Generalmajor (Sweden)

Major General generalmajor
Country	Sweden
Service branch	Army Air Force Amphibious Corps (from 2000) Coastal Artillery (until 2000)
Abbreviation	Genmj (Swedish),[1] MajGen (English)[2]
Rank	Two-star[a]
NATO rank code	OF-7
Non-NATO rank	O-8
Next higher rank	Lieutenant general
Next lower rank	Brigadier general (2000–) Senior colonel (1972–2000) Colonel (–1972)
Equivalent ranks	Rear admiral

Major General (MajGen) (Swedish: generalmajor, genmj) is a two-star commissioned officer rank in the Swedish Army, Swedish Air Force and Swedish Amphibious Corps. Major general ranks immediately above brigadier general and below a lieutenant general. The rank is equivalent to rear admiral in the Swedish Navy.

History

Historically, the major general assumed approximately the same position as a Chief of General Staff did in the latter part of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The major general was usually the commander of a brigade.^[3]

The rank of major general was between the rank of colonel and lieutenant general until 1972 when the senior colonel rank was introduced. Thereafter, major general was between the senior colonel and the lieutenant general from 1972 to 2000 when the brigadier general rank was introduced. Since 2000, major general has been between brigadier general and lieutenant general.

Following a proposal from the Swedish Armed Forces, the Government of Sweden decides on employment as a general of any rank.^[4]

In everyday speech, generals of all ranks are addressed as generals.^[5][6]

Rank insignia

Collar patches

• 
  Collar patch m/58 (black m/02) on field uniform M90
  (2002–present)
• 
  Collar patch m/58 (black m/02) on field uniform M90
  (2002–present)
• 
  Collar patch m/58 (gold) on uniform m/58-m/59 and field uniform M90
  (1983–2002)
• 
  Collar patch m/58 (gold) on uniform m/58-m/59 and field uniform M90
  (–2002)
• 
  Collar patch m/58 (bronze) on uniform m/58-m/59
  (1972–1983)
• 
  Collar patch m/58 (bronze) on uniform m/58-m/59
  (1958–1972)
• 
  Collar patch on uniform m/1923
  (1923–1939)

Shoulder marks

• 
  Shoulder mark on uniform m/87 (Army)
  (1987–present)
• 
  Shoulder mark on uniform m/87 (Air Force)
  (1987–present)
• 
  Shoulder mark m/87 on white shirt (Air Force)
  (1987–present)
• 
  Shoulder mark m/87 on uniform m/87 - white and white shirt (Navy)
  (1987–present)
• 
  Shoulder mark on uniform m/1939
  (1939–1958)
• 
  Shoulder mark on uniform m/1923
  (1923–1939)
• 
  Shoulder mark on uniform m/1910
  (1910–1923)

Sleeve insignias

Amphibious Corps and Coastal Artillery

• 
  Sleeve insignia for a major general in the Amphibious Corps
  (2003–present)
• 
  Sleeve insignia for a major general in the Amphibious Corps
  (2000–2003)
  and
  Coastal Artillery
  (1972–2000)
• 
  Sleeve insignia for a major general in the Coastal Artillery (1901–1972)

Air Force

• 
  Sleeve insignia for a major general (1972–?) (today only on mess dress uniform)
• 
  Sleeve insignia for a major general (?–1972)
• 
  Flight suit sleeve insignia (Ärmmatta m/02) for a major general^[7]
  (1972–present)
• 
  Flight suit sleeve insignia for a major general
  (?–1972)

Army

• 
  Sleeve insignia for a major general on uniform m/1906
  (1906–1923)

Hats

• 
  Hat for general of any rank on uniform m/1865-99
  (1865–?)
• 
  Peaked cap (dark blue) for air force major general (Skärmmössa m/1930)
  (1930–)

Personal flags

The command flag of a major general (and a rear admiral) is a double swallowtailed Swedish flag. In the first blue field 2 five-pointed white stars beside each other.^[8]

• 
  Major general/Rear admiral command flag (2 stars)^[9][b]
  (1972–present)

Footnotes

1. Major general was a one-star rank until 1972 and lieutenant general was the two-star rank in the Swedish Armed Forces rank structure.
2. This two-star flag was used for a vice admiral between 1905 and 1972.

References

Notes

1. "Försvarsmaktens föreskrifter om personaltjänst (FFS 2019:6)" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 2019-12-02. p. 3. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
2. "Försvarsmaktens gemensamma identitet – direktiv för användandet av Försvarsmaktens namn, profil och bild" (PDF). 1.3 (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 2013-09-16. p. 66. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-02-23. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
3. Westrin, Theodor, ed. (1908). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi (in Swedish). Vol. 9 (New, rev. and rich ill. ed.). Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förl. p. 902. SELIBR 8072220.
4. "Förordning om ändring i förordningen (2000:555) med instruktion för Försvarsmakten" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Code of Statutes. 20 June 2005. p. 2. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
5. Etikett och god ton: Praktisk handbok i sättet att uppföra sig. 1 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Åhlén & Åkerlund. 1932. p. 128. SELIBR 1353820.
6. Handbok: parad 6: traditionsvård : H PARAD 6 2016 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. p. 31. SELIBR 22459606.
7. Reglemente: uniformsbestämmelser 2015 : Unibest FM 2015 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2015. p. 343. SELIBR 19513428.
8. Braunstein 2004, p. 111
9. Handbok: parad 4: marinen : R PARAD 4 2017 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. p. 14. SELIBR 21485968.

Print

• 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2020-11-03.