After the first world war Swedens armed forces were allowed to sink to a very low period of preperdness. In 1924 conscription was reduced to four months and only raised again in 1936 following growing international tension.
In April 1940 Swedens entire force of 400.000 men was put on full alert. A newly formed national goverment was formed, conscription was increased to 450 days and the armed forces streinght was incresed to 600.000 men, not including civilians who were formed into home guard, aircraft observer and various auxilary units.
In 1940 the Swedish Army was organized into five Military Areas (MILO); Sodra (South) Vestra (Western) Norra (Northern) Ovre Nordland (Upper Nordland) Ostra (Eastern). The streinght of each MILO in early 1940 was as follows:
MILO Div HQ Reg HQ InfBat CavBat ArtDiv * Sodra - 2 8 1 3 Vestra 2 6 18 2 3 Norra - 1 2 - - Ovra Norrl. - 1 5 - - Ostra - 1 2 1 -* Note: Artilleri Divison is a three battery unit of between 20 and 30 guns.
One Cavalry Brigade
Corps units. I1, I2, I7, I14
Various special units
8. Motorized Brigade (3 Motorized Bat.)
Corps Units I1, I7, I9, I10, I43
Various special units.
Further listed as raised in 1941 are two more motor brigades, three armoured brigades, three bicycle brigades and four jager brigades.
Example of a Division organization:
VIII. Division 1.10.1940 (renumbered on 2.7.1941 XIV.Div.)
VIII. Divisional staff
I31 Infantry Regiment
Reg.HQ with 13. and 14. Company
I.Bat.
II.Bat.
III.Bat.
I35 Infantry Regiment
Reg.HQ with 13. and 14. Company
I.Bat.
II.Bat.
III.Bat.
I36 Infantry Regiment
Reg.HQ with 13. and 14. Company
I.Bat.
II.Bat.
III.Bat.=20
A13 Artillery Regiment
Reg.HQ=20
I.Div.
II.Div.
III.Div. =20
Example of a Corps organization:
2. Army Corps in Northern Sweden 12.12.1939
Corps HQ
Corps units
II.and VI.Cavalry battalions K4 Norrlands Dragonregiment
I.20 Vasterbottens Regiment
I.19 Norrbottens Regiment
VI.Div.
I5 Jamtlands Faltjagerregiment
I13 Dalregimentet
I21 Vasternorrland regiment
V.Div.(in reserve)
I4 Livgrenadjagerregimente
I12 Jonkopings-Kalmar Regiment
An artillery Battalion was attached to each Infantry Regiment.Note that the VI.Division is called the II.Division in 1940.
At the start of WWII regiments of the Royal Swedish Army was undergoing a number of changes. That means that different organizations existed at the same time making things a little complex. The regiments were updated one after another in no special order. Basicly there were three different organizations of regiments named after the year they were suposed to have taken effect; 1937, 1940 and 1943. It seems thats the 1937 org. was ordered in 1925 to be completed in '37 and the 1940 org ordered in 1937 to be competed in 1940. In reality the 1937 org. seems not to have been completed until 1940 when some regiments had allready started ot convert to the 1940 org.
In 1940 a new modified organization was ordered for the army, the 43M org. calling for more modern weapons in an effort to increase units firepower. The idea was that all units would have completed this reorganization in 1943. This propably didn't start to take effect until 1942.
Regimental HQ
Stabskompanie (HQ Company) incl a section of two motorcycles for liasons.
AAMG Platoon Four to six twin-mount m/14 or m/36 AAMGs on tripods
AT Platoon Two 37mm Bofors m/38 AT guns
Regimental Mortar Platoon Four 80mm m/29 mortars with forward observer
Trangkompanie (Service Company), divited into combat service
(ammo, streachers etc.) and baggage service
(baggage,food etc) as in the Battalions.
I. Battalion
HQ (incl a Service Company divited into combat service (ammo,
streachers etc.) and baggage service (baggage, food etc).
