The Swedish Women's Association for the Defence of the Fatherland ( or ''Svenska Quinnoföreningen för fosterlandets försvar''), was founded in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

on 9 April 1884. The association's founders wanted to promote patriotism, a desire for Swedish national defence, and raise money for various defence purposes.

Organisational aims and ambitions

The association's first undertaking was to raise money to purchase land surrounding

Karlsborg Fortress Karlsborg Fortress () is situated on the Vanäs peninsula in Karlsborg by lake Vättern, the province of Västergötland, Sweden. Construction on the fortress began 1819 to realize the so-called ''central defense idea'' adopted by the Swedish mi ...

to strengthen its defences. The provision of weapons and ammunition sponsored young people who were members of volunteer shooting clubs. The organisation also supported the

Swedish Landstorm The Swedish Landstorm () was a form of militia and territorial defence force, a so-called '' Landstorm'' (roughly "land assault", ), created in Sweden in 1885. It consisted of all conscripts who had completed their service, generally men between 33 ...

, a

militia A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...

and territorial defence force created in

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

in 1885. The association gave lectures, distributed patriotic and pro-defence literature, and organised lotteries, bazaars, defence parties and similar events.En fosterländsk 30-årsfest
in '' Idun magazine'' number 17 1914

Membership

It was founded by a group of women, including Lotten von Plomgren, its president from 1884 to 1914, and Augusta Wästfelt, its secretary from 1884 to 1920. Berta Persson, Sweden's first woman

bus driver A bus driver, bus operator, or bus captain is a person who drives buses for a living. Description Bus drivers must have a special license above and beyond a regular driver's licence. Bus drivers typically drive their vehicles between bus st ...

, was a member.

Dissolution

The association was dissolved in 1970, and a fund was established from its remaining assets, which are administered by the Svenska lottakåren, the Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization. The fund supports prizes in connection with shooting competitions. The prizes must be engraved with ‘Svenska Kvinnoföreningen för Fosterlandets Försvar, Hederspris’.

References

{{authority control Women's organizations based in Sweden 1884 in politics Organizations established in 1884 1884 in Sweden Clubs and societies in Sweden