Chief of the Defence Staff (Sweden)

The Chief of the Defence Staff (Swedish: Chefen för försvarsstaben, C FST, or Försvarsstabschef) the second most senior uniformed member of the Swedish Armed Forces (after the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces) and heads the Defence Staff. The Chief of the Defence Staff is the chief of staff of the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces.[1]

For the post between 2007 and 2022, see Chief of Defence Staff (Sweden).
Chief of the Defence Staff
Chefen för försvarsstaben
Ministry of Defence
TypeChief of the Defence Staff
AbbreviationC FST
Reports toSupreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces
SeatSwedish Armed Forces Headquarters
Term lengthNo fixed term
PrecursorChief of the General Staff (1st incarnation)
Chief of Defence Staff (2nd incarnation)
Formation1 July 1937 (1st incarnation)
1 January 2023 (2nd incarnation)
First holderMajor General Olof Thörnell
Final holderVice Admiral Peter Nordbeck (1st incarnation)
Vice Admiral Jonas Haggren (2nd incarnation)
Abolished1993
Unofficial namesFörsvarsstabschef
DeputyDeputy Chief of the Defence Staff

History

The position was created in 1937 as a successor to the Chief of the General Staff which was abolished the same year. The position was held by a senior member of one of the three main branches of the Swedish Armed Forces until 1993 when the position was abolished when the Defence Staff was disbanded. Between 2007 and 2022, the Ledningsstaben (LEDS) in the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters was called the Defence Staff in English and was commanded by the Chief of Defence Staff (Chefen för ledningsstaben, C LEDS). The Chief of the Defence Staff position was re-established on 1 January 2023 after the Defence Staff (Ledningsstaben, LEDS) was decommissioned.

Chiefs of the Defence Staff
No. Portrait Chief of the Defence StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branchSupreme CommanderRef.
1937–1993
1
Olof Thörnell
Thörnell, OlofLieutenant general
Olof Thörnell
(1877–1977)		1 July 1937[lower-alpha 1]December 1939[lower-alpha 2]1–2 years
Army		–[2]
2
Axel Bredberg
Bredberg, AxelMajor general
Axel Bredberg
(1884–1960)		1 July 194215 November 1945[lower-alpha 3]1 year, 204 days
Army		Olof Thörnell
Helge Jung		[8][6][7]
-
Carl August Ehrensvärd
Ehrensvärd, Carl AugustMajor general
Carl August Ehrensvärd
(1892–1974)
Acting		22 January 194415 November 19451 year, 297 days
Army		Olof Thörnell
Helge Jung		[6][7]
3
Carl August Ehrensvärd
Ehrensvärd, Carl AugustMajor general
Carl August Ehrensvärd
(1892–1974)		15 November 194530 April 19473 years, 98 days
Army		Helge Jung[8][7]
4
Nils Swedlund
Swedlund, NilsMajor general
Nils Swedlund
(1898–1965)		1 April 1947[lower-alpha 4]1 April 19514 years, 0 days
Army		Helge Jung[9]
5
Richard Åkerman
Åkerman, RichardMajor general
Richard Åkerman
(1898–1981)		1 April 195130 September 19576 years, 182 days
Army		Nils Swedlund[10]
-
Curt Göransson
Göransson, CurtMajor general
Curt Göransson
(1909–1996)
Acting		1 April 195730 September 1957182 days
Army		Nils Swedlund[11][12]
6
Curt Göransson
Göransson, CurtMajor general
Curt Göransson
(1909–1996)		1 October 195730 September 19613 years, 364 days
Army		Nils Swedlund[12]
7
Carl Eric Almgren
Almgren, Carl EricMajor general
Carl Eric Almgren
(1913–2001)		1 October 196130 March 19675 years, 180 days
Army		Torsten Rapp[11][13]
8
Stig Synnergren
Synnergren, StigLieutenant general
Stig Synnergren
(1915–2004)		1 April 196730 September 19703 years, 182 days
Army		Torsten Rapp[13][14]
9
Bo Westin
Westin, BoLieutenant general
Bo Westin
(1913–2009)		1 October 197030 September 19721 year, 365 days
Navy
(Coastal Artillery)		Stig Synnergren[14][15]
10
Gunnar Eklund
Eklund, GunnarLieutenant general
Gunnar Eklund
(1920–2010)		1 October 197230 September 19763 years, 365 days
Navy
(Coastal Artillery)		Stig Synnergren[15][16]
10
Lennart Ljung
Ljung, LennartLieutenant general
Lennart Ljung
(1921–1990)		1 October 197630 September 19781 year, 364 days
Army		Stig Synnergren[16][17]
11
Bengt Schuback
Schuback, BengtVice admiral
Bengt Schuback
(1928–2015)		1 October 197830 September 19823 years, 364 days
Navy		Ola Ullsten
Lennart Ljung		[17][18]
12
Bror Stefenson
Stefenson, BrorVice admiral
Bror Stefenson
(1929–2018)		1 October 198231 March 19874 years, 181 days
Navy		Lennart Ljung
Bengt Gustafsson		[18][19]
13
Torsten Engberg
Engberg, TorstenLieutenant general
Torsten Engberg
(1934–2018)		1 April 198730 June 19914 years, 90 days
Navy
(Coastal Artillery)		Bengt Gustafsson[19][20]
14
Owe Wiktorin
Wiktorin, OweLieutenant general
Owe Wiktorin
(born 1940)		1 July 199130 September 19920–1 years
Air Force		Bengt Gustafsson[20][21]
15
Peter Nordbeck
Nordbeck, PeterVice admiral
Peter Nordbeck
(born 1938)		1 October 199219930–1 years
Navy		Bengt Gustafsson[21]
2023–present
1
Michael Claesson
Claesson, MichaelLieutenant general
Michael Claesson
(born 1965)		1 January 2023Incumbent297 days
Army		Micael Bydén[22]