1. Gevaerskompani
2. Gevaerskompani
3. Gevaerskompani
4. Gevaerskompani
5. Kulsprutekompani (MG Company)
II. Batttalion
HQ (see above)
6. Gevaerskompani
7. Gevaerskompani
8. Gevaerskompani
9. Gevaerskompani
10. Kulsprutekompani (MG Company)
III. Battalion
HQ (see above)
11. Gevaerskompani
12. Gevaerskompani
13. Gevaerskompani
14. Gevaerskompani
15. Kulsprutekompani (MG Company)
HQ incl. 2 one-horse ammo carts, a two-horse kitchen wagon
and a two horse baggage wagon.
Four Platoons each of:
Platoon Officer
Platoon NCO
2 Runners
Four sections of:
Section Leader, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifle
Assistant Section Leader, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifle
Private. 6,5mm m/21 Automatic Rifle (later m/37 when available)
9 Privates, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifles
HQ incl 2 one-horse ammo carts, a two-horse kitchen wagon
and a two horse baggage wagon.
Three MG Platoons each of two sections of two MGs m/14 or m/36
Regimental HQ
Stabskompanie (HQ Company)
One section of two motorcycles for liasons
AAMG platoon Six twin-mount m/14 or m/36 AAMGs on tripods
AT platoon Four 37mm Bofors m/38 AT guns
Regimental Mortar Platoon
Two sections of two 80mm m/29 mortars with forward observer
Trangkompanie (Service Company), divited into combat service
(ammo, streachers etc.) and baggage service
(baggage, food etc) as in the Battalions.
I. Battalion
HQ (incl a Service Company divited into combat service
(ammo, streachers etc.) and baggage service (baggage, food etc).
1. Skyttekompani =20
2. Skyttekompani
3. Skyttekompani
4. Jagerkompani
5. Kulsprutekompani (MG Company)
II. Batttalion
HQ (see above)
6. Skyttekompani
7. Skyttekompani
8. Skyttekompani
9. Jagerkompani
10. Kulsprutekompani (MG Company)
III. Battalion
HQ (see above)
11. Skyttekompani
12. Skyttekompani
13. Skyttekompani
14. Jagerkompani
15. Kulsprutekompanie (MG Company)
HQ incl. 2 one-horse ammo carts, a two-horse kitchen wagon
and a two horse baggage wagon.
Three Platoons each of:
Platoon Officer
Platoon NCO
2 Runners
Four sections of:
Section Leader, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifle or m/37-39 SMG
Assistant Section Leader, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifle
Private. 6,5mm m/37 Automatic Rifle
9 Privates, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifles
One Weapons Platoon each of one MG section of one MG (m/14 or m/36)
and one mortar section of one 47mm mortar
HQ incl. 2 one-horse ammo carts, a two-horse kitchen wagon
and a two horse baggage wagon.
Four Platoons each of:
Platoon Officer
Platoon NCO
2 Runners
four sections of:
Section Leader, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifle or m/37-39 SMG
Assistant Section Leader, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifle
Private. 6,5mm m/37 Automatic Rifle
9 Privates, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifle
HQ incl 2 one-horse ammo carts, a two-horse kitchen wagon
and a two horse baggage wagon
Three MG Platoons each of two sections of two MGs m/14 or m/36
Regimental HQ
Stabskompanie incl supply and service units
13.Kulsprutekompani (MG Company)
HQ
Three MG Platoons each of two sections of two MGs m/36
14.Specialkompani (Heavy Weapons Company)
HQ
AT platoon 6 37mm Bofors m/38 AT guns
AAMG platoon Four twin-mount m/14 or m/36 AAMGs on tripods
Pioneer Platoon incl 5 Flamethrowers '43 and later
Heavy Mortar platoon Three 120mm m/41 mortars with
forward observer (after april '43)
AA/AT autocannon platoon* (in '43) Four 20mm Bofors Lv/Pv m/40 AA/AT
autocannons, issued with tripod for AA role
I. Battalion
HQ incl. one Jager Platoon
1. Skyttekompanie
2. Skyttekompanie
3. Skyttekompanie
4. Tung Kompanie (Heavy Company)
II. Batttalion
HQ incl. one Jager Platoon
5. Skyttekompanie
6. Skyttekompanie
7. Skyttekompanie
8. Tung Kompanie (Heavy Company)
III. Battalion
HQ incl. one Jager Platoon
9. Skyttekompanie
10. Skyttekompanie
11. Skyttekompanie
12. Tung Kompanie (Heavy Company)
Note. All supply wagons and ammo carts are now found in the Battalion
and Regimental HQ.
