General (Sweden)

Swedish military rank

General
General

Rank flag

Rank insignia of the Army, Amphibious Corps & Air force

Country|  Sweden
Service branch| Army
Air Force
Amphibious Corps (from 2000)
Coastal Artillery (until 2000)
Abbreviation| Gen (Swedish)[1] (English)[2]
Rank group| General officer
Rank| Four-star[a]
Non-NATO rank| OF-9
Next lower rank| Lieutenant general
Equivalent ranks| Admiral

General (Gen; Swedish: General) is a four-star commissioned officer rank in the Swedish Army, Swedish Air Force and Swedish Amphibious Corps. General ranks immediately above lieutenant general and is equivalent to admiral in the Swedish Navy. It is held by the Chief of Defence of the Swedish Armed Forces and the monarch.

## History

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In Sweden, the rank of general was a three-star rank until 1972 when it became a four-star rank. Historically, during the 20th century, lieutenant generals were promoted one grade upon retirement to full general. According to current practice only royals and the chief of defence, if he were to come from the Swedish Army, Swedish Air Force or the Swedish Amphibious Corps can hold the rank of a full, four-star, general in Sweden.

In 2009, the Swedish Armed Forces reported that General Håkan Syrén would retain his rank during his time as Chairman 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), then current Supreme Commander, General Sverker Göranson (2009–2015), and King Carl 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, General Olof Thörnell (1940–1944), General Oscar Nygren (1939–1941[b]), King Gustaf V (1898–1950), Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf (1932–1973), and Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland (1908–1951).[5]

In the King in Council meeting on 30 April 1954, Bengt Nordenskiöld was appointed the first non-royal general in the Swedish Air Force, two months before his retirement.[6]

Following a proposal from the Swedish Armed Forces, the Government of Sweden decides on employment as a general.[7]

In everyday speech, generals of all ranks are addressed as generals.[8][9]

## Rank insignia

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### Collar patches

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* Collar patch m/58 (black m/02) on field uniform M90
(2002–present)

* Collar patch m/58 (black m/02) on field uniform M90
(2002–present)

* Collar patch m/58 (gold) on uniform m/58-m/59 and field uniform M90
(1983–2002)

* Collar patch m/58 (gold) on uniform m/58-m/59 and field uniform M90
(–2002)

* Collar patch m/58 (bronze) on uniform m/58-m/59
(1972–1983)

* Collar patch m/58 (bronze) on uniform m/58-m/59
(1958–1972)

* Collar patch on uniform m/1923
(1923–1939)

### Shoulder marks

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* Shoulder mark on uniform 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 on uniform m/1939
(1939–1958)

* Shoulder mark on uniform m/1923
(1923–1939)

* Shoulder mark on uniform 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 on mess dress uniform)

* Sleeve insignia for a general (?–1972)

* Flight suit sleeve insignia (Ärmmatta m/02) for a general[10]
(1972–present)

* Flight suit sleeve insignia for a general
(?–1972)

#### Army

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* Sleeve insignia for a general on uniform m/1906
(1906–1923)

### Hats

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* Hat for general of any rank on uniform 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 an admiral) is a double swallowtailed Swedish flag. In the first blue field 4 five-pointed white stars placed two over two.[11]

* Admiral/General[c] command flag (4 stars)[13]
(1972–present)

