Western Regional Command (Denmark)

The Western Regional Command (Danish: Vestre Landsdelskommando) (known until 1923 as 2nd General Command (Danish: 2. Generalkommando)) was the overall command of all Royal Danish Army units in Jutland and on Funen. It was split into four military regions, and was responsible for the regional defence.[3] In 1990, the Regional Commands were disbanded and control was collected at the newly created Army Operational Command.

Western Regional Command
Vestre Landsdelskommando
Coat of arms for the Western Regional Command
Active	1801–1923[1] 1950–1990[2]
Disbanded	31 December 1990
Country	Denmark
Branch	Royal Danish Army
Part of	AFNORTH
Garrison/HQ	Viborg Århus

History

Originally named the General Command Northern Jutland, it was one of five General Commands.[lower-alpha 1] In 1855, it absorbed the General Command of Funen and was renamed the 2nd General Command.[5] In 1923, the 2nd General Command was disbanded. Overall command was given to the Jutland Division in 1932.[1]

In 1950, as part of expansive rebuilding and reorganization of the army, the General Command was revived as the Western Regional Command. In the beginning there was large focus on having a larger defence in Jutland and the 2nd General Command. However, after the West German rearmament, focus was sifted to the Eastern Regional Command.[3] In case of war, the command would be placed under the control of the Allied Forces Northern Europe.[3] Following the end of the Cold War, there was a political wish to reduce military spending along with greater centralization. This led to the Western Regional Command being disbanded in 1990 and control given to the newly created Army Operational Command.[6]

Structure

2nd General Command

Structure in 1870 was:[7]

Jutland

• 6th Battalion in Viborg
• 8th Battalion in Viborg
• 9th Battalion in Aalborg
• 10th Battalion in Fredericia
• 11th Battalion in Aalborg
• 12th Battalion in Fredericia
• 14th Battalion in Århus
• 20th Battalion in Århus
• 27th Reserve Battalion in Fredericia
• 28th Reserve Battalion in Århus
• 29th Reserve Battalion in Viborg
• 30th Reserve Battalion in Aalobrg
• 3rd Dragoon Regiment in Århus
• 5th Dragoon Regiment in Randers

Funen

• 5th Battalion in Odense
• 7th Battalion in Nyborg
• 16th Battalion in Odense
• 19th Battalion in Nyborg
• 25th Reserve Battalion in Nyborg
• 26th Reserve Battalion in Odense
• 2nd Dragoon Regiment in Odense

Western Regional Command

The structure in 1950–1990 was:[8][9]

• Jutland Division in Åbenrå (added in 1960)[10]
• Jutland battle group (added in 1982)[11]
• 1st Jutland Brigade in Fredericia (added in 1960)[10]
• 2nd Jutland Brigade in Aalborg (added in 1960)[10]
• 3rd Jutland Brigade in Fredericia (added in 1960)[10]
• Military Region I, II, III & IV
• Schleswig Regiment of Foot in Haderslev
• Prince's Life Regiment in Viborg
• Funen Life Regiment in Odense
• Jutlandic Regiment of Foot in Fredericia (Disbanded in 1961)
• King's Jutlandic Regiment of Foot in Fredericia
• Queen's Life Regiment in Aalborg
• 10th Regiment in Aalborg (Disbanded in 1961)
• Jutland Dragoon Regiment in Holsterbro
• North Jutland Artillery Regiment in Århus
• Southern Jutland Artillery Regiment in Varde
• Jutlandic Air Defence Regiment in Tønder
• Jutlandic Logistic Regiment in Aalborg
• Jutlandic Engineer Regiment in Randers
• Jutlandic Signal Regiment in Århus

Names

Names[12][13]

Generalkommando Nørrejylland	General Command Northern Jutland	1801	–	1839
Generalkommando Nørrejylland, Fyn og Langeland	General Command Northern Jutland, Funen and Langeland	1839	–	1855
2. Generalkommando	2nd General command	1855	–	1923
	Disbandment	1923	–	1925
Disbanded	Disbanded	1925	–	1950
Vestre Landsdelskommando	Western Regional Command	1950-10-01	–	1990-12-31

Notes

1. The others being the General Command in Norway and in the Duchies (1772–1848), the General Command of Funen (1801–1855), the General Command for Langeland, Ærø and Tåsinge (1807–1814) & the General Command for Zealand (1807, 1839-1854)[4]

References

1. Clemmesen 1982, p. 5.
2. Petersen 1984, p. 49.
3. Nielsen 2019.
4. Petersen 1984, pp. 45–50.
5. Petersen 1984, p. 46.
6. Volden 2007, p. 79.
7. Klint 1971, p. 108.
8. Volden 2007, pp. 31–32.
9. Chefen for Hæren 1972, p. 31.
10. Volden 2007, p. 31.
11. Volden 2007, p. 61.
12. "2. Generalkommando". sa.dk/daisy (in Danish). The Danish National Archives. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
13. "Vestre Landsdelskommando". sa.dk/daisy (in Danish). The Danish National Archives. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

Bibliography

• Chefen for Hæren (1972). Grundbog for Hærens Menige HRN 212-10 (in Danish). Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
• Clemmesen, Michael Hesselholt (1982). Jyllands landforsvar fra 1901 til 1940 (in Danish). Copenhagen: Det Krigsvidenskabelige Selskab. ISBN 87-981346-0-4.
• Klint, Helge (1 January 1971). "Den danske hær i sommeren 1870". Historisk Tidsskrift 12 (in Danish). V (1). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
• Nielsen, Jens Perch (2019). "Hæren". Danmark under Den Kolde Krig (in Danish). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
• Petersen, Vagn Aage, ed. (1984). Vejledning og oversigt I: Hæren 1660-1980. Rigsarkivet og hjælpemidlerne til dets benyttelse III (in Danish). Danish National Archives. ISBN 87-7497-073-9.
• Volden, S. C. (2007). Danske hærordninger efter 2. Verdenskrig i nationalt og internationalt perspektiv (in Danish). Hærens Operative Kommando. ISBN 978-87-986756-1-7. Retrieved 14 July 2020.