Västerbotten Regiment

Västerbotten Regiment
Västerbotten Regiment
Västerbottens regemente
Active	1624–1709, 1709–2000
Country	Sweden
Allegiance	Swedish Armed Forces
Branch	Swedish Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Part of	6th Military District (1833–1847); 5th Military District (1847–1888); 6th Military District (1889–1893); 6th Army Division (1893–1901); VI Army Division (1902–1927); Upper Norrland's Troops (1928–1942); VI Military District (1942–1966); Upper Norrland Military District (1966–1993); Northern Military District (1993–2000)
Garrison/HQ	Umeå
Nickname(s)	The Wild man
Motto(s)	De hava aldrig vikit eller för egen del tappat ("They have never backed down or for their own part lost")
Colors	Red, blue and white
March	"Helenen-marsch" (Lübbert)
Anniversaries	3 February, 28 June, 4 July, 5 July, 8 July, 9 July, 14 July, 23 August, 31 August, 8 October
Battle honours	Landskrona (1677), Düna (1701), Kliszów (1702), Fraustadt (1706), Malatitze (1708), Strömstad (1717)
Insignia
Branch insignia m/60
Unit insignia m/60

The Västerbotten Regiment (Swedish: Västerbottens regemente), designations I 19, I XIX, I 20 and I 20/Fo 61, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Västerbotten, where it was later garrisoned. The unit was disbanded as a result of the disarmament policies set forward in the Defence Act of 2000.

History

The regiment has its origins in fänikor (companies) raised in Västerbotten in the 1550s and 1560s. In 1615, these units—along with fänikor from the nearby provinces of Ångermanland, Medelpad, Hälsingland and Gästrikland—were organised by Gustav II Adolf into Norrlands storregemente, of which seven of the total 24 companies were recruited in Västerbotten. Norrlands storregemente consisted of three field regiments, of which Västerbotten Regiment was one. Sometime around 1624, the grand regiment was permanently split into three smaller regiments, of which Västerbotten Regiment was one.

Västerbotten Regiment was one of the original 20 Swedish infantry regiments mentioned in the Swedish constitution of 1634. The regiment was allotted in 1696. It changed name to Västerbotten Ranger Regiment in 1829, and was split into two corps units of battalion size in 1841, one of them being Västerbotten Ranger Corps, the other being Norrbotten Ranger Corps. The unit was upgraded to regimental size and renamed back to Västerbotten Regiment in 1892. The regiment had its training grounds at various places in Västerbotten, but was eventually garrisoned in Umeå in 1909.

The regiment was given the designation I 19 (19th Infantry Regiment) in a general order in 1816, but that designation was given to Norrbotten Ranger Corps when the unit split, and Västerbotten Ranger Corps was instead given the designation I XIX (XIXth Infantry Regiment, XIX which in the Roman numeral system equals 19). When the unit regained its old name and size in 1892, the designation was changed to I 20 (20th Infantry Regiment).

Campaigns

The Second Polish War (1600–1629)
The Thirty Years' War (1630–1648)
The Northern Wars (1655–1661)
The Scanian War (1674–1679)
The Great Northern War (1700–1721)
The Hats' Russian War (1741–1743)
The Seven Years' War (1757–1762)
The Gustav III's Russian War (1788–1790)
The Finnish War (1808–1809)
The Campaign against Norway (1814)

Organisation

1634(?)

Livkompaniet
Överstelöjtnantens kompani
Majorens kompani
Lövångers kompani
Kalix kompani
Bygdeå kompani
Skellefteå kompani
Piteå kompani

1841

Livkompaniet
Skellefteå kompani
Bygdeå kompani
Lövångers kompani

Heraldry and traditions

Colours, standards and guidons

The regiment has presented several colours. On 20 June 1952, the regiment was presented with its last colour by His Majesty King Gustaf VI Adolf in Umeå. It then replaced the 1902 colour.^[2] The new one was used as regimental colour until 1 July 2000.^[3] The colour is drawn by Sven Sköld. It has not been possible to discover who has manufactured the colour. It was embroidered by hand in insertion technique. Blazon: "On white cloth the provincial badge of Lappland; a red savage with green garlands of birch leaves around head and loins, a yellow club on the right shoulder. On a red border at the upper side of the colour, battle honours (Landskrona 1677, Düna 1701, Kliszów 1702, Fraustadt 1706, Malatitze 1708, Strömstad 1717) in white."^[3]

1878 colour of the regiment.
1897 colour of the 1st Battalion.
1897 colour of the 2nd Battalion.
1920s standard of the 20th Ranger Brigade.

