Gustaf Welin

{{Short description|Swedish Army officer}} {{Infobox military person | name = Gustaf Welin | image = Gustaf Welin (cropped) MILIF.001365.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Welin as major general. | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Nils Gustaf Axel Welin | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|7|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Gothenburg, Sweden | death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|11|11|1930|7|12|df=y}} | death_place = Stockholm, Sweden | burial_place = Solna Cemetery | burial_label = | burial_coordinates =  | allegiance = Sweden | branch = Swedish Army | service_years = 1952–1992 | rank = Lieutenant General | service_number =  | unit = | commands = {{bulleted list|Värmland Brigade|Chief of Staff, Milo V|Chief of Staff, Milo Ö|National Defence College|UNDOF|Southern Military District}} | battles = Cyprus dispute<br>Arab–Israeli conflict | battles_label = | awards = | memorials = | spouse =  | relations = | other_work = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website =  | module = }}

Lieutenant General '''Nils Gustaf Axel Welin''' (12 July 1930 – 11 November 2008) was a senior Swedish Army officer. Welin served as head of the Swedish National Defence College (1984–1987), as Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) (1986–1988) and as Commanding General of the Southern Military District (1988–1992).

==Early life== Welin was born on 12 July 1930 in {{ill|Vasa Parish|sv|Vasa församling}}) in Gothenburg, Gothenburg and Bohus County, Sweden<ref>{{cite book |title=Sveriges befolkning 1980 |year=2004 |publisher=Sveriges släktforskarförb. |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9187676370 |id={{SELIBR|9632925}}}}</ref> the son of Colonel {{ill|Axel Welin (Swedish Army officer)|lt=Axel Welin|sv|Axel Welin (militär)}} and his wife Märta (née Löfgren).<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 1174">{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1997/1174.html |editor-last=Salander Mortensen |editor-first=Jill |year=1996 |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1997 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1997 |location=Stockholm |publisher=Norstedt |isbn=91-1-960852-7 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3681533}} |page=1174}}</ref> His father was born in Stockholm and participated in the Winter War as chief engineer in the Swedish Volunteer Corps.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1983-06-09/SVNY/20 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Axel Welin |page=20 |date=9 June 1983 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He later became commander of the Svea Engineer Corps/Regiment (1953–1959) in Stockholm, and his mother was a board member of the Right-Wing Party's and later the Moderate Party's women's association in Engelbrekt Parish, as well as served for many years as a juror in the Stockholm District Court. His sister Birgitta was a librarian in Vaxholm and was married to the Justice of the Supreme Court of Sweden {{ill|Tor Sverne|sv}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1980-03-15/SVNY/16 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Märta Welin |page=16 |date=15 March 1980 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> After Welin's family moved to Stockholm, he passed ''studentexamen'' at Norra Real in 1949.<ref name="Rossander (2009), pp. 7-8">{{cite journal |url=https://www.kkrva.se/wp-content/uploads/Artiklar/096/kkrvaht_6_2009_3.pdf |journal=Kungl. Krigsvetenskapsakademiens Handlingar och Tidskrift |title=Minnesteckningar över bortgångna ledamöter |first=Erik |last=Rossander |year=2009 |number=6 |publisher=Kungl. Krigsvetenskapsakademien |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3417415}} |pages=7–8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://norrarealsgymnasium.stockholm.se/rikskanda-personer-som-varit-elever-i-norra-real |publisher=Norra Real |title=Rikskända personer som varit elever i Norra Real |first=Patrick |last=Lönnberg |date=8 March 2019 |access-date=3 March 2021 |language=sv}}</ref>

==Career== Welin was commissioned as an officer in 1952 and was assigned as a second lieutenant to the Svea Life Guards. He attended the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College from 1960 to 1962, served as captain in the Defence Staff in 1964 and in Västerbotten Regiment in 1967. He then served as company commander with the United Nations in Cyprus, part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) from 1967 to 1968. Welin attended the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College in 1968 and was promoted to major. He served as lieutenant colonel in the Defence Staff in 1971 and at the Ministry of Defence from 1972 to 1973. Welin served in Hälsinge Regiment in 1974, was promoted to colonel in 1975 and served at the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College the same year, and attended the Swedish National Defence College in 1976.

