Vice Admiral Helge Hjalmar Immanuel Strömbäck (26 July 1889 – 20 March 1960) was a

Swedish Navy The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet () – as well as marine units, the Amphibious Corps (). In Swedish, vessels o ...

officer. He was the Chief of the Naval Staff from 1942 to 1945 and the Chief of the Navy from 1945 to 1953.

Early life

Strömbäck was born on 26 July 1889 in

Delsbo Delsbo () is a locality in Hudiksvall Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden, with 2,192 inhabitants in 2010. It is situated some 25 kilometers west of Hudiksvall, in the vicinity of the two lakes of Dellen. The town is known for its assembly ...

Gävleborg County Gävleborg County ( sv, Gävleborgs län) is a county or '' län'' on the Baltic Sea coast of Sweden. It borders the counties of Uppsala, Västmanland, Dalarna, Jämtland and Västernorrland. The capital is Gävle. Provinces Gävleborg Cou ...

, Sweden, the son of vicar Hjalmar Strömbäck and his wife Ida (née Steinmetz). He became a sea cadet in 1903.

Career

Strömbäck became a sub-lieutenant in the

in 1909. Strömbäck conducted Russian language studies in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

from 1913 to 1914 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1918. He attended the

Royal Swedish Naval Staff College The Royal Swedish Naval Staff College ( sv, Kungliga Sjökrigshögskolan, KSHS) was a Swedish Navy training establishment between 1898 and 1961, providing courses for naval officers. It was the home of the Swedish Navy's staff college, which prov ...

from 1918 to 1921 and was a teacher there and at the

Royal Swedish Army Staff College The Royal Swedish Army Staff College ( sv, Kungliga Krigshögskolan, KHS) was a Swedish Army training establishment between 1866 and 1961, providing courses for army officers. It was the home of the Swedish Army's staff college, which provided adv ...

. Strömbäck was secretary of the 1929 Defense Investigation and expert assistance in the 1930 Defence Commission. Strömbäck was promoted to commander in 1933 and was head of department at the Naval Staff from 1933 to 1936. He was captain of the seaplane cruiser in 1936 and then head of the Naval Operations Department in the Defence Staff from 1937 to 1939. Strömbäck was promoted to captain in 1939 and served as

flag captain In the Royal Navy, a flag captain was the captain of an admiral's flagship. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this ship might also have a "captain of the fleet", who would be ranked between the admiral and the "flag captain" as the ship's "First ...

from 1939 to 1941 and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1942 to 1945. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1943 and finally vice admiral in 1945. Strömbäck was Chief of the Navy from 1945 to 1953.

Personal life

In 1921, Strömbäck married Melanie Suchy (1892–1981). He was the father of Melanie (born 1922), Gudrun (born 1925) and Barbro (born 1927).

Death

Strömbäck died on 20 March 1960 in

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

. The funeral service was held on 29 March 1960 in

Skeppsholmen Church The Skeppsholmen Church ( sv, Skeppsholmskyrkan) is a former church on the islet of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm, Sweden. History Named after its location, the church was built 1823-1849 to replace a minor wooden church on Blasieholmen destr ...

in Stockholm. He was interred on 31 March 1960 at

Galärvarvskyrkogården Galärvarvskyrkogården (literally Galley Shipyard Cemetery) is a cemetery on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. It has about 1,300 burial sites and an area of approximately 0.9 hectares. History Galärvarvskyrkogården in Djurgård ...

in Stockholm.

Dates of rank

*28 October 1909 – Acting Sub-Lieutenant (''Underlöjtnant'') *31 October 1913 –

Sub-lieutenant Sub-lieutenant is usually a junior officer rank, used in armies, navies and air forces. In most armies, sub-lieutenant is the lowest officer rank. However, in Brazil, it is the highest non-commissioned rank, and in Spain, it is the second high ...

*6 December 1918 –

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

*12 December 1933 –

Lieutenant commander Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank i ...

