The Västerbotten Regiment (), 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. The new one was used as regimental colour until 1 July 2000. 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."
Coat of arms The coat of the arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1977–1994 and the Lapland Brigade (, 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." The coat of arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1994–2000 and the Västerbotten Group () 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."
Medals In 2000, the ("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.
Heritage After the regiment was disbanded on 30 June 2000, the colour and the regiment's traditions was passed on to Västerbotten Group (). From 1 July 2013, the traditions of the regiment will be kept by the Västerbotten Battalion, included in the Västerbotten Group.
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.
The history of the ("Lieutenant Colonel's Company") continues today through ("Royal Västerbotten Regiment"), a historical reenactment of the Association of Interactive History () in Sävar, seeking to revive the last battle on Swedish soil, as part of the Year 1809.
Commanding officers Regimental commander active from 1651 to 2000.
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 Royal Västerbotten Regiment 1624-??-?? – 1709-07-01 Royal Västerbotten Regiment 1709-??-?? – 1829-12-11 Royal Västerbotten Ranger Regiment 1829-12-12 – 1841-??-?? Royal Västerbotten Ranger Corps 1841-??-?? – 1892-12-11 Royal Västerbotten Regiment 1892-12-12 – 1973-06-30 Royal Västerbotten Regiment and Defence District 1973-07-01 – 1974-12-31 Västerbotten Regiment and Defence District 1975-01-01 – 2000-06-30 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
See also List of Swedish infantry regiments
Footnotes
References
Notes
Further reading