's Military Staff(1905–1907)		 [13]
Army Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn 1906 1850 1942 Honorary General
Duke of Connaught and Strathearn(1874–1942)		 [13]
Army Frederick II, Grand Duke of Baden 1906 1857 1928 Honorary General
Grand Duke of Baden(1907–1918)		 [13]
Army Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland 1908 1861 1951 Prince of Sweden(1861–1951) [13]
Army Wilhelm II, German Emperor 1908 1859 1941 Honorary General
German Emperor,King of Prussia(1888–1918)		 [13]
Army Edward VII 1908 1841 1910 Honorary General
King of the United Kingdomand theBritish Dominions,Emperor of India(1901–1910)		 [13]
Army Gustaf Uggla 1913[d] 1846 1924 Commander of the 2nd Army Division (1902–1913)
Chief ofHis Majesty's Military Staff(1910–1923)
Army Knut Gillis Bildt 1919[d] 1854 1927 Chief of the General Staff(1905–1919)
Army Lars Tingsten 1922[d] 1857 1937 Chief of the General Staff(1919–1922)
Hammarskjöld as lieutenant general (1926–1930)
 Army Carl Gustaf Hammarskjöld 1930[d] 1865 1940 Chief of the General Staff(1922–1930)
Army/Air Force Gustaf VI Adolf 1932 1882 1973 Crown Prince of Sweden (1907–1950)
King of Sweden (1950–1973)
Nygren as major general (1929–1937)
 Army Oscar Nygren 1937[e] 1872 1960 Chief of the General Staff(1933–1937)
Army Olof Thörnell 1940 1877 1977 Supreme Commander(1939–1944)
Chief ofHis Majesty's Military Staff(1944–1950)
Army Helge Jung 1944 1886 1978 Supreme Commander(1944–1951)
Army Nils Swedlund 1951 1898 1965 Supreme Commander(1951–1961)
Air Force Bengt Nordenskiöld 1954[d] 1891 1983 Chief of the Air Force(1942–1954)
Army Carl August Ehrensvärd 1957[d] 1892 1974 Chief of the Army(1948–1957)
Ljungdahl as lieutenant general (1954–1960)
 Air Force Axel Ljungdahl 1960[d] 1887 1995 Chief of the Air Force(1954–1960)
Air Force Torsten Rapp 1961 1905 1993 Supreme Commander(1961–1970)
Cederschiöld as major general (1937–1963
 Army Hugo Cederschiöld 1963[f] 1878 1968 Chief ofHis Majesty's Military Staff(1950–1963)
Bonde as lieutenant general (1957–1963
 Army Thord Bonde 1963[d] 1900 1969 Chief of the Army(1957–1963)
Chief ofHis Majesty's Military Staff(1963–1969)
Bonde as lieutenant general (1961–1968
 Air Force Lage Thunberg 1968[d] 1905 1997 Chief of the Air Force(1961–1968)
Army Curt Göransson 1969[d] 1909 1996 Chief of the Army(1963–1969)
Prince Bertil is admiral's uniform
 Army/Air Force[g] Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland 1969 1912 1997 Prince of Sweden(1912–1997) [15]
Army Stig Synnergren 1970 1915 2004 Supreme Commander(1970–1978)
Chief ofHis Majesty's Military Staff(1978–1986)
Carl XVI Gustaf in army uniform
 Army/Air Force[h] Carl XVI Gustaf 1973 1946 — King of Sweden(1973–present)
Norén as lieutenant general (1966–1973
 Air Force Stig Norén 1973[d] 1908 1996 Chief of the Air Force(1968–1973)
Almgren as major general (1961–1966)
 Army Carl Eric Almgren 1976[d] 1913 2001 Chief of the Army(1969–1976)
Army Lennart Ljung 1978 1921 1990 Supreme Commander(1978–1986)
Chief ofHis Majesty's Military Staff(1986–1990)
Army Bengt Gustafsson 1986 1933 2019 Supreme Commander(1986–1994)
Air Force Owe Wiktorin 1994 1940 — Supreme Commander(1994–2000)
Hederstedt as senior colonel (1993–1996)
 Army Johan Hederstedt 2000 1943 — Supreme Commander(2000–2003)
Navy(Amphibious Corps) Håkan Syrén 2004 1952 — Supreme Commander(2004–2009)
Chairman of the European Union Military Committee(2009-2012)
Army Sverker Göranson 2009 1954 — Supreme Commander(2009–2015)
Air Force Micael Bydén 2015 1964 — Supreme Commander(2015–2024)
Army Michael Claesson 2024 1965 — Supreme Commander(2024–present)

