The Middle Army Division (Swedish: Mellersta arméfördelningen, 14. förd), was a division of the Swedish Army which operated in various forms from 1941 to 1997. Its staff was located in Linköping Garrison in Linköping.[2]
Middle Army Division | |
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Mellersta arméfördelningen | |
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Active | 1941–1997 |
Country | Sweden |
Allegiance | Swedish Armed Forces |
Branch | Swedish Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Part of | Middle Military District[note 1] |
Garrison/HQ | Linköping |
March | "Svensk lösen" (Modéer)[note 2] |
Insignia | |
Standard m/1995 | ![]() |
Standard m/1950 | ![]() |
History
editThe Middle Army Division was raised on 1 August 1941 as the XIV Division (XIV. fördelningen), a doubling division of the IV Division. The army division was directly subordinate to the military commander of the IV Military District, while the Svea Life Guards was responsible for raising and mobilization of the army division staff. In 1966, the mobilization responsibility for the army division was transferred to the Life Grenadier Regiment in Linköping. On 1 October 1966, the designation was changed from being given in Roman numerals to Arabic numerals, that is, the division was termed the 14th Division (14. fördelningen). On 1 July 1984, the mobilization responsibility for the army division was transferred to Södermanland Regiment (P 10/Fo 43) in Strängnäs.[2]
On 1 July 1991, the Bergslagen Military District and the Eastern Military District merged and formed the Middle Military District. The army division, together with the Eastern Army Division, thus came to be subordinate to the military commander of the Middle Military District. Through the Defence Act of 1992, the Riksdag decided that the Swedish Armed Forces' war organization should reflect the peace organization. As of 1 July 1994, the army division staff, together with the Eastern Army Division, came to be organized as cadre-organized units within the Middle Military District.[3][2] With this reorganization, the division was relocated to Linköping Garrison.
Prior to the Defence Act of 1996, the Swedish government proposed to the Riksdag that the war organization to be reduced. Where, among other things, the three military areas would be covered by each division staff. Of the six division staffs, three with division units and 13 army brigades would be maintained. Within the Middle Military District, the government proposed that the Middle Army Division should be disbanded. On 13 December 1996, the Riksdag adopted the government's bill, which meant that the Middle Army Division was disbanded on 31 December 1997.[4]
Barracks and training areas
editAlthough the division was mobilized by other units, it was in peace time grouped together with the military area staff. When the division staff was raised, it came to be co-located with the Eastern Military District Staff at Stureplan in Stockholm. In 1949, the two staffs were moved to the barracks of the Life Regiment of Horse (K 1) at Lidingövägen 28 in Stockholm. On 14 June 1963, both staff were transferred to a new property complex in Strängnäs Garrison.[5][6] When the staff became independent on 1 July 1994, the staff was placed to the barracks area in Linköping Garrison.
Heraldry and traditions
editCoat of arms
editThe coat of arms of the Middle Army Division used from 1994 to 1997. Blazon: "Azure, the provincial badge of Östergötland, a griffin with dragon wing and tail or, armed and langued gules. The shield surmounted two batons, charged with open crowns azure in saltire or".[7]
Medals
editIn 1995, the Mellersta arméfördelningens förtjänstmedalj ("Middle Army Division Medal of Merit") in silver (MellfördSM) of the 8th size was established. In 1997, this medal was renamed Mellersta fördelningens (14.förd) minnesmedalj ("Middle Division (14.förd) Commemorative Medal") in silver (MellfördSMM). The medal ribbon is blue with red edges followed by a yellow stripe.[8]
Commanding officers
edit- 1941–1994: ?
- 1994–1996: Senior Colonel Hans Berndtson[9]
- 1996–1997: Lieutenant Colonel Anders Ihrén (acting)[10]
Names, designations and locations
editName | Translation | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
XIV. arméfördelningen | XIV Army Division | 1941-08-01 | – | 1966-09-30 |
14. arméfördelningen | 14th Army Division | 1966-10-01 | – | 1994-06-30 |
Mellersta arméfördelningen | Middle Army Division | 1994-07-01 | – | 1997-12-31 |
Designation | From | To | ||
XIV. förd | 1941-08-01 | – | 1966-09-30 | |
14. förd | 1966-10-01 | – | 1997-12-31 | |
Location | From | To | ||
Stockholm Garrison | 1941-08-01 | – | 1966-09-30 | |
Linköping Garrison | 1966-10-01 | – | 1984-06-30 | |
Strängnäs Garrison | 1984-07-01 | – | 1994-06-30 | |
Linköping Garrison | 1994-07-01 | – | 1997-12-31 |
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ The army division staff was subordinated to the Svea Life Guards (1946–1966), the Life Grenadier Regiment (1966–1984) and the Södermanland Regiment (1984-1994).
- ^ The march was established on 13 June 1996 by TFG 960005. It was taken over in 2000 by the 1st Mechanized Division (1. mekaniserade divisionen).[1]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ Sandberg 2007, p. 55
- ^ a b c Braunstein 2003, p. 313
- ^ Bildt, Carl; Björck, Anders (13 February 1992). "Regeringens proposition 1991/92:102: Totalförsvarets utveckling till och med budgetåret 1996/97 samt anslag för budgetåret 1992/93" (in Swedish). Stockholm: Riksdag. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Persson, Göran; Peterson, Thage G. (12 September 1996). "Proposition 1996/97:4: Totalförsvar i förnyelse - etapp 2" (in Swedish). Stockholm: Riksdag. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ Jansson, Christian (2013-09-27). "Högre regional ledning" (PDF) (in Swedish). Försvarets Historiska Telesamlingar. p. 124. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Holmberg 1993, p. 87
- ^ Braunstein 2006, p. 20
- ^ Braunstein 2007, pp. 99–100
- ^ Kjellander 2003, p. 34
- ^ "Mellersta arméfördelningen (14. fördelningen)" (in Swedish). National Archives of Sweden. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- Braunstein, Christian (2003). Sveriges arméförband under 1900-talet. Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 5 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-4-5. SELIBR 8902928.
- Braunstein, Christian (2006). Heraldiska vapen inom det svenska försvaret [Heraldry of the Swedish Armed Forces] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 9 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-9-6. SELIBR 10099224.
- Braunstein, Christian (2007). Utmärkelsetecken på militära uniformer [Decorations on Swedish military uniforms] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 12 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 978-91-976220-2-8. SELIBR 10423295.
- Holmberg, Björn (1993). Arméns regementen, skolor och staber: [en uppslagsbok] : en sammanställning (in Swedish). Arvidsjaur: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek (SMB). ISBN 91-972209-0-6. SELIBR 7796532.
- Kjellander, Rune (2003). Sveriges regementschefer 1700-2000: chefsbiografier och förbandsöversikter (in Swedish). Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-74-5. SELIBR 8981272.
- Sandberg, Bo (2007). Försvarets marscher och signaler förr och nu: marscher antagna av svenska militära förband, skolor och staber samt igenkännings-, tjänstgörings- och exercissignaler (in Swedish) (New ed.). Stockholm: Militärmusiksamfundet med Svenskt marscharkiv. ISBN 978-91-631-8699-8. SELIBR 10413065.