General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

Curt Ture Engelbrecht Göransson (15July 1909 – 11November 1996) was a Swedish Army officer. Göransson's senior commands include Chief of the Defence Staff 1957–1961, military commander of the I Military District 1961–1963 and Chief of the Army 1963–1969.

Early life

Göransson was born on 15 July 1909 in

Hedvig Eleonora Parish Hedvig Eleonora Parish ( sv, Hedvig Eleonora församling) is a parish in Östermalm's church district (''kontrakt'') in the Diocese of Stockholm, Sweden. The parish is located in Stockholm Municipality in Stockholm County. The parish forms its own ...

, Stockholm, Sweden, the son of lieutenant colonel Erik Göransson and his wife Elsa (née Engelbrecht).

Career

Göransson was commissioned as an officer in the Uppland Infantry Regiment (I 8) with the rank of second lieutenant in 1930. He studied first at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1935 to 1937, and later at the

Prussian Military Academy The Prussian Staff College, also Prussian War College (german: Preußische Kriegsakademie) was the highest military facility of the Kingdom of Prussia to educate, train, and develop general staff officers. Location It originated with the ''A ...

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

from 1938 to 1939. Göransson was promoted to captain in the

General Staff Corps General Staff Corps ( sv, Generalstabskåren, Gst) was an administrative corps within the Swedish Armed Forces between 1937 and 1990 and consisted of Swedish Army officers chosen for duty in the Defence Staff and Army Staff. It replaced the earli ...

in 1940 and was a teacher at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1942 to 1945. He served in the

Svea Life Guards The Svea Life Guards ( sv, Svea livgarde), also I 1, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that was active in various forms 1521–2000. The unit was based in the Stockholm Garrison in Stockholm and belonged to the King's Life and Household Tro ...

(I 1) from 1945 to 1947 and was appointed major of the General Staff in 1948. Göransson served as a military expert at the Scandinavian defense negotiations from 1948 to 1949 and in defense investigation from 1949 to 1950. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the General Staff Corps in 1952 and served in the

South Scania Infantry Regiment South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...

(I 7) in 1953. Göransson was promoted to colonel and regimental commander of

Hälsinge Regiment The Hälsinge Regiment ( sv, Hälsinge regemente), designations I 14, I 14/Fo 49 and I 14/Fo 21, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was disbanded in 1997. The regiment's soldiers were original ...

(I 14) in 1955. He remained in that position until 1957, when he was promoted to major general and appointed Acting Chief of the Defence Staff. Göransson was then Chief of the Defence Staff from 1957 to 1960. Göransson served then as a military expert in the 1960 Defence Committee. He then served as military commander of the I Military District from 1961 to 1963. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1963 and served as Chief of the Army from 1963 to 1969, when he was promoted to full general.

Personal life

In 1933, Göransson married Eva Nordlinder (1909–1991), the daughter of banker Ferdinand Nordlinder and Annie Hedberg. He was the father of Kjell (born 1934) and Christer (1938–1995).

Death

Göransson died on 11 November 1996 in

Danderyd Danderyd Municipality (''Danderyds kommun''; ) is a municipality north of Stockholm in Stockholm County in east central Sweden. It is one of the smallest municipalities of Sweden, but the most affluent. Its seat is located in Djursholm and it is ...

, Stockholm County, Sweden. He is interred at Lidingö Cemetery.

Dates of rank

*1930 – Second lieutenant *19?? –

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 ...

*1940 – Captain *1948 – Major *1952 – Lieutenant colonel *1955 –

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

*1957 –

Major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

*1963 –

Lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

*1969 –

Awards and decorations

Göransson's awards:

Swedish

Royal_Order_of_the_Sword_-_Commander_Grand_Cross_BAR

Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Sword The Royal Order of the Sword (officially: ''Royal Order of the Sword''; Swedish: ''Kungliga Svärdsorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the ...

(6 June 1965) * Order_of_the_Polar_Star_-_Ribbon_bar,_pre_1975

Knight of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star ( Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim. The Order of t ...

SWE_Order_of_Vasa_-_Knight_2nd_Class_BAR

Knight of the

Order of Vasa The Royal Order of Vasa () is a Swedish order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III. It was u ...

SWE_Home_Guard_Royal_Medal_of_Merit_ribbon

Home Guard Medal of Merit in Gold * Försvarsutbildarnas förtjänstmedalj

Swedish Central Federation for Voluntary Military Training Medal of Merit in gold * Försvarsutbildarnas förtjänstmedalj

Swedish Central Federation for Voluntary Military Training Medal of Merit in silver * National Federation of Voluntary Motor Cycle Corps Medal of Merit in gold (''Frivilliga Motorcykelkårernas Riksförbunds förtjänstmedalj i guld'', FMCKGM) * Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization Royal Medal of Merit in gold * Voluntary Automobile Club's gold medal (''Frivilliga automobilklubbens guldmedalj'') * Gävleborg Rife Association's gold medal (''Gävleborgs skytteförbunds guldmedalj'') * Central Board of the National Swedish Rifle Association's silver medal (''Sveriges skytteförbunds överstyrelses silvermedalj'') * Swedish Reserve Officers' Association's badge of honor (''Svenska reservofficersföreningens hederstecken'')

Foreign

Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (1 July 1968) * St_Olavs_Orden_kommandør_med_stjerne_stripe

Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav (1 July 1961) * JPN_Hokan-sho_blank_BAR

Order of the Cross of Liberty The Order of the Cross of Liberty ( fi, Vapaudenristin ritarikunta; sv, Frihetskorsets orden) is one of three official state orders in Finland, along with the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland. Organisation ...

, 4th Class with swords * DEU_Deutsche_Adlerorden_1_BAR

Knight of the

Order of the German Eagle The Order of Merit of the German Eagle (german: Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler) was an award of the German Nazi regime, predominantly to foreign diplomats. The Order was instituted on 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler. It ceased to be awarded follo ...

Honours

*Member of the

Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences The Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences ( sv, Kungliga Krigsvetenskapsakademien) is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden and was founded on 12 November 1796 by Gustaf Wilhelm af Tibell. The academy is an independent organization and a forum for m ...

(1949)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goransson, Curt 1909 births 1996 deaths Swedish Army generals Chiefs of Army (Sweden) Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Sweden) Military personnel from Stockholm Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword Knights of the Order of the Polar Star Knights of the Order of Vasa 20th-century Swedish military personnel