Vice Chiefs of the Defence Staff
No. Portrait Vice/Deputy Chief of the Defence StaffTitleTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branchSupreme CommanderRef.
1
Axel Rappe
Rappe, AxelMajor general
Axel Rappe
(1884–1945)		Deputy Chief
(Ställföreträdande chef)		15 December 193931 March 19411 year, 106 days
Army		Olof Thörnell[lower-alpha 5]
2
Samuel Åkerhielm
Åkerhielm, SamuelColonel
Samuel Åkerhielm
(1887–1976)		Deputy Chief3 March 194119410 years
Army		Olof Thörnell[lower-alpha 6]
3
Carl August Ehrensvärd
Ehrensvärd, Carl AugustColonel
Carl August Ehrensvärd
(1892–1974)		Vice Chief
(Souschef)		194219441–2 years
Army		Olof Thörnell[25]
4
Nils Swedlund
Swedlund, NilsColonel
Nils Swedlund
(1898–1965)		Vice Chief
(Souschef)		1 January 194431 March 19462 years, 89 days
Army		Helge Jung[9]
5
Thord Bonde
Bonde, ThordColonel
Thord Bonde
(1900–1969)		Vice Chief194619503–4 years
Army		Helge Jung[lower-alpha 7]
6
Moje Östberg
Östberg, MojeCaptain
Moje Östberg
(1897–1984)		Vice Chief195019510–1 years
Navy		Helge Jung[29]
7
Sam Myhrman
Myhrman, SamColonel
Sam Myhrman
(1912–1965)		Vice Chief195619603–4 years
Army		Nils Swedlund[30]
8
Åke Mangård
Mangård, ÅkeColonel
Åke Mangård
(1917–1998)		Vice Chief196019610–1 years
Air Force		Nils Swedlund[31]
9
Dag Arvas
Arvas, DagCaptain
Dag Arvas
(1913–2004)		Vice Chief196119642–3 years
Navy		Torsten Rapp[32]
10
Bengt Lundvall
Lundvall, BengtCaptain
Bengt Lundvall
(1915–2010)		Vice Chief196419661–2 years
Navy		Torsten Rapp[33]
11
Bo Westin
Westin, BoMajor general
Bo Westin
(1913–2009)		Vice Chief196619681–2 years
Navy
(Coastal Artillery)		Torsten Rapp[34]
12
Dick Stenberg
Stenberg, DickMajor general
Dick Stenberg
(1921–2004)		Vice Chief1 October 19681 April 19701 year, 182 days
Air Force		Torsten Rapp[35]
13
Nils-Fredrik Palmstierna
Palmstierna, Nils-FredrikMajor general[lower-alpha 8]
Nils-Fredrik Palmstierna
(1919–1990)		Vice Chief1 April 197019732–3 years
Air Force		Stig Synnergren[36][14]
14
Sven-Olof Olson
Olson, Sven-OlofMajor general
Sven-Olof Olson
(1926–2021)		Vice Chief197319773–4 years
Air Force		Stig Synnergren[37]
15
Bengt Schuback
Schuback, BengtRear admiral
Bengt Schuback
(1928–2015)		Vice Chief1 July 197730 September 19781 year, 91 days
Navy		Stig Synnergren[38][17]
16
Bengt Lehander
Lehander, BengtMajor general
Bengt Lehander
(1925–1994)		Vice Chief1 October 197830 September 19823 years, 364 days
Air Force		Lennart Ljung[38][18]
17
Lars-Bertil Persson
Persson, Lars-BertilMajor general
Lars-Bertil Persson
(born 1934)		Deputy Chief[39]1 October 198219863–4 years
Air Force		Lennart Ljung[18][39]
18
Owe Wiktorin
Wiktorin, OweMajor general
Owe Wiktorin
(born 1940)		Deputy Chief[40]198630 June 19914–5 years
Air Force		Bengt Gustafsson[40][20]
2023–present
1
Jens Nykvist
Nykvist, JensRear admiral
Jens Nykvist
(born 1968)		Deputy Chief1 July 2023Incumbent146 days
Navy		Micael Bydén[41]

