Eastern Regional Command (Denmark)

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Eastern Regional Command
Østre Landsdelskommando
Coat of arms for the Eastern Regional Command
Active1839–1923[1]
1950–1990[2]
Disbanded1 January 1991
Country Denmark
Branch Royal Danish Army
Part ofNATO AFNORTH
Garrison/HQCopenhagen until 1978
Ringsted

The Eastern Regional Command (Danish: Østre Landsdelskommando) (known until 1923 as 1st General Command (Danish: 1. Generalkommando)) 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.[3] 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.[4] However, in cases of war, the King would appoint regional commanders.[4] 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.[a] However, after the Frederick VI came to power, he kept control of Zealand.[2] 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.[2] Around 1900, the commander of the 1st General Command was designated Army Commander-in-Chief in times of war.[6] As such, during World War I, the commander took control of the security force (Danish: Sikringsstyrken).[6] As part of the 1922 Defence Agreement, 1st and 2nd General Command were merged to create the unified General Command.[7]

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.[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 Eastern Regional Command being disbanded in 1990 and control given to the newly created Army Operational Command.[8]

Structure

1st General Command

Structure in 1870 was:[9]

Zealand

Eastern Regional Command

The structure in 1950–1990 was:[10][11]

Commanders

General Command of Zealand (1839–1855)
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Hereditary Prince Ferdinand
(1792–1863) 		January 1840 October 1855 15 years, 9 months [14]
1st General Command (1855–1922)
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Lieutenant general
Frederik Bülow [da]
(1791–1858) 		9 October 1855 6 November 1856 1 year, 28 days [15][16]
2 Hereditary Prince Ferdinand
(1792–1863) 		7 November 1856 29 June 1863 † 6 years, 234 days [17]
3 General
Christian de Meza
(1792–1865) 		4 September 1863 3 January 1864 121 days [17][18]
– Lieutenant general
Otto Schlegel
(1794–1864)
Acting 		3 January 1864 6 March 1864 63 days [19]
(3) General
Christian de Meza
(1792–1865) 		6 March 1864 31 March 1865 1 year, 25 days [17][18]
4 Lieutenant general
Cai Hegermann-Lindencrone [da]
(1807–1893) 		1 April 1865 6 November 1866 1 year, 219 days [20]
5 Lieutenant general
Paul Scharffenberg [da]
(1810–1882) 		7 November 1866 21 April 1879 14 years, 20 days [21][22]
6 Lieutenant general
Julius Nielsen [da]
(1811–1891) 		21 April 1879 1 April 1881 1 year, 345 days [23][24]
7 Lieutenant general
Wilhelm Kauffmann [da]
(1821–1892) 		5 April 1881 18 March 1891 9 years, 347 days [25]
8 Lieutenant general
Carl Tvermoes [da]
(1830–1898) 		25 March 1891 23 October 1894 3 years, 212 days [26][27]
9 Lieutenant general
J.J. Bahnson [da]
(1827–1909) 		23 October 1894 17 November 1897 3 years, 25 days [28]
10 Lieutenant general
Johannes Zeuthen Schroll [da]
(1831–1916) 		November 1897 1901 3–4 years [29]
11 Lieutenant general
Marius Hedemann [da]
(1836–1903) 		1901 1903 1–2 years [30]
12 Lieutenant general
Georg Zachariae [da]
(1835–1907) 		1903 November 1905 1–2 years [31]
13 Lieutenant general
Arnold Kühnel [da]
(1850–1908) 		5 November 1905 3 June 1908 † 2 years, 6 months [32]
14 Lieutenant general
Christian Lütken [da]
(1840–1923) 		June 1908 August 1909 1 year, 2 months
15 Lieutenant general
Vilhelm Gørtz [da]
(1852–1939) 		19 August 1909 August 1917 7 years, 11 months [33]
16 Lieutenant general
August Tuxen [da]
(1853–1929) 		6 August 1917 5 May 1918 8 months [34][35]
17 Lieutenant general
Ellis Wolff [da]
(1856–1938) 		5 May 1918 31 March 1923 4 years, 10 months [36]
Eastern Regional Command (1950–1990)
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Major general
Valdemar Bjerregaard [da]
(1892–1964) 		1 October 1950 30 April 1957 6 years, 211 days [37]
2 Major general
Erik Kragh [da]
(1901–1984) 		1 May 1957 30 November 1965 8 years, 213 days [37]
3 Major general
F. B. Larsen
(1908–1996) 		1 December 1965 30 November 1969 3 years, 364 days [37]
4 Major general
Svend Børge Reimert Helsø
(1910–1975) 		1 December 1969 23 January 1975 5 years, 53 days [37]
5 Major general
Jørgen Andreassen
(1919–1999) 		1 March 1975 31 August 1977 2 years, 183 days [37]
6 Major general
Otto K. Lind
(1920–2000) 		1 September 1977 31 October 1980 3 years, 60 days [37]
7 Major general
Niels-Aage Rye Andersen
(1922–2002) 		1 November 1980 30 September 1984 3 years, 334 days [37]
8 Major general
Hieronymus Thomassøn Havning
(1925–?) 		1 October 1984 31 January 1990 5 years, 122 days [37]
9 Major general
Jørgen Christian Essemann
(1933–) 		1 February 1990 31 December 1990 333 days [37]

Names

Names[38][39]
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

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 Northern Jutland (1801-1854)[5]

References

  1. ^ Clemmesen 1982, p. 5.
  2. ^ a b c Petersen 1984, p. 49.
  3. ^ a b c Nielsen 2019.
  4. ^ a b Gram-Andersen 2000, p. 31.
  5. ^ Petersen 1984, pp. 45–50.
  6. ^ a b Gram-Andersen 2000, p. 32.
  7. ^ Olsen 1985, p. 16.
  8. ^ Volden 2007, p. 79.
  9. ^ Klint 1971, p. 108.
  10. ^ Volden 2007, pp. 31–32.
  11. ^ Chefen for Hæren 1972, p. 31.
  12. ^ a b c d e Volden 2007, p. 32.
  13. ^ a b c d Volden 2007, p. 62.
  14. ^ Bramsen 1969, p. 168.
  15. ^ Rockstroh 2011a.
  16. ^ Richter 1977a, p. 72.
  17. ^ a b c Generalstaben 1890, p. 47.
  18. ^ a b Liebe & Borgstrøm 1978, p. 683.
  19. ^ Generalstaben 1890, p. 160.
  20. ^ Rockstroh 2011b.
  21. ^ Rockstroh 2011c.
  22. ^ Richter 1977b, p. 142.
  23. ^ Bricka 1898a, p. 230.
  24. ^ Richter 1977b, p. 80.
  25. ^ Liebe & Borgstrøm 1978, p. 505.
  26. ^ Bricka 1898c, p. 606.
  27. ^ Richter 1977b, p. 202.
  28. ^ Hedegaard 1996.
  29. ^ Bricka 1898b, p. 302.
  30. ^ Rockstroh 2011d.
  31. ^ Bjerg 2011.
  32. ^ Bjerg & Rockstroh 2011.
  33. ^ Clemmesen 1982, pp. 3–3.
  34. ^ Linvald 1929, p. 294.
  35. ^ Clemmesen 1982, pp. 6–9, 6–11.
  36. ^ Clemmesen 1982, p. 6-11.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gram-Andersen 2000, p. 134.
  38. ^ "1. Generalkommando". sa.dk/daisy (in Danish). The Danish National Archives. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  39. ^ "Østre Landsdelskommando". sa.dk/daisy (in Danish). The Danish National Archives. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
Bibliography
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