Västerbotten Regiment

The Västerbotten Regiment (Swedish: Västerbottens regemente), 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.

Västerbotten Regiment
Västerbottens regemente
Active1624–1709, 1709–2000
Country Sweden
AllegianceSwedish Armed Forces
BranchSwedish Army
TypeInfantry
SizeRegiment
Part of6th Military District (1833–1847)
5th Military District (1847–1888)
6th Military District (1889–1893)
6th Army Division (1893–1901)
VI Army Division (1902–1927)
Upper Norrland's Troops (1928–1942)
VI Military District (1942–1966)
Upper Norrland Military District (1966–1993)
Northern Military District (1993–2000)
Garrison/HQUmeå
Nickname(s)The Wild man
Motto(s)De hava aldrig vikit eller för egen del tappat ("They have never backed down or for their own part lost")
ColorsRed, blue and white
March"Helenen-marsch" (Lübbert)[note 1]
Anniversaries3 February, 28 June, 4 July, 5 July, 8 July, 9 July, 14 July, 23 August, 31 August, 8 October
Battle honoursLandskrona (1677), Düna (1701), Kliszów (1702), Fraustadt (1706), Malatitze (1708), Strömstad (1717)
Insignia
Branch insignia m/60
Unit insignia m/60

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

Organisation

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.[2] The new one was used as regimental colour until 1 July 2000.[3] 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."[3]

  • 1878 colour of the regiment.
  • 1897 colour of the 1st Battalion.
  • 1897 colour of the 2nd Battalion.
  • 1920s standard of the 20th Ranger Brigade.

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1977–1994 and the Lapland Brigade (Lapplandsbrigaden, 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."[4] The coat of arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1994–2000 and the Västerbotten Group (Västerbottensgruppen) 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."[4]

  • Coat of arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1977–1994 and the Lapland Brigade (Lapplandsbrigaden, NB 20) 1994–1997.
  • Coat of the arms of the Västerbotten Regiment (I 20/Fo 61) 1994–2000 and the Västerbotten Group (Västerbottensgruppen) 2000–present.

Medals

In 2000, the Västerbottens regementes (I 20) minnesmedalj ("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.[5]

  • Västerbotten Regiment (I 20) Commemorative Medal

Heritage

After the regiment was disbanded on 30 June 2000, the colour and the regiment's traditions was passed on to Västerbotten Group (Västerbottensgruppen).[2] From 1 July 2013, the traditions of the regiment will be kept by the Västerbotten Battalion, included in the Västerbotten Group.[6]

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.[2]

The history of the Överstelöjtnantens kompani ("Lieutenant Colonel's Company") continues today through Kongl. Wästerbotten's Regemente ("Royal Västerbotten Regiment"), a historical reenactment of the Association of Interactive History (Föreningen interaktiv historia) in Sävar, seeking to revive the last battle on Swedish soil, as part of the Year 1809.[7]

Commanding officers

Regimental commander active from 1651 to 2000.[8]

  • 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: 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

Names, designations and locations
Name Translation From To
Kungl. Västerbottens regemente Royal Västerbotten Regiment 1624-??-?? – 1709-07-01
Kungl. Västerbottens regemente Royal Västerbotten Regiment 1709-??-?? – 1829-12-11
Kungl. Västerbottens fältjägarregemente Royal Västerbotten Ranger Regiment 1829-12-12 – 1841-??-??
Kungl. Västerbottens fältjägarkår Royal Västerbotten Ranger Corps 1841-??-?? – 1892-12-11
Kungl. Västerbottens regemente Royal Västerbotten Regiment 1892-12-12 – 1973-06-30
Kungl. Västerbottens regemente och försvarsområde Royal Västerbotten Regiment and Defence District 1973-07-01 – 1974-12-31
Västerbottens regemente och försvarsområde Västerbotten Regiment and Defence District 1975-01-01 – 2000-06-30
Avvecklingsorganisation 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
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See also

Footnotes
  1. The march was adopted in 1936 and was established in 1953 by Army Order 33/1953. The march was used by the Lappland Brigade (Lapplandsbrigaden) from 1994 to 2000 and by the Västerbotten Group (Västerbottensgruppen) since 2000.[1]

References

Notes
  1. Sandberg 2007, p. 51
  2. Braunstein 2003, pp. 89-92
  3. Braunstein 2004, p. 91
  4. Braunstein 2006, p. 26
  5. Braunstein 2007, p. 114
  6. "Försvarets traditioner i framtiden – Bilaga 3" (PDF) (in Swedish). Statens försvarshistoriska museer/Försvarets traditionsnämnd. 2012-07-01. p. 1. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  7. "ÖVERSTELÖJTNANTENS KOMPANI - REENACTMENTGRUPPEN". www.interaktivhistoria.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  8. Kjellander 2003, pp. 326-328

Print
  • Braunstein, Christian (2003). Sveriges arméförband under 1900-talet. Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 5 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-4-5. SELIBR 8902928.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Braunstein, Christian (2004). Svenska försvarsmaktens fälttecken efter millennieskiftet [The flags and standards of the Swedish armed forces after the turn of the millennium] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 7 [dvs 8] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-7-X. SELIBR 9815350.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Braunstein, Christian (2007). Utmärkelsetecken på militära uniformer [Decorations on Swedish military uniforms] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 12 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 978-91-976220-2-8. SELIBR 10423295.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Kjellander, Rune (2003). Sveriges regementschefer 1700-2000: chefsbiografier och förbandsöversikter (in Swedish). Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-74-5. SELIBR 8981272.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Sandberg, Bo (2007). Försvarets marscher och signaler förr och nu: marscher antagna av svenska militära förband, skolor och staber samt igenkännings-, tjänstgörings- och exercissignaler (in Swedish) (New ed.). Stockholm: Militärmusiksamfundet med Svenskt marscharkiv. ISBN 978-91-631-8699-8. SELIBR 10413065.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading
  • Granberg, Harry, ed. (1976). Under vildmannafanan: Kungl. Västerbottens regemente efter 1 världskriget (in Swedish). Umeå: Historiekomm. vid Västerbottens regemente och försvarsområde. SELIBR 255414.
  • Bennedich, Carl; Belfrage, Nils G.; Steckzén, Bertil (1924). Västerbottens och Norrbottens fotfolk: minnesskrift med anledning av Kungl. Västerbottens regementes 300-årsjubileum 1924 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Hæggström. SELIBR 8216249.
  • De sista åren: Västerbottens regemente (in Swedish). Umeå: Försvarsmakten, Västerbottens regemente. 2001. SELIBR 8412975.

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