HQ incl. 2 one-horse ammo carts, a two-horse kitchen wagon
and a two horse baggage wagon.
4 Platoons (from '43 all platoons had one 20mm AT rifle)
Platoon Officer
Platoon NCO
2 Runners
4 rifle sections
Section Leader, m/37-39 SMG
Assistant Section Leader, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifle
or m/37-39 SMG after april '43
Private. 6,5mm m/37 Automatic Rifle
7 Privates, 6,5mm m/96 Mauser Rifles or two may have
m/42* autorifles after april '43
Section was issued with one wirecutter, two axes and six shovels.
one light mortar section of one 47mm mortar,
possibly with platoon HQ.
(*Note that there were a autorifle (ag) and a machine gun (ksp)
with the m/42 designation.)
One Weapons Platoon each of one MG section of two MGs m/36 or
m/42 (aircooled) after april '43
and one mortar section of one 80mm m/29 mortar
HQ
Mortar Platoon Two sections of two 80mm m/29 mortars
AA/AT Platoon Four 20mm Bofors Lv/Pv m/40 AA/AT autocannons,
issued with tripod for AA role
MG Section Two m/36 MGs=20
All officers were mounted (Company and above).
Some regiments were issued with bicycles.
In winter wagons were supposed to be replaced with sleds and all men
issued with skis.
MGs were watercooled 6.5mm m/14 and m/38. A 8mm version of the m/38 was also in use. The m/42 was aircooled.
The m/42 ATR issued to infantry platoons in 1943 was a Recoiless Rifle firing solid AP rounds.
The Regiment had in 1937:
3800 men 560 horses 156 wagons 153 light wagons 1 staff car 38 MG's 6 AAMG's 15 Mortars (80mm) 2 AT guns (37mm Bofors)In 1940:
3600 men 504 horses 21 wagons 243 light wagons 3 staff car 60 trucks 42 MG's 21 Mortars (47mm and 80mm) 4 AT guns (37mm Bofors)In 1942
36 MG's 6 AA MG's 27 47mm mortars 18 80mm mortars 3 102mm mortars 6 AT guns (37mm Bofors) Some SMGs for special missionsIn 1943
42 MG's 5 AA MG's 35 47mm mortars 18 80mm mortars 3 102mm mortars 6 AT guns (37mm Bofors) 546 SMGs 5 Flamethrowers 36 AT riflesThe 43M Infantry Battalion:
4 20mm AA/AT guns 1 8mm AA MG 10 MG's 11 47mm Mortars 6 80mm Mortars 11 AT Rifles 149 SMG's 92 Automatic RiflesNote that there was no regimentals guns as was common in other armies of the period. The high numbers of mortars in the regiment was a way to get more firepower to the units. The regimental mortar platoon was of good quality and had well trained forward observers.
75mm 75mm 75mm 105mm How. 105mm How. 105mm How. 150mm How. 70mm 105mm How. 105mm How. Total guns
m/02 m/02-33 m/40 m/10 m/39 m/40 m/06 m/02-10 m/39 m/40 and How. Div.
1937 5 5 - 6 - - 4 1 - - 21
1941 7 8 3 8 - 2 2 1 - - 31
1943M 1 6 3 6 3 14 - - 4 2 39
Karsartilleri Divisjon was an independent unit. Number of Karsartilleri Div.
is listed below:
105mm 105mm 105mm 150mm 150mm Stormartilleri Total Div.
m/17 m/34 m/39 m/38 m/39 (Assault gun)
1937 1 2 - 1 - - 4
1941 - 4 1 1 2 - 8
1943M - 4 1 1 6 1 12 + 1 Assault gun*
m/02 =3D Model 1902, m/02-33 Model 1902 modified 1933.*CDK m/41 modified to take a 105mm gun
Piece Calibre Barrel Proj.wt. Muz.vel. max elev. max range weight
cm calibres kg m/s degree km kg
Light guns
8,4 cm kanon m/1881 8,4 24,6 6,72 470 21 6,0 997
7,5 cm kanon m/1902 7,5 27 6,5 500 16 5,5 970
7,5 cm kanon m/1902/33 7,5 27 6,6 496 43 10,0 1400
50 deg. sideways aim.