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1977–1994 and the Lapland Brigade (Lapplandsbrigaden, NB 20) 1994–1997. Blazon: "Argent, the provincial badge of Lapland, a savage gules, garlands of birch leaves vert around head and loins, holding a club or on his right shoulder. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire or."^[4] The coat of arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1994–2000 and the Västerbotten Group (Västerbottensgruppen) since 2000. Blazon: "Argent, the provincial badge of Lapland, a savage gules, gar-lands of birch leaves vert around head and loins, holding a club or on his right shoulder. The shield surmounted two swords in saltire or."^[4]

Coat of arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1977–1994 and the Lapland Brigade (Lapplandsbrigaden, NB 20) 1994–1997.
Coat of the arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1994–2000 and the Västerbotten Group (Västerbottensgruppen) 2000–present.

Medals

In 2000, the Västerbottens regementes (I 20) minnesmedalj ("Västerbotten Regiment (I 20) Commemorative Medal") in silver (VbottenregSMM) of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is divided in white, red and white moiré.^[5]

Västerbotten Regiment (I 20) Commemorative Medal

Heritage

After the regiment was disbanded on 30 June 2000, the colour and the regiment's traditions was passed on to Västerbotten Group (Västerbottensgruppen).^[2] From 1 July 2013, the traditions of the regiment will be kept by the Västerbotten Battalion, included in the Västerbotten Group.^[6]

Other

The regiment had several anniversaries, but the 3 February, however, was the one that was celebrated the longest, which commemorated the Battle of Fraustadt. Furthermore, anniversaries were held on 28 June, 4 July, 5 July, 8 July, 9 July, 14 July, 23 August, 31 August and 8 October. These were anniversaries of battles that which the regiment participated in. The 8 October, was the anniversary of the last united Swedish-Finnish army division's dissolution in Umeå in 1809.^[2]

The history of the Överstelöjtnantens kompani ("Lieutenant Colonel's Company") continues today through Kongl. Wästerbotten's Regemente ("Royal Västerbotten Regiment"), a historical reenactment of the Association of Interactive History (Föreningen interaktiv historia) in Sävar, seeking to revive the last battle on Swedish soil, as part of the Year 1809.^[7]

Commanding officers

Regimental commander active from 1651 to 2000.^[8]