Footnotes

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  1. ^General was athree-star rankuntil 1972 in the Swedish Armed Forces rank structure.
  2. ^Nygren left active service and was promoted to general in the army on 1 October 1937. He was recalled to active service to the post of commander of the 2nd Army Corps, where he served inUpper Norrlandfrom December 1939 to April 1940 and in western Sweden from April to September 1940 and April to August 1941. Nygren was at the appointment in 1939 Sweden's only three-star general outside the royal family.[4]
  3. ^abTheSupreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forcesused admiral's flag since 1942.[11]
  4. ^abcdefghijklmUpon retirement.
  5. ^Upon retirementon 1 October 1937. However, Nygren was called back for service as commander of the 2nd Army Corps in Upper Norrland and in Western Sweden from 1939 to 1941.[4]
  6. ^Transferred to reserve in 1950, where he remained as lieutenant general until 31 December 1954. After resigning as Chief ofHis Majesty's Military Staffin 1963, Cederschiöld was promoted to general in the army on 23 May 1963.[14]
  7. ^Prince Bertil, Duke of Hallandwas general in theSwedish Armyand in theSwedish Air Force(and admiral in theSwedish Navy).[15]
  8. ^KingCarl XVI Gustafis general in theSwedish Armyand in theSwedish Air Force(and admiral in theSwedish Navy).[16]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^"Försvarsmaktens föreskrifter om personaltjänst (FFS 2019:6)"(PDF)(in Swedish).Swedish Armed Forces.2019-12-02. p. 3.Retrieved17 August2020.
  2. ^"Försvarsmaktens gemensamma identitet – direktiv för användandet av Försvarsmaktens namn, profil och bild"(PDF).1.3 (in Swedish).Swedish Armed Forces.2013-09-16. p. 66. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 23 February 2018.Retrieved14 May2019.
  3. ^Haglund, Sven-Åke (5 November 2009)."Håkan Syrén general i EU"(in Swedish).Swedish Armed Forces.Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2021.Retrieved26 August2020.
  4. ^abCronenberg, Arvid (1990–1991)."Oscar E Nygren".Svenskt biografiskt lexikon(in Swedish). Vol. 27.National Archives of Sweden.p. 704.Retrieved2016-07-11.
  5. ^Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1940(in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1940. p. 268.
  6. ^"Förordning om ändring i förordningen (2000:555) med instruktion för Försvarsmakten"(PDF)(in Swedish).Swedish Code of Statutes.20 June 2005. p. 2.Retrieved21 August2020.
  7. ^Etikett och god ton: Praktisk handbok i sättet att uppföra sig. 1(in Swedish). Stockholm: Åhlén & Åkerlund. 1932. p. 128.SELIBR1353820.
  8. ^Handbok: parad 6: traditionsvård: H PARAD 6 2016(PDF)(in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. p. 31.SELIBR22459606.
  9. ^Reglemente: uniformsbestämmelser 2015: Unibest FM 2015(PDF)(in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2015. p. 343.SELIBR19513428.
  10. ^Braunstein 2004,p. 111
  11. ^abLybeck 1945,p. 570
  12. ^Handbok: parad 4: marinen: R PARAD 4 2017(PDF)(in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. p. 14.SELIBR21485968.
  13. ^abcdefgSveriges statskalender för år 1909(PDF)(in Swedish). Uppsala: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1909. p. 126.
  14. ^"Hugo Montgomery Cederschiöld".nordvik.se(in Swedish).Retrieved19 March2021.
  15. ^abSpiegelberg 1984,p. 404
  16. ^"Officiella fotografier"(in Swedish).Royal Court of Sweden.Retrieved19 March2021.

Sources

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