See also

Footnotes
  1. On 1 July 1936, the then Inspector General of the Infantry, Major General Olof Thörnell, was promoted to lieutenant general and at the same time appointed Chief of the Defence Staff. Thörnell now began the organization work. On 1 July 1937, the new staff gathered and the Chief of Defence Staff took command.[2]
  2. On 8 December 1939, Thörnell was appointed Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces[3] without at the same time appointing a new Chief of the Defence Staff.[4] After Thörnell's appointment as Supreme Commander for the mobilized elements of the armed forces in December 1939, Major General Axel Rappe was appointed Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. This meant that Rappe in reality served as Chief of the Defence Staff.[5]
  3. Bredberg was granted a leave of absence on 21 January 1944.[6] He did not return to the post but officially left the post on 15 November 1945 when he was appointed military commander of the V Military District.[7]
  4. Appointed on 25 February.[9]
  5. During the winter of 1939, when Axel Rappe was commanding officer of the Svea Artillery Regiment in Stockholm, he was made available for service to the Chief of the Defence Staff. After Olof Thörnell's appointment as Supreme Commander for the mobilized elements of the armed forces in December 1939, Rappe was appointed Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. This meant that Rappe in reality served as Chief of the Defence Staff.[5]
  6. Furtenbach (1964) states that Åkerhielm relieved Rappe of command on 3 March 1941[23] while Cronenberg (1995-1997) states that Rappe served until 31 March 1941.[5] Harnesk (1948) states that Åkerhielm served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff no longer than 1941.[24] Furthermore, Furtenbach (1964) states that Åkerhielm was major general while Harnesk (1948) states that Åkerhielm was promoted to major general in 1942, a year after serving as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff.
  7. According to Lagerström (1968)[26] and other sources,[27] Bonde was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 1946 and his next appointment was as second-in-command of the Svea Life Guards (I 1) in 1950. However, between these postings, Bonde held the position as Chief of Staff of United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) from May 1948 to July 1948.[28]
  8. Palmstierna was Colonel when taking office on 1 April and was promoted to major general on 1 October the same year.[14]

References

Notes
  1. Försvarsmaktens arbetsordning 2022, p. 11
  2. Furtenbach 1964, pp. 9, 11
  3. "Överbefälhavare i historien" (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  4. Jarmar 2005, p. 71
  5. Cronenberg 1995–1997, p. 694
  6. "Tre nya generaler utnämnda". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 21 January 1944. p. 8. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  7. "Chefen för försvarsstaben". Söderhamns Tidning (in Swedish). 17 November 1945. p. 8. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  8. Furtenbach 1964, p. 27
  9. Zetterberg 2014, p. 542
  10. Furtenbach 1964, p. 42
  11. Furtenbach 1964, p. 44
  12. Furtenbach 1964, p. 49
  13. Skoglund 2009, p. 123
  14. GHT 1970, p. 5.
  15. SvD 1972, p. 1.
  16. GP 1975, p. 26.
  17. DN 1978, p. 1.
  18. DN 1981, p. 8.
  19. Falkkloo 1986, p. 18
  20. SvD 1991, p. 16.
  21. GP 1992, p. 16.
  22. "Ny organisation i Försvarsmaktens högkvarter samt utnämningar" (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  23. Furtenbach 1964, p. 33
  24. Harnesk 1948, p. 614
  25. "Tre nya generalmajorer, ny chef för försvarsstaben". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). No. 20. 22 January 1944. p. A7. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  26. Lagerström 1968, p. 124
  27. "Thord Bonde 50 år". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 16 March 1950. p. 12A. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  28. UNTSO News Magazine 2008, p. 23
  29. "Nye marinattachén i Washington". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 29 April 1951. p. 10A. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  30. Burling 1962, p. 759
  31. Vem är det 1984, p. 758.
  32. Uddling & Paabo 1992, p. 69
  33. Vem är det 1984, p. 730.
  34. Vem är det 1984, p. 1174.
  35. Scheiderbauer 2007–2011, p. 225
  36. Vem är det 1984, p. 877.
  37. Vem är det 1984, p. 861.
  38. Wennerholm 2015, p. 152
  39. Spiegelberg 1984, p. 104
  40. Bollman 1994, p. 7
  41. Försvarets forum 2023, p. 6.

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