Landstorm

Last updated

Landstorm (plural landstormen) was a form of militia (see Landsturm ) and territorial defence force created in Sweden in 1885. It consisted of all conscripts who had completed their service, generally men between 33 and 40 years of age, as well as a smaller number immediately transferred there. The landstorm was intended "for the defence of the home town" within "own or nearest neighboring enlistment districts." The landstorm was first raised in time of war, in the parts of the country most threatened by the enemy, and organized according to existing conditions and provided with commanders based on advice and quarters. The landstorm was abolished in 1942.

Contents

History

Men of the landstorm at Sodra Latin in Stockholm in 1914. Mobilisering 1914, Landstormen pa Sodra Latins gard.jpg
Men of the landstorm at Södra Latin in Stockholm in 1914.

In Sweden, since ancient times, every man fit for military service has been used to take up arms and participate in the defence of the kingdom when the enemy threatened or ravaged the country, upon the call of the King. The 19th century's efforts to rearrange the Swedish military order based on conscription led to the need for a fixed landstorm organization. [1] However, it wasn't until 9 May 1885, that the Riksdag passed a conscription law to organize the landstorm. [2] The six oldest classes of conscripts (ages 27-32) came to form the landstorm. Through the 1892 Army Order, the landstorm expanded to include the eight oldest classes, and the landstorm age range was raised to 33-40 years of age. [1]

The landstorm was subordinate to the enlistment district commanders, and each enlistment district was usually divided into six landstorm districts, each under an officer in the reserve (in the absence of another person) assisted by a non-commissioned officer in the reserve as a manager of the landstorm storehouses available there. Voluntary exercises with the landstorm command were organized to the extent of available funds. The landstorm was assembled first in the event of war, and then in the parts of the country most threatened by the enemy. It was organized according to existing conditions and provided with commanders based on advice and quarters. [3] The commanders of the landstorm units were mainly recruited on a voluntary basis. [1]

According to the Defence Act of 1914  [ sv ], the landstorm included men aged 35-42, and conscripts belonging to the landstorm were subjected to mandatory training of five days during peacetime. However, such training took place only a short time after the adoption of the defence act. Under the Defence Act of 1925, the landstorm continued to be formed by the eight oldest classes (35-42 years of age), but no peacetime training occurred. The King could, after a decision was made to call up the first levy of conscripts and when the defence or security of the realm required it, call up the landstorm for the defence of their local area. However, special departments for protection of mobilization could be called upon before that, but they could not be kept together for longer than a maximum of 15 days. The landstorm was not allowed outside its own or neighboring enlistment district. [1]

In accordance with the Defence Act of 1936, the landstorm was extended to include the 11 oldest classes (35-45 years of age). Peacetime training now consisted of a landstorm rehearsal exercise of five days for the majority of conscripts and, immediately before this, a landstorm command exercise of seven days for trained commanders and others. The previously applicable regulations, stating that the landstorm could not be taken outside its own or neighboring enlistment district, were repealed. The landstorm received increased tasks, including serving in territorial air defence and providing air surveillance. Additionally, the landstorm would make up the infantry of the coastal fortifications, and some engineering and service units would be organized. [1]

According to the Defence Reform of 1901  [ sv ] and continuing until the Defence Act of 1942  [ sv ], the Swedish mainland was divided into landstorm districts to account for and organize the landstorm. Each landstorm district had a landstorm district commander, and for those landstorm districts where storehouses were established, there was also a landstorm förvaltare [lower-alpha 1] . With the implementation of the Conscription Act of 1941, the division of conscripts into beväringen and the landstorm was abolished. [1]

Uniform

The landstorm troops originally did not wear uniforms but instead wore civilian clothes. Many of them wore a triangular hat (Hatt m/1910) reminiscent of the hats worn by the Caroleans. [5] To be recognized as a belligerent force, they were given a visible distinguishing mark within rifle range, which couldn't be easily removed. In Sweden, this was called the landstormsmärke ("landstorm badge") if no uniform was available. The landstorm badge, affixed to the front of the cap (model 1905), consisted of an enameled circular metal plate (3.3 cm) with a blue field and a yellow Greek cross on it. [3]

