The Värmland Regiment (), designations I 22, I 2 and I 2/Fo 52, was a

Swedish Army The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

that traces its origins back to the 16th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of

Värmland Värmland () is a ''Provinces of Sweden, landskap'' (historical province) in west-central Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland, and Närke, and is bounded by Norway in the west. Name Several Latinized version ...

, where the unit was later garrisoned. The unit was disbanded as a result of the disarmament policies set forward in the Defence Act of 2000.

History

The regiment has its origins in fänikor (companies) raised in Värmland in the 16th century. These units—along with fänikor from the nearby province of

Närke Närke () is a Swedish traditional province, or ''landskap'', situated in Svealand in south central Sweden. It is bordered by Västmanland to the north, Södermanland to the east, Östergötland to the southeast, Västergötland to the sou ...

—were organised into

Närke-Värmland Regiment The Närke-Värmland Regiment () was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was split into two new regiments in 1812. The regiment's soldiers were recruited from the provinces of Närke and Värmland ...

, which was split into two new regiments in 1812, one being Värmland Regiment, the other being

Närke Regiment Närke () is a Swedish traditional province, or ''landskap'', situated in Svealand in south central Sweden. It is bordered by Västmanland to the north, Södermanland to the east, Östergötland to the southeast, Västergötland to the southwe ...

. The regiment was given the designation I 22 (22nd Infantry Regiment) in a

general order A general order, in military and paramilitary organizations, is a published directive, originated by a commander and binding upon all personnel under his or her command. Its purpose is to enforce a policy or procedure that is not otherwise addres ...

in 1816. The designation was changed to I 2 (2nd Infantry Regiment) in 1939. In 1973, the regiment gained the new designation I 2/Fo 52 as a consequence of a merge with the local defence district Fo 52. Värmland Regiment was garrisoned in

Karlstad Karlstad (, ) is the 20th-largest city in Sweden, the seat of Karlstad Municipality, the capital of Värmland County, and the largest city in the province Värmland in Sweden. The city proper had 67,122 inhabitants in 2020 with 97,233 inhabitan ...

from 1913 moved to

Kristinehamn Kristinehamn is a locality and the seat of Kristinehamn Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden, with 24,053 inhabitants in 2022. Geography Kristinehamn is situated by the shores of lake Vänern where the small rivers ''Varnan'' and ''Löt'' ...

in 1994 before being disbanded in 2000.

Campaigns

*The Campaign against Norway (1814)

Organisation

;1812 * Livkompaniet *Kils kompani *Jösse kompani *Älvdals kompani *Grums kompani *Nordmarks kompani *Näs kompani *Gillbergs kompani

Heraldry and traditions

Colours, standards and guidons

After the regiment was raised in 1812, it was presented with on life colour and five battalion colours of the 1814 model. On 12 July 1849, the regiment was presented with two new colours for the 1st Battalion and the 2nd Battalion. The presenting was made by King Oscar I. In 1913 the colour was restored and one more battle honour was added. A new colour was presented to the regiment at the Artillery Yard 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 ...

by the commanding officer of the

Middle Military District Middle Military District (, Milo M) was a Sweden, Swedish Military district (Sweden), military district, a command of the Swedish Armed Forces that had operational control over Middle Sweden, for most time of its existence corresponding to the ar ...

, major general

Kjell Koserius Generalmajor, Major General Kjell Bertil Ingvar Koserius (26 October 1943 – 4 December 2002) was a Swedish Air Force officer. Early life Koserius was born on 26 October 1943 in Kinna Parish, Älvsborg County, Sweden. Career Koserius graduated ...

on 13 May 2000. It was used as regimental colour by I 2/Fo 52 until 1 July 2000. From 1994, the colour was carried by both the regiment and the brigade. From 1 July 2000, the colour was carried by the Värmland Group (''Värmlandsgruppen''), and from 1 July 2005 by the Örebro-Värmland Group ('' Örebro-Värmlandsgruppen''). The colour is drawn by Kristina Holmgård-Åkerberg and embroidered by machine in insertion technique by the company Libraria.

Blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct an accurate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The visual d ...

: "On yellow cloth the provincial badge of Värmland; a black eagle, wings elevated and displayed, armed red. On a black border at the upper side of the colour, battle honours

Fredriksodde Fredericia () is a town located in Fredericia Municipality in the southeastern part of the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. The city is part of the Triangle Region, which includes the neighbouring cities of Kolding and Vejle. It was founded in 1 ...

1657, Tåget över Bält 1658,

Lund Lund (, ;"Lund"
(US) and ) is a city in the provinces of Sweden, province of Scania, southern Swed ...