Light howitzers
10,5 cm haubits m/1910 10,5 14,1 14,6 293 43 5,8 1100
10,5 cm haubits m/1940 10,5 18,4 15,5 449 45 10,5 1760
Heavy guns
12 cm kanon m/1885 11,7 28,5 16,8 475 35 8,6 2485
10,5 cm kanon m/1917 10,5 32,3 18,2 590 45 11,2 2755
10,5 cm kanon m/1939 10,5 39,9 15,5 785 65 17,2 4000
Heavy Howitzers
16 cm haubits m/1885 15,5 10,8 32,2 276 35 5,5 2670
15 cm haubits m/1906 14,91 12,1 41 300 43 6,7 2150
15 cm haubits m/1939 14,91 23 41,5 580 65 14,6 5630
21 cm haubits m/1917 21,0? ? 120 ? ? 10,0 a lot
Replaced by the m/39.
In 1942 the Army took over its air defence, raising seven AA regiments from Lv1 to Lv7, 4 batt. of 7,5mm AA guns and one Company of Autocannons, 40mm Bofors or 20mm guns.
At the same time each Division got one Autocannon Company with 40mm and 20mm guns and each Infantry Battalion a platoon of 4 20mm Bofors Lv/Pv m/40 AA/AT guns. The Regiment also got one such platoon issued to its 14.Kompanie. They were issued with tripods for AA role.
In 1944 the army could field 9 75mm AA guns, 273 40mm Bofors guns and 361 20mm guns.
The Armoured Car Squadron had only one troop of three Panserbil m/31 in 1940. Some were fitted with 37mm guns. This was later replaced with the Panserbil m/40 Lynx.
HQ (Motorized) 1 Armoured Car Squadron, Panserbil m/31, later m/40 1 Cavalry Squadron (Mounted) 1 Bicycle Squadron (in winter converted to regular cavalry)
Brigade HQ
Armoured signal company
I. Tank Bat.
3 light tank companies*
1 heavy tank company
1 repare company
II. Tank Bat. same
III. Tank Bat. same
1 Motorcycle company
Artillery Div. (105mm How.)
Automatic AA company (20mm AA)
Engeneer company
Supply Company
*In 1941 a light tank company had three platoons of four Stridsvagn
m/37 and one Stridsvagn m/40Strength: 6500 men 105 light tanks: Stridsvagn m/21-29, 9,5 ton max speed 18kmh, 2mgs, crew 4 men or Sridsvagn m/40 9,5 ton, max speed 45kmh, 37mm gun and 2 mgs, crew 3 men. 76 heavy tanks: Stidsvagn m/42, 22,5 ton, max speed 45kmh, 75mm gun 4mgs, crew 4 men. 6 75mm AT guns 6 37mm AT guns 12 20mm AA guns c. 1000 other motor vehicles, trucks etc. In 1941 a light tank company had three platoons of four Stridsvagn m/37 and one Stridsvagn m/40
CDK m/37 Landsverk m/38 Landsverk m/39 Landsverk m/40 CDK m/41* Landsverk m/42
1939 48 16 - - - -
1940 - - 20 - - -
1941 - - - - - -
1942 - - - 100 - -
1943 - - - - - -
1944 - - - 80 220** 282
1945 - - - - - -
Total 48 16 20 180 220 282
In 1945 Tank streinght is reported 766 tanks of all types.A new service uniform was ordered in 1923. It took a long time for it to replace the 1910 uniform for general use. The cloth in this uniform was a mixture of brown, grey and green, the brown being predominating. In 1937 it was modified with a stand and fall collar, replacing the orginal uppright collar. These two versions were in use uring the first years of the Second World War. Rolled up trouser bottoms was a common feature of these uniforms.
In 1938 a modern type uniform (with anklets) was introducted. It was of grey-green cloth similar to German uniforms of the time. In 1945 the army had changed to the 1939 uniform.
The Swedish steel helmet was from 1918. There were also m/27 and m/37 helmets of more modern design. It was painted gray brown and often had the blue and yellow national emblem on the side.
Brown leather belts and ammunition pouches were in use trough out the period.