In the 1914 infantry instructions, it was specified that the landstorm badge should be worn securely fastened and visible from a distance, along with a landstorm armband. At the outbreak of World War I, the landstorm troops were armed with Remington M1867 rifles. [5]

Police force

Between 1941 and 1949, there was Landstormspolis ("Landstorm Police") in Sweden, which was a term for military police personnel, [1] intended primarily for guarding communication facilities, power plants and industries in the event of war. [6] The Landstormspolis's tasks were taken over by the Bevakningspolisen ("Surveillance Police"), which was part of the civil defence. [1]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ In a military context, förvaltare is translated as: garrison sergeant major, staff sergeant major 1st class, conductor, (US) chief warrant officer; (in the air force, Br) warrant officer, (US) chief warrant officer. [4]

Related Research Articles

Lieutenant colonel (LtCol) (Swedish: Överstelöjtnant, Övlt) is a field grade officer rank in the Swedish Armed Forces, just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the Swedish Navy.

Colonel (Col) (Swedish: överste, öv) is the most senior field grade military officer rank in the Swedish Army and the Swedish Air Force, immediately above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general. It is equivalent to the naval rank of captain in the Swedish Navy.

An army division or division was during the 1900s in the Swedish Army a designation for a larger military unit, comprising two or more brigades, an artillery regiment, an engineer battalion, an anti-aircraft battalion, a signal battalion and a transport battalion. An arméfördelning corresponds to a division in many countries' armies, and it has been common to also use the word "division" in Swedish when referring to foreign rather than Swedish military units. The last divisions were disbanded through the Defence Act of 2000 and were replaced between 2000 and 2004 as a transition period of the 1st Mechanized Division.

The Royal Swedish Naval Staff College was a Swedish Navy training establishment between 1898 and 1961, providing courses for naval officers. It was the home of the Swedish Navy's staff college, which provided advanced training for officers. It was located within the Stockholm garrison in Stockholm, Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artillery Staff</span> Swedish commanding officer position

Artillery Staff in the Swedish Army consisted of commanding officers from the artillery units and had the task of assisting the Master-General of the Ordnance and the Inspector of Artillery in all his activities related questions. It was active between 1807 and 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artillery and Engineering College</span> Military unit

Artillery and Engineering College was a Swedish Army training establishment active between 1878 and 1992, providing courses for artillery officers. It was located within the Stockholm Garrison in Stockholm, Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Einar af Wirsén</span> Swedish Army officer, diplomat and writer

Carl Einar Thure af Wirsén was a Swedish Army officer, diplomat and writer. Originally an officer, he was sent into the diplomatic service after World War I and served as a military attaché in Constantinople and Sofia where he witnessed the Armenian genocide. From the Ottoman Empire and the Balkans, af Wirsén came to Poland and witnessed the country's resurrection. After serving in London, Reval and Riga, he was sent as envoy to Bucharest, Athens and Belgrade in 1921. After working in the Mosul Commission, af Wirsén was sent to Berlin, where he would stay for the next 12 years as envoy. Finally he was envoy in Rome for three years before retiring in 1940.

Karlskrona Artillery Corps was a coastal artillery unit of the Swedish Navy which operated between 1893 and 1902. The unit was based in Karlskrona in Blekinge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surgeon-General of the Swedish Armed Forces</span> Senior medical officer of the Swedish Armed Forces

The Surgeon-General of the Swedish Armed Forces is the senior medical officer of the Swedish Armed Forces. The Surgeon-General is responsible for the supervision of the Swedish Armed Forces, the Defence Materiel Administration, the Swedish Fortifications Agency and the National Defence Radio Establishment. This includes supervision in the areas of environment, health, nature, sewage, waste and chemicals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaxholm Artillery Corps</span> Military unit

Vaxholm Artillery Corps was an artillery unit of the Swedish Army which operated between 1889 and 1901. The unit was based in Vaxholm in Uppland.

Vaxholm Grenadier Regiment, also I 26, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that was active in various forms 1902–1927. The unit was based on Rindö in Vaxholm.

The Swedish Army Veterinary Corps was an administrative corps for veterinarians of the Swedish Army from 1887 to 1969. Its task was, in peace as well as in war, to provide army units etcetera with especially trained staff for veterinary positions in the army.