1677,

Landskrona Landskrona is a town in Scania, Sweden. Located on the shores of the Öresund, it occupies a natural port, which has lent the town at first military and subsequent commercial significance. Ferries operate from Landskrona to the island of Ven, an ...

1678,

Narva Narva is a municipality and city in Estonia. It is located in the Ida-Viru County, at the Extreme points of Estonia, eastern extreme point of Estonia, on the west bank of the Narva (river), Narva river which forms the Estonia–Russia border, E ...

1700,

Düna The Daugava ( ), also known as the Western Dvina or the Väina River, is a large river rising in the Valdai Hills of Russia that flows through Belarus and Latvia into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea. The Daugava rises close to the source of t ...

1701, Kliszow 1702, Fraustadt 1706, Malatitze 1708,

Gadebusch Gadebusch () is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the district of Nordwestmecklenburg. Halfway between Lübeck, Schwerin and Wismar, it is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. The town is known for two notable monuments: the ''Stadt ...

1712 in yellow". File:AM.010322.jpg, 1849 colour of Värmland Regiment. File:AM.019598.jpg, 1912 colour of Värmland Regiment.

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Värmland Regiment (I 2/Fo 52) 1977–1994 and the

Värmland Brigade Värmland Brigade (IB 2) () was a Swedish Army infantry brigade. Most of the brigade's soldiers were trained at the Värmland Regiment in Karlstad. The unit was disbanded as a result of the disarmament policies set forward in the Defence Act of 2 ...

(IB 2) 1994–2000.

: "Argent, the provincial badge of Värmland, an eagle azure, wings elevated and displayed, armed and langued gules. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire, or". The coat of the arms of the Värmland Regiment (I 2/Fo 52) 1994–2000 and the Värmland Group (''Värmlandsgruppen'') 2000–2004. Blazon: "Argent, the provincial badge of Värmland, an eagle wings elevated and displayed azure, armed and langued gules. The shield surmounted two swords in saltire, or". File:Värmlandsbrigaden vapen.svg, Coat of arms of the Värmland Regiment (I 2/Fo 52) 1977–1994 and the

(IB 2) 1994–2000. File:Värmlandsgruppen vapen.svg, Coat of the arms of the Värmland Regiment (I 2/Fo 52) 1994–2000 and the Värmland Group (''Värmlandsgruppen'') 2000–2004.

Medals

In 1941, the ' ("Värmland Regiment (I 2) gold medal for distinguished sport achievements") (VärmlregidrGM) of the 8th size was established. The

medal ribbon A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...

divided in yellow and black moiré. In 1994, the ' ("Värmland Regiment Medal of Merit") in gold (VärmlregGFt) was established. In 2000, the ' ("Värmland Regiment (I 2) and Värmland Brigade (IB 2) Commemorative Medal") in gold with black enamel (VärmlregbrigSMM) of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is of yellow moiré with broad black edges and two thinly placed red stripes on the middle. An eagle of gold is attached to the ribbon. File:AM.019852.jpg, The Värmland Regiment (I 2) and Värmland Brigade (IB 2) Commemorative Medal File:AM.019854.jpg, Ribbon bar of the Värmland Regiment (I 2) and Värmland Brigade (IB 2) Commemorative Medal

Commanding officers

Regimental commanders active at the regiment during the years 1812–2000.

Commanders

*1812–1840: Carl Cederström *1840–1856: O A Malmborg *1856–1859: O A Brunecrona *1859–1864: J H Rosensvärd *1864–1877: A L T Wijkander *1877–1881: J H Lemke *1881–1892: Helmer Falk *1892–1900: Ernst August Winroth *1901–1911: Colonel Carl Otto Nordensvan *1911–1917: Arvid Emil Uggla *1918–1927: Axel Gustaf Adolf Leijonhufvud *1928–1935: Claës Axel Klingenstierna *1935–1939: Thord Rickard Evers *1939–1951: Fredrik Grevillius *1951–1953: Colonel Regner Leuhusen *1953–1961: Sven Holmberg *1961–1969: Carl Gustav Henrik Gideon Linnell *1969–1980: Senior colonel Per Sune Wallin *1980–1989: Senior colonel Ulf Ling-Vannérus *1989–1994: Dan Albin Snell *1994–2000: Yngve Johansson *2000–2000: Björn Tomtlund

Deputy commanders

*1979–1980: Colonel Krister Larsson (acting) *1980–1980: Colonel Ulf Ling-Vannerus *1980–1981: Colonel Lennart Frick *1981–1983: Colonel Ingvar Rittsél

History

Campaigns

Organisation

Heraldry and traditions

Colours, standards and guidons

Coat of arms

Medals

Commanding officers

Commanders

Deputy commanders

Names, designations and locations

See also

Footnotes

References

Notes

Print

Further reading