Military district (Sweden)


In Sweden, a military district is part of Sweden's military-territorial division. The military districts were established in 1833 and were, after several reorganizations, replaced by army divisions in 1893. In 1942, the military district were established who were multi-service commands of the Swedish Armed Forces. The military districts in the modern form were created in 1966, and each district was named according to the geographical district they covered. Several changes were made, such as creating or merging districts, until all military districts were disbanded in 2000. On 1 July 2000, the military districts were replaced by another military district organization, which was active until 31 December 2005.

History

Military district in Sweden, was from 1833 to 1892 the highest unit in which the Swedish Army troops were divided into during peace-time. The division, which was made in 1833, replaced the former division of "inspections" and "brigades". The military districts were initially six, but were reduced to five in 1847, after which the 1st Military District included Skåne, Blekinge and Kronoberg counties, the 2nd included Östergötland and the remainder of Småland, the 3rd included Västergötland, Halland, Bohuslän, Dalsland and Värmland, the 4th included Stockholm, Uppland, Södermanland, Västmanland and Närke and 5th included Dalarna and Norrland. The command in a military district was exercised by a Commanding General. All permanently or temporarily located troops of the army in the district, with the exception of the guard regiments, as well as the fortresses existing within the district, was under his command. In the re-splitting of the army into 6 divisions in 1888, the division into military districts was changed, whereupon the term covered only the territorial division. In the re-splitting of 1892, the designation also fell away and was replaced by arméfördelningsområde.
In 1942, the military district were established who were multi-service commands of the Swedish Armed Forces. The commander of a military district, the Militärområdesbefälhavare, commanded the Swedish Army divisions stationed in the region, the regional naval command, the regional air defence sector as well as the lower regional subdivision defence districts that made up the military district. The commander answered directly to the Supreme Commander. The military districts in the modern form were created in 1966, and each district was named according to the geographical district they covered. Several changes were made, such as creating or merging districts, until all military districts were disbanded in 2000.
Through the Defence Act of 2000, on 1 July 2000, the military districts were replaced by another military district organization, which was active until 31 December 2005. The new military districts geographically corresponded to the old military districts, but did not have territorial and operational tasks. Following the disbandment of the military districts, four Security and Cooperation Sections were organized. The sections were led by the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, and had the task of coordinating the military security service and cooperating with regional authorities. From 1 January 2013, these sections were replaced by four military regions. The military regions are intended to be subordinated to the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters and coordinate the land-territorial operations. The military regions can to a certain extent be equated with the former military districts.

Military districts

1833–1847

The military district was established in 1833. Blekinge County stood outside the division and constituted the Flottans militärdistrikt, as did the island of Gotland. Gotland had an independent military organization, separated from the mainland, of which the highest military as well as civilian authority was exercised by the Governor of Gotland, who also was military commander and commanding officer of Gotland National Conscription.
English nameSwedish nameLocationActive
1st Military District1. militärdistriktetLandskrona1833–1847
2nd Military District2. militärdistriktetVäxjö1833–1847
3rd Military District3. militärdistriktetGothenburg1833–1847
4th Military District4. militärdistriktetStockholm1833–1847
5th Military District5. militärdistriktetArboga1833–1847
6th Military District6. militärdistriktetStockholm1833–1847

1847–1867

In the 1847 subdivision, Blekinge County stood outside the division and constituted the Flottans militärdistrikt.
English nameSwedish nameLocationActive
1st Military District1. militärdistriktetLandskrona
Malmö
Helsingborg
1847–1863
1863–1864
1864–1867
2nd Military District2. militärdistriktetMariefred
Stockholm
Linköping
1847–18??
18??–1863
1863–1867
3rd Military District3. militärdistriktetKarlstad
Alingsås
Töreboda
1847–1862
1862–1864
1864–1867
4th Military District4. militärdistriktetStockholm1847–1867
5th Military District5. militärdistriktetGävle
Söderhamn
Stockholm
Gävle
1847–1856
1856–1861
1861–1866
1866–1867

1867–1889

The 1867 subdivision was operational from 1 April of that year.
English nameSwedish nameLocationActive
1st Military District1. militärdistriktetHelsingborg
Kristianstad
1864–1887
1887–1889
2nd Military District2. militärdistriktetJönköping
Linköping
Eksjö
1867–1873
1873–1888
1888–1889
3rd Military District3. militärdistriktetMariestad
Karlstad
Stockholm
Karlstad
Skövde
1867–1873
1873–1878
1878–1882
1882–1885
1885–1889
4th Military District4. militärdistriktetStockholm1867–1889
5th Military District5. militärdistriktetGävle
Stockholm
Gävle
1866–1878
1878–1888
1888
Gotland Military CommandGotlands militärbefälVisby1873–1889