Underlöjtnant was the lowest officer rank in the Swedish Army from 1835 to 1937 instead of the previous ranks of fänrik and cornet. Fänrik was reintroduced in 1914 with the same position as underlöjtnant, from 1926 with lower position.

The Swedish Naval Medical Officers’ Corps was an administrative corps established in 1902 for military physicians in the Swedish Navy and in the Swedish Coastal Artillery. The corps was amalgamated into the Medical Corps of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1969.

Vice admiral (VAdm) (Swedish: Viceamiral, Vam) is a three-star commissioned naval officer rank in the Swedish Navy. Vice admiral ranks above rear admiral and below admiral. Vice admiral is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant general.

Rear admiral (RAdm) (Swedish: Konteramiral, Kam) is a two-star commissioned naval officer rank in the Swedish Navy. Rear admiral ranks above rear admiral (lower half) and below vice admiral. Rear admiral is equivalent to the rank of major general.

Flag captain was in the Swedish Navy a captain or commander who served as deputy to a fleet commander. During the 1900s, the flag captain served as chief of staff of Flaggen, the staff of the Chief of the Coastal Fleet.

The Marine Regiment was a naval artillery unit within the Swedish Navy that operated from 1824 to 1886. The unit was created in 1845 from the former Naval Artillery Regiment and was intended for garrison and guard duty at naval stations and fortifications, as well as for landing operations on ships. In 1871, the Marine Regiment was put on the list for disbandment but was revived again when it was transferred to the army as part of the Blekinge Battalion in 1886.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swedish Navy Construction Corps</span>

The Swedish Navy Construction Corps was, during the years 1793–1868, a military organized corps in the Swedish Navy, primarily tasked with creating drawings and proposals related to naval materiel and overseeing work at the Swedish state shipyards.

The Swedish Navy Mechanical Corps was a Swedish Navy corps with naval engineers from 1814 to 1868. In 1816, it was stipulated that the organization responsible for shipbuilding work in Karlskrona, known as the Byggnadsstaten, would be transformed into a special unit called the Swedish Navy Mechanical Corps after the completion of this work. This corps ceased to exist with the organization of the Mariningenjörsstaten in 1868.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bergelin, S.-E. S., ed. (1951). Nordisk familjebok: encyklopedi och konversationslexikon (in Swedish) (4th ed.). Malmö: Förlagshuset Norden. pp. 346–347. SELIBR   539090.
  2. ↑ Rosén, John; Westrin, Theodor, eds. (1885). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi innehållande upplysningar och förklaringar om märkvärdiga namn, föremål och begrepp [Nordic family book: conversation lexicon and real encyclopedia containing information and explanations about significant names, objects and concepts] (in Swedish). Vol. 9. Stockholm. p. 680. SELIBR   78095.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. 1 2 Westrin, Theodor, ed. (1911). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi [Nordic family book: conversation lexicon and real encyclopedia] (in Swedish). Vol. 15 (Ny, rev. och rikt ill. uppl. ed.). Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förl. pp. 1062–1063. SELIBR   8072220.
  4. ↑ Gullberg, Ingvar E. (1977). Svensk-engelsk fackordbok för näringsliv, förvaltning, undervisning och forskning [A Swedish-English dictionary of technical terms used in business, industry, administration, education and research] (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 283. ISBN   91-1-775052-0. SELIBR   8345587.
  5. 1 2 Stråth, Bo (2012). Sveriges historia. [kungarna och eliterna, unionen Sverige-Norge, borgerligheten, kvinnorörelsen och könsrollerna, riksdagsreformen, arbetarrörelsen, massmedierna, nyodlingsprojekten, industrialiseringen, emigrationen, befolkningsökningen, fattigdom och välfärd, vetenskap och konst] 1830-1920 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 199. ISBN   9789113024424. SELIBR   12348258.
  6. ↑ Kjellberg, H. E., ed. (1942). Svenska Dagbladets årsbok (Händelserna 1941) [Swedish Dagbladet Yearbook (Events of 1941)] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Svenska Dagbladet. p. 19. SELIBR   283647.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.