The Eastern Regional Command () (known until 1923 as 1st General Command ()) was the overall command of all Royal Danish Army units on Zealand. It was split into four military regions and was responsible for regional defence. In 1990, the Regional Commands were disbanded and control was collected at the newly created Army Operational Command.
History Following the introduction of absolute monarchy in 1660, the King held absolute power over the army. However, in cases of war, the King would appoint regional commanders. After the end of the English Wars, it was decided to keep the commands, even during peacetime. Originally named the General Command over Zealand, Lolland-Falster, Møn and Bornholm, it was one of five General Commands. However, after the Frederick VI came to power, he kept control of Zealand. It was only after the King's death in 1839, that control was given back to the military, with Hereditary Prince Ferdinand as the first chief. Around 1900, the commander of the 1st General Command was designated Army Commander-in-Chief in times of war. As such, during World War I, the commander took control of the security force (). As part of the 1922 Defence Agreement, 1st and 2nd General Command were merged to create the unified General Command.
In 1950, as part of expansive rebuilding and reorganization of the army, the regional General Commands were revived as the Eastern and Western Regional Command. In the beginning, there was a large focus on having a larger defence in Jutland and the Western Regional Command. However, after the West German rearmament, the focus was shifted back towards Zealand. In case of war, the command would be placed under the control of the Allied Forces Northern Europe. Following the end of the Cold War, there was a political wish to reduce military spending along with greater centralization. This led to the Eastern Regional Command being disbanded in 1990 and control given to the newly created Army Operational Command.
Structure 1st General Command Structure in 1870 was: Zealand 1st Battalion in Copenhagen 2nd Battalion in Copenhagen 3rd Battalion in Helsingør 4th Battalion in Copenhagen 13th Battalion in Copenhagen 15th Battalion in Copenhagen 17th Battalion in Copenhagen 18th Battalion in Helsingør Life Guards in Copenhagen 21st Battalion in Copenhagen 22nd Reserve Battalion in Helsingør 23rd Reserve Battalion in Copenhagen 24th Reserve Battalion in Copenhagen Guard Hussar Regiment in Copenhagen 4th Dragoon Regiment in Næstved 1st Field Artillery Regiment in Copenhagen 2nd Field Artillery Regiment in Copenhagen
Eastern Regional Command The structure in 1950–1990 was: 1st Zealand Brigade 2nd Zealand Brigade 3rd Zealand Brigade 1st Zealand battle group 2nd Zealand battle group 3rd Zealand battle group 4th Zealand battle group Military Region V, VI & VII Royal Life Guards in Copenhagen and Sandholm Danish Life Regiment in Høvelte Zealand Life Regiment in Slagelse Falster Regiment of Foot in Vordingborg Guard Hussar Regiment in Næstved Crown's Artillery Regiment in Sjælsmark Zealand Artillery Regiment in Holbæk Zealand Air Defence Regiment in Copenhagen Zealandic Engineer Regiment in Farum Zealandic Signal Regiment in Høvelte and Copenhagen Zealandic Logistic Regiment in Copenhagen Bornholm's Defence in Rønne
Commanders General Command of Zealand (1839–1855) Portrait Name Term of office Took office Left office Time in office 1 Hereditary Prince Ferdinand January 1840 October 1855
1st General Command (1855–1922) Portrait Name Term of office Took office Left office Time in office 1 Lieutenant general 9 October 1855 6 November 1856 2 Hereditary Prince Ferdinand 7 November 1856 29 June 1863 † 3 GeneralChristian de Meza 4 September 1863 3 January 1864 – Lieutenant general 3 January 1864 6 March 1864 (3) GeneralChristian de Meza 6 March 1864 31 March 1865 4 Lieutenant general 1 April 1865 6 November 1866 5 Lieutenant general 7 November 1866 21 April 1879 6 Lieutenant general 21 April 1879 1 April 1881 7 Lieutenant general 5 April 1881 18 March 1891 8 Lieutenant general 25 March 1891 23 October 1894 9 Lieutenant general 23 October 1894 17 November 1897 10 Lieutenant general November 1897 1901 years 11 Lieutenant general 1901 1903 years 12 Lieutenant general 1903 November 1905 years 13 Lieutenant general 5 November 1905 3 June 1908 † 14 Lieutenant general June 1908 August 1909 15 Lieutenant general 19 August 1909 August 1917 16 Lieutenant general 6 August 1917 5 May 1918 17 Lieutenant general 5 May 1918 31 March 1923
Eastern Regional Command (1950–1990) Portrait Name Term of office Took office Left office Time in office 1 Major general 1 October 1950 30 April 1957 2 Major general 1 May 1957 30 November 1965 3 Major generalFlemming Bussenius Larsen 1 December 1965 30 November 1969 4 Major generalSvend Børge Reimert Helsø 1 December 1969 23 January 1975 5 Major general 1 March 1975 31 August 1977 6 Major generalOtto K. Lind 1 September 1977 31 October 1980 7 Major general 1 November 1980 30 September 1984 8 Major generalHieronymus Thomassøn Havning 1 October 1984 31 January 1990 9 Major generalJørgen Christian Essemann 1 February 1990 31 December 1990
Names Names Generalkommandoen over Sjælland, Lolland-Falster, Møn og Bornholm General Command over Zealand, Lolland-Falster, Møn and Bornholm 1807 – 1808 Generalkommandoen for Sjælland General Command of Zealand 1839 – 1855 1. Generalkommando 1st General Command 1855 – 1923 Disbanded Disbanded 1923 – 1950 Østre Landsdelskommando Eastern Regional Command 1950-10-01 – 1991-01-01
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