1889–1893

The 1889 subdivision was operational from 1 January of that year.
English nameSwedish nameLocationActive
1st Military District1. militärdistriktetKristianstad
Helsingborg
1887–1888
1888–1893
2nd Military District2. militärdistriktetEksjö1889–1893
3rd Military District3. militärdistriktetSkövde1889–1893
4th Military District4. militärdistriktetStockholm1889–1893
5th Military District5. militärdistriktetStockholm1889–1893
6th Military District6. militärdistriktetGävle1889–1893
Gotland Military CommandGotlands militärbefälVisby1889–1893

1893–1942

Between 1893 and 1942, the military district concept was called army division.

1942–1966

From 1942, Sweden was divided into seven military districts. In connection with an organizational change in 1966, a name change was also implemented. The military districts took over the operational command, that is, the military district was responsible for the war planning in its district in the event of war.
English nameSwedish nameLocationActive
I Military DistrictI. militärområdetKristianstad1942–1966
II Military DistrictII. militärområdetÖstersund1942–1966
III Military DistrictIII. militärområdetSkövde1942–1966
IV Military DistrictIV. militärområdetStockholm
Strängnäs
1942–1963
1963–1966
V Military DistrictV. militärområdetStockholm
Karlstad
1942–1942
1942–1966
VI Military DistrictVI. militärområdetBoden1942–1966
VII Military DistrictVII. militärområdetVisby1942–1966

1966–1990s

In connection with an organizational change in 1966, a name change was carried out in the military districts. The military districts took over the operational command, that is, the military district was responsible for war planning in the district in the event of war. Furthermore, the number of military districts was reduced when the VII Military District, which included Gotland, amalgamated into a command within the Eastern Military District.
DesignationEnglish nameSwedish nameLocationActiveNote
Milo SSouthern Military DistrictSödra militärområdetKristianstad1966–2000Previously the I Military District
Milo NNLower Norrland Military DistrictNedre Norrlands militärområdeÖstersund1966–1993Previously the II Military District
Milo VWestern Military DistrictVästra militärområdetSkövde1966–1993Previously the III Military District
Milo ÖEastern Military DistrictÖstra militärområdetSträngnäs1966–1991Previously the IV Military District
Milo BBergslagen Military DistrictBergslagens militärområdeKarlstad1966–1991Previously the V Military District
Milo ÖNUpper Norrland Military DistrictÖvre Norrlands militärområdeBoden1966–1993Previously the VI Military District
MKGGotland Military CommandGotlands militärkommandoVisby1966–2000Previously the VII Military District
Incorporated into Milo Ö, but remains as a staff.

1990s–2000

The 1966 organization lasted until the years 1991 and 1993, when the six military districts were amalgamated and formed three districts and a command.
DesignationEnglish nameSwedish nameLocationActiveNote
Milo SSouthern Military DistrictSödra militärområdetKristianstad1966–2000Milo V was incorporated in Milo S in 1993.
Milo MMiddle Military DistrictMellersta militärområdetSträngnäs1991–2000Formed by merging of Milo B and Milo Ö.
Milo NNorthern Military DistrictNorra militärområdetBoden1993–2000Formed by merging of Milo NN and Milo ÖN.
MKGGotland Military CommandGotlands militärkommandoVisby1966–2000Transferred to Milo M in 1991.

2000–2005

Through the Defence Act of 2000, the military districts were disbanded and replaced another military district organisation. The new military districts geographically corresponded to the old military districts, however, they did not have the same territorial and operational tasks. These tasks were transferred to the newly established Joint Forces Command. The military districts instead became the lowest level where the commander was territorially responsible, instead of the former defence district. Their main task was territorial activities, training of Home Guard and voluntary staff, and operations, primarily within the framework of community support. Within each military district, military district groups were organized, a total of 29, which in principle took over the old division of the defence district, which largely followed the Swedish county division. The districts were disbanded in 2005 after the Defence Act of 2005.
English nameSwedish nameDesignationLocationActiveNote
Southern Military DistrictSödra militärdistriktetMD SGothenburg2000–2005Formerly Southern Military District
Middle Military DistrictMellersta militärdistriktetMD MSträngnäs2000–2005Formerly Middle Military District
Northern Military DistrictNorra militärdistriktetMD NBoden2000–2005Formerly Northern Military District
Gotland Military DistrictGotlands militärdistriktMD GVisby2000–2004Formerly Gotland Military Command

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