*1 April 1937 –

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

*1 April 1939 –

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

*1 October 1943 –

Rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

*1 April 1945 – Vice admiral

Awards and decorations

Swedish

* King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal (1948) * Royal_Order_of_the_Sword_-_Commander_Grand_Cross_BAR

Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword (6 June 1945) * Royal_Order_of_the_Sword_-_Commander_1st_Class_BAR

Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Sword (6 June 1944) * Order_of_the_Sword_-_Ribbon_bar

Knight of the Order of the Sword (1930) * Order_of_the_Polar_Star_-_Ribbon_bar,_pre_1975

Knight of the Order of the Polar Star (1935) * Order_of_the_Vasa_-_Ribbon_bar

Knight of the Order of Vasa (1926)

Foreign

Order_of_Naval_Merit_-_Grand_Officer_(Brazil)_-_ribbon_bar

Grand Officer of the Order of Naval Merit (before 1950) * CHL_Order_of_Merit_of_Chile_-_Grand_Cross_BAR

Grand Cross of the

Order of Merit The Order of Merit (french: link=no, Ordre du Mérite) is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by K ...

(before 1955) * DNK_Order_of_Danebrog_Grand_Cross_BAR

Grand Cross of the

Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known a ...

(before 1947) * DNK_Order_of_Danebrog_Knight_1st_Degree_BAR

Knight of the

(before 1931) * 1st Class with a Grand Star with swords of the Order of the Cross of Liberty (before 1950) * FIN_Order_of_the_White_Rose_Commander_1st_Class_BAR

FIN_Order_of_the_White_Rose_Commander_1st_Class_BAR

Commander 1st Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland * FIN_Order_of_the_White_Rose_Commander_BAR

Kommendör av andra klassen av Order of the White Rose of Finland (before 1940) * FIN_Order_of_the_White_Rose_Knight_1st_Class_BAR

Knight 1st Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (before 1931) * Legion_Honneur_GO_ribbon

Grand Officer of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...

(before 1955) * MEX_Order_of_the_Aztec_Eagle_5Class_BAR

Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (before 1940) * Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Officer

Officer of the

Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau ( nl, Orde van Oranje-Nassau, links=no) is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has ...

with swords (before 1940) * St Olavs Orden storkors stripe

Grand Cross of the

Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav ( no, Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II ...

(1 July 1947) * POL_Polonia_Restituta_Wielki_BAR

Grand Cross of the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta ( pl, Order Odrodzenia Polski, en, Order of Restored Poland) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on al ...

(before 1947) * POL_Polonia_Restituta_Oficerski_BAR

Officer of the

(before 1940) * ESP_Cruz_Merito_Naval_(Distintivo_Rojo)_pasador

Knight of the

Cross of Naval Merit The Cross of Naval Merit ( es, Cruces del Mérito Naval) is a Spanish military award for gallantry or merit in war or peace. Awarded to members of the Spanish Naval Forces, Guardia Civil or civilians. History and Attribution Established on 3 ...

(before 1931) * DEU_Deutsche_Adlerorden_1_BAR

Commander of the Order of the German Eagle (before 1942) * VEN_Order_of_the_Liberator_-_Grand_Officer_BAR

Grand Officer of the Order of the Liberator (before 1947)

Honours

*Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1939) *Honorary member of the

Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences The Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences ( sv, Kungliga Örlogsmannasällskapet, KÖMS), founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. The Society is an independent organization and a forum for navy and defence i ...

(1943)

Bibliography

References

External links

Article in
''

Svenskt biografiskt lexikon ''Svenskt biografiskt lexikon'' () is a Swedish biographical dictionary, started in 1917. The first volume, covering names ''Abelin'' to ''Anjou'', was published in 1918. As of 2017, names from A to S are covered. Volumes # ABELIN – ANJOU (1 ...

''
Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stromback, Helge 1889 births 1960 deaths Swedish Navy vice admirals People from Hudiksvall Municipality Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences Members of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences Commanders First Class of the Order of the Sword Knights of the Order of the Polar Star Knights of the Order of Vasa Burials at Galärvarvskyrkogården