Commanders

1651–1657: Didrik von Cappellen
1658–1662: Günter von Rosenskans
1663–1666: Kristian Urne
1667–1671: Björn Svinhufvud
1673–1676: Jakob Stegman †
1676–1683: Evert Horn
1684–1694: Reinhold Johan von Fersen
1702–1710: Anders Lagercrona
1711–1717: Magnus Cronberg
1717–1723: Henrik Magnus von Buddenbrock
1723–1736: Carl Morath
1736–1741: Johan Bernhard Wiedemeijer
1743–1757: Georg Reinhold Palmstruch
1757–1770: Wilhelm Carpelan
1770–1779: Johan August Meijerfeldt
1779–1785: Wilhelm Mauritz Klingspor
1785–1791: Wilhelm Mauritz Pauli
1791–1800: Gustaf Gyllengranat
1800–1804: Otto Wrede
1804–1806: Eberhard von Vegesack
1805–1811: Johan Bergenstråhle
1812–1828: Lars Jacob von Knorring
1828–1837: Carl August von Hedenberg
1845–1850: Georg Gabriel Emil von Troil
1864–1868: Ernst von Vegesack
1874–1883: Anders Eberhard Svedelius
1883–1887: Elof von Boisman
1897–1901: Otto Ewert Mautitz
1901–1902: Carl Conrad Vogel
1902–1907: Johan Oscar Nestor
1907–1915: Gillis Bergenstråhle
1915–1921: Bengt Ribbing
1921–1928: Hugo Ankarcrona
1928–1932: Per Erlandsson
1933–1937: Carl Bennedich
1937–1941: Nils Rosenblad
1941–1947: Olof Sjöberg
1947–1952: Per Axel Holger Stenholm
1952–1952: Magnus Wilhelm af Klinteberg
1952–1959: Carol Bennedich
1959–1964: Åke H:son Söderbom
1964–1970: Allan Johan Magnus Månsson
1970–1971: Karl Iwan Eliseus
1971–1973: Dick Ernst Harald Löfgren
1973–1976: Sven Nils Anders Kruse de Verdier
1976–1981: Senior colonel Dick Ernst Harald Löfgren
1981–1983: Olof Gunnar Dackenberg
1983–1990: Erik Olof Forsgren
1990–1993: Jan Olof Lindström
1993–1999: Anders Kihl
1999–2000: Per-Ove Harry Eriksson

Deputy commanders

1980–1981: Colonel Olof Dackenberg

Names, designations and locations

Name	Translation	From		To
Kungl. Västerbottens regemente	Royal Västerbotten Regiment	1624-??-??	–	1709-07-01
Kungl. Västerbottens regemente	Royal Västerbotten Regiment	1709-??-??	–	1829-12-11
Kungl. Västerbottens fältjägarregemente	Royal Västerbotten Ranger Regiment	1829-12-12	–	1841-??-??
Kungl. Västerbottens fältjägarkår	Royal Västerbotten Ranger Corps	1841-??-??	–	1892-12-11
Kungl. Västerbottens regemente	Royal Västerbotten Regiment	1892-12-12	–	1973-06-30
Kungl. Västerbottens regemente och försvarsområde	Royal Västerbotten Regiment and Defence District	1973-07-01	–	1974-12-31
Västerbottens regemente och försvarsområde	Västerbotten Regiment and Defence District	1975-01-01	–	2000-06-30
Avvecklingsorganisation	Decommissioning Organisation	2000-07-01	–	2000-12-31
Designation		From		To
№ 19		1816-10-01	–	1841-??-??
№ XIX		1841-??-??	–	1892-12-31
№ 20		1893-01-01	–	1914-09-30
I 20		1914-10-01	–	1973-06-30
I 20/Fo 61		1973-07-01	–	2000-06-30
Location		From		To
Gumboda hed		1649-??-??	–	1897-??-??
Vännäs läger		1898-??-??	–	1909-03-31
Umeå Garrison		1909-04-01	–	2000-12-31

Footnotes

^ The march was adopted in 1936 and was established in 1953 by Army Order 33/1953. The march was used by the Lappland Brigade (Lapplandsbrigaden) from 1994 to 2000 and by the Västerbotten Group (Västerbottensgruppen) since 2000.^[1]

References

Notes

^ Sandberg 2007, p. 51
^ ^a ^b ^c Braunstein 2003, pp. 89–92
^ ^a ^b Braunstein 2004, p. 91
^ ^a ^b Braunstein 2006, p. 26
^ Braunstein 2007, p. 114
^ "Försvarets traditioner i framtiden – Bilaga 3" (PDF) (in Swedish). Statens försvarshistoriska museer/Försvarets traditionsnämnd. 2012-07-01. p. 1. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
^ "ÖVERSTELÖJTNANTENS KOMPANI - REENACTMENTGRUPPEN". www.interaktivhistoria.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
^ Kjellander 2003, pp. 326–328

Print

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 (2004). Svenska försvarsmaktens fälttecken efter millennieskiftet [The flags and standards of the Swedish armed forces after the turn of the millennium] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023; 7 [dvs 8] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-7-X. SELIBR 9815350.
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.
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.