* Admiral/General[c] command flag (3 stars)[12]
(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 2025.  This colour indicates that the person was appointed honorary general in 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) | [14]
|  |  Army | Hemming Gadd | 1905[d] | 1837 | 1915 | Commander of the 4th Army Division (1896–1905)
Commandant General in Stockholm (1905–1905)
Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1905–1907) | [14]
|  |  Army | Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn | 1906 | 1850 | 1942 | Honorary General
Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1874–1942) | [14]
|  |  Army | Frederick II, Grand Duke of Baden | 1906 | 1857 | 1928 | Honorary General
Grand Duke of Baden (1907–1918) | [14]
|  |  Army | Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland | 1908 | 1861 | 1951 | Prince of Sweden (1861–1951) | [14]
|  |  Army | Wilhelm II, German Emperor | 1908 | 1859 | 1941 | Honorary General
German Emperor, King of Prussia (1888–1918) | [14]
|  |  Army | Edward VII | 1908 | 1841 | 1910 | Honorary General
King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, Emperor of India (1901–1910) | [14]
|  |  Army | Gustaf Uggla | 1913[d] | 1846 | 1924 | Commander of the 2nd Army Division (1902–1913)
Chief of His 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 of His 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[f] | 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[g] | 1878 | 1968 | Chief of His 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 of His 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[h] | Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland | 1969 | 1912 | 1997 | Prince of Sweden (1912–1997) | [16]
|  |  Army | Stig Synnergren | 1970 | 1915 | 2004 | Supreme Commander (1970–1978)
Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1978–1986) |
Carl XVI Gustaf in army uniform |  |  Army /  Air Force[i] | 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 of His 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 | — | Chief of Defence (2024–present) |

## Footnotes

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1. ^ General was a three-star rank until 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 in Upper Norrland from 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. ^ a b The Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces used admiral's flag since 1942.[12]
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Upon retirement.
5. ^ Upon retirement on 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. ^ Appointed general on 30 April 1954, two months before his retirement on 30 June 1954,[6] which can then be considered a tombstone promotion. Nordenskiöld was also the first non-royal general in the Swedish Air Force.
7. ^ Transferred to reserve in 1950, where he remained as lieutenant general until 31 December 1954. After resigning as Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff in 1963, Cederschiöld was promoted to general in the army on 23 May 1963.[15]
8. ^ Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland was general in the Swedish Army and in the Swedish Air Force (and admiral in the Swedish Navy).[16]
9. ^ King Carl XVI Gustaf is general in the Swedish Army and in the Swedish Air Force (and admiral in the Swedish Navy).[17]

## 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. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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 from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
3. ^ Haglund, Sven-Åke (5 November 2009). "Håkan Syrén general i EU" (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
4. ^ a b Cronenberg, Arvid (1990–1991). "Oscar E Nygren". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 27\. National Archives of Sweden. p. 704. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
5. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1940 (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1940. p. 268.
6. ^ a b Böhme 1990–1991, p. 292.
7. ^ "Förordning om ändring i förordningen (2000:555) med instruktion för Försvarsmakten" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Code of Statutes. 20 June 2005. p. 2. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
8. ^ Etikett och god ton: Praktisk handbok i sättet att uppföra sig. 1 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Åhlén & Åkerlund. 1932. p. 128\. SELIBR 1353820.
9. ^ Handbok: parad 6: traditionsvård : H PARAD 6 2016 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. p. 31\. SELIBR 22459606.
10. ^ Reglemente: uniformsbestämmelser 2015 : Unibest FM 2015 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2015. p. 343\. SELIBR 19513428. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
11. ^ Braunstein 2004, p. 111
12. ^ a b Lybeck 1945, p. 570
13. ^ Handbok: parad 4: marinen : R PARAD 4 2017 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. p. 14\. SELIBR 21485968.
14. ^ a b c d e f g Sveriges statskalender för år 1909 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1909. p. 126.
15. ^ "Hugo Montgomery Cederschiöld". www.nordvik.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 19 March 2021.
16. ^ a b Spiegelberg 1984, p. 404
17. ^ "Officiella fotografier" (in Swedish). Royal Court of Sweden. Retrieved 19 March 2021.

### Sources

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* 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
* Böhme, Klaus-Richard (1990–1991). "Bengt G Nordenskiöld". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 27\. National Archives of Sweden. p. 292. Retrieved 25 July 2025.</ref>
* Lybeck, Otto, ed. (1945). Svenska flottans historia: örlogsflottan i ord och bild från dess grundläggning under Gustav Vasa fram till våra dagar. Bd 3 [1815-1945] (PDF) (in Swedish). Malmö: Allhem. SELIBR 795890.
* Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (1984). Sveriges statskalender. 1984 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Liber. ISBN 91-38-90400-4. SELIBR 3682782.