Western Military District (Sweden)

Former military unit
Western Military District
Västra militärområdet
Heraldic arms
Active1942–1993
Country Sweden
AllegianceSwedish Armed Forces
BranchMulti (Sea, Air and Land)
TypeMilitary district
RoleOperational, territorial and tactical operations
Garrison/HQSkövde
Insignia
Command flag
Military unit

Western Military District (Swedish: Västra militärområdet, Milo V), originally III Military District (Swedish: III. militärområdet) was a Swedish military district, a command of the Swedish Armed Forces that had operational control over Western Sweden, for most time of its existence corresponding to the area covered by the counties of Gothenburg and Bohus, Älvsborg, Skaraborg (all three now joined as Västra Götaland County) and Halland. The headquarters of Milo V were located in Skövde.

History

Milo V was created in 1966 along with five other military districts as part of a reorganisation of the administrative divisions of the Swedish Armed Forces. It can be seen as the successor of III Military District (III. militärområdet) created in 1942, but that did not have the same tasks as Milo V. The military district consisted of the land covered by the above-mentioned counties. In 1993, the number of military districts of Sweden was decreased to three, and as a consequence of that, Milo V was merged into the Southern Military District (Milo S).

Units 1989

In peacetime the Western Military District consisted of the following units, which were training recruits for wartime units:

In wartime the Western Military District would have activated the following major land units, as well as a host of smaller units:

  • 3rd Division, in Skövde
    • PB 9 - Skaraborg Brigade, in Skövde, a Type 63M armoured brigade based on the P 4 - Skaraborg Regiment
    • IB 15 - Västgöta Brigade, in Borås, a Type 66M infantry brigade based on the I 15 - Älvsborg Regiment
    • IB 17 - Bohus Brigade, in Uddevalla, a Type 66M infantry brigade based on the I 17 - Bohuslän Regiment
    • IB 45 - Älvsborg Brigade, in Borås, a Type 77 infantry brigade based on the I 15 - Älvsborg Regiment
    • IB 46 - Halland Brigade, in Halmstad, a Type 77 infantry brigade based on the I 16 - Halland Regiment
    • IB 47 - Gothenburg Brigade, in Uddevalla, a Type 77 infantry brigade based on the I 17 - Bohuslän Regiment

Heraldry and traditions

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Western Military District Staff 1983–1993. Blazon: "Azur, an erect sword with the area letter (V - West) surrounded by an open chaplet of oak leaves, all or."[1]

Commanding officers

Military commanders

Deputy military commanders

  • 1942–1946: Helmer Bratt
  • 1946–1950: Carl Årmann (acting)
  • 1951–1955: Gustaf Källner
  • 1955–1959: Carl Fredrik Lemmel
  • 1959–1966: Carol Bennedich

Chiefs of Staff

Senior colonel Magnus Olson as chief of staff (1984–1988)
  • 1941–1943: Per Gösta Fridolf Jörlin
  • 1943–1946: Fritz-Ivar Virgin
  • 1946–1949: Bo Klint
  • 1949–1951: Sven Holmberg
  • 1951–1955: Gustav Frisén
  • 1955–1961: Liss Johan Tage Broms
  • 1961–1965: Sture Fornwall
  • 1966–1968: Claës Skoglund
  • 1968–1969: Nils Sköld
  • 1969–1973: Bengt Liljestrand
  • 1973–1977: Bengt Rasin
  • 1977–1979: Robert Lugn
  • 1979–1980: Gustaf Welin
  • 1980–1982: Jan Enquist
  • 1982–1984: Torsten Engberg
  • 1984–1988: Magnus Olson
  • 1988–1990: Nils Rosenqvist
  • 1990–1992: Svante Kristenson
  • 1993–1993: Vacant[2]

Names, designations and locations

Name Translation From To
III. militärområdet III Military District 1942-10-01 – 1966-09-30
Västra militärområdet Western Military District 1966-10-01 – 1993-06-30
Designation From To
III. Milo 1942-10-01 – 1966-09-30
Milo V 1966-10-01 – 1993-06-30
Location From To
Skövde Garrison 1942-10-01 – 1993-06-30

See also

  • Military district (Sweden)

References

Notes

  1. ^ Braunstein 2006, p. 16
  2. ^ Almqvist 1993, p. 378

Print

  • Almqvist, Gerd, ed. (1993). Sveriges statskalender 1993 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. ISBN 9138128098. SELIBR 3682772.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Web

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Western Military District.
  • Kjelldorff, Lennart (2001). "Försvarets utveckling från Gustav Wasa till vår tid" (PDF) (in Swedish). Försvarets Historiska Telesamlingar. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2007-01-12.

Further reading

  • Österdahl, Bertel, ed. (1993). Västra militärområdet: en regions historia ur försvarsperspektiv (in Swedish). Skövde: MB Väst. SELIBR 21431923.
1942–1966
1966–1993
1993–2000
2000–2005
2013–2018
  • Military Region Central (MR M)
  • Military Region North (MR N)
  • Military Region South (MR S)
  • Military Region West (MR V)
2019–present
  • Central Military Region (MR M)
  • Northern Military Region (MR N)
  • Southern Military Region (MR S)
  • Western Military Region (MR V)
  • Gotland Military Region (MR G)