General (Gen; ) 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 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 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. On 1 January 2004, Håkan Syrén became the first, and so far only, general in the Swedish Amphibious Corps (formerly the Coastal Artillery).
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). 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), King Gustaf V (1898–1950), Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf (1932–1973), and Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland (1908–1951).
Following a proposal from the Swedish Armed Forces, the Government of Sweden decides on employment as a general.
In everyday speech, generals of all ranks are addressed as generals.
Rank insignia
Collar patches
Shoulder marks
Sleeve insignias
Amphibious Corps and Coastal Artillery
Air Force
Army
Hats
Personal flags 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.
List of generals The following have been promoted to the rank of general in the Swedish Armed Forces between 1900 and .
Image Country Branch Name Yearpromoted Born Died Notes Ref Army 1903 1838 1918 Chief of the General Staff (1899–1905) Army 1905 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) Army Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn 1906 1850 1942 Honorary GeneralDuke of Connaught and Strathearn (1874–1942) Army Frederick II, Grand Duke of Baden 1906 1857 1928 Honorary GeneralGrand Duke of Baden (1907–1918) Army 1908 1861 1951 Prince of Sweden (1861–1951) Army Wilhelm II, German Emperor 1908 1859 1941 Honorary GeneralGerman Emperor, King of Prussia (1888–1918) Army Edward VII 1908 1841 1910 Honorary GeneralKing of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, Emperor of India (1901–1910) Army 1913 1846 1924 Commander of the 2nd Army Division (1902–1913)Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1910–1923) Army 1919 1854 1927 Chief of the General Staff (1905–1919) Army 1922 1857 1937 Chief of the General Staff (1919–1922) Army 1930 1865 1940 Chief of the General Staff (1922–1930) Army / Air Force 1932 1882 1973 Crown Prince of Sweden (1907–1950)King of Sweden (1950–1973) Army 1937 1872 1960 Chief of the General Staff (1933–1937) Army 1940 1877 1977 Supreme Commander (1939–1944)Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1944–1950) Army 1944 1886 1978 Supreme Commander (1944–1951) Army 1951 1898 1965 Supreme Commander (1951–1961) Air Force 1954 1891 1983 Chief of the Air Force (1942–1954) Army 1957 1892 1974 Chief of the Army (1948–1957) Air Force 1960 1887 1995 Chief of the Air Force (1954–1960) Air Force 1961 1905 1993 Supreme Commander (1961–1970) Army 1963 1878 1968 Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1950–1963) Army 1963 1900 1969 Chief of the Army (1957–1963)Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1963–1969) Air Force 1968 1905 1997 Chief of the Air Force (1961–1968) Army 1969 1909 1996 Chief of the Army (1963–1969) Army / Air Force 1969 1912 1997 Prince of Sweden (1912–1997) Army 1970 1915 2004 Supreme Commander (1970–1978)Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1978–1986) Army / Air Force 1973 1946 King of Sweden (1973–present) Air Force 1973 1908 1996 Chief of the Air Force (1968–1973) Army 1976 1913 2001 Chief of the Army (1969–1976) Army 1978 1921 1990 Supreme Commander (1978–1986)Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1986–1990) Army 1986 1933 2019 Supreme Commander (1986–1994) Air Force 1994 1940 Supreme Commander (1994–2000) Army 2000 1943 Supreme Commander (2000–2003) Navy (Amphibious Corps) 2004 1952 Supreme Commander (2004–2009)Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (2009-2012) Army 2009 1954 Supreme Commander (2009–2015) Air Force 2015 1964 Supreme Commander (2015–2024) Army 2024 1965 Chief of Defence (2024–present)
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