From 1 October 1977, Welin served as deputy commander of Värmland Regiment in Karlstad.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1977-03-18/SVNY/11 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Många utnämningar inom försvaret |page=11 |date=18 March 1977 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Welin was appointed chief of staff of the Western Military District in Skövde from 1 April 1979 and was appointed senior colonel in the General Staff Corps.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1978-11-24/SVNY/14 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=officiellt |page=14 |date=24 November 1978 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> On 1 October 1980, he was appointed chief of staff of the Eastern Military District in Strängnäs and was appointed major general at the same time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1979-12-21/SVNY/15 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Armén, flottan, flyget: Militära utnämningar |page=15 |date=21 December 1979 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1981, Welin attended a staff school in United States.<ref name="Rossander (2009), pp. 7-8"/> On 1 April 1984, Welin assumed the position of head of the Swedish National Defence College.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1983-11-11/SVNY/19 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Försvarshögskolan |page=19 |date=11 November 1983 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On 1 July 1986, he succeeded major general Gustav Hägglund as Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Israel, with headquarters in Damascus, Syria.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1986-06-07/SVNY/17 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Gustaf Welin |page=17 |date=7 June 1986 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He served in this position until September 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://undof.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/40%20years%20anniversary.pdf |publisher=United Nations Disengagement Observer Force |title=UNDOF Force Commanders since 1974 |page=16 |date=June 2014 |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> On 1 October 1988, Welin was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Commanding General of the Southern Military District in Kristianstad.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1988-03-30/SVNY/6 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=FN-observatör ny chef för milo Syd |agency=TT |location=Stockholm |page=6 |date=30 March 1988 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He served in this position until 1992 when he retired from active service. Welin was then head of the Office of the Minister of Defence in the Ministry of Defence from 1993 to 1994.<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 1174"/> As appointed by Minister of Defence Anders Björck, Welin did a solo investigation into where the UN school and a possible international disaster and aid center should be located; Karlsborg or Södertälje.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1993-03-21/SVNY/9 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Strid om placeringen av FN-utbildningen |first=Sune |last=Olofson |page=9 |date=21 March 1993 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Welin took an active part in the defence debate with articles in the daily press and he was a commentator in Radio/TV between 1968 and 1973.<ref name="Rossander (2009), pp. 7-8"/> Welin was also a board member of the Swedish Fencing Federation (''Svenska Fäktförbundet'') from 1974 to 1982<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 1174"/> and chairman of the ''Sveagardesföreningen'' from 1993 to 2000 and in the association ''De Femton''. Welin became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 1973 and served as chairman of Departmen I from 1996 to 2000 and was vice president from 2002 to 2006.<ref name="Rossander (2009), pp. 7-8"/>

==Personal life== Welin got engage to Coco Selfelt in March 1954.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1954-03-26/SVNY/2 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=FÖRLOVADE |page=2A |date=26 March 1954 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The banns of marriage were issued on 10 October 1954 and on 5 November 1954 in Gustaf Adolf Church, Stockholm,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1954-10-04/SVNY/2 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=LYSNING |page=2A |date=4 October 1954 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Welin married Lillemor Gunvor Elisabet (Coco) Selfelt (1931–1997), the daughter of lieutenant colonel Robert Selfelt and Gunvor (née Lindeman).<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 1174"/><ref name="finngraven.se"/> They had two children: Anders (born 31 May 1957 at Allmänna BB, Stockholm),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1957-06-01/SVNY/2 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=FÖDDE |page=2A |date=1 June 1957 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and Elisabeth (born 14 May 1960 at Allmänna BB, Stockholm).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1960-05-16/SVNY/2 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=FÖDDE |page=2A |date=16 May 1960 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Rossander (2009), pp. 7-8"/>

==Death== Welin, who suffered from COPD,<ref name="Rossander (2009), pp. 7-8"/> died on 11 November 2008 in Engelbrekt Parish, Stockholm.<ref>{{cite book |title=Sveriges dödbok 1901-2009 |trans-title=Swedish death index 1901-2009 |edition=Version 5.0 |year=2010 |publisher=Sveriges släktforskarförbund |location=Solna |language=sv |isbn=9789187676598 |id={{SELIBR|11931231}}}}</ref> The funeral took place in the Gustaf Adolf Church on 18 December 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/2008-11-23/SVNY/43 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=DÖDA |page=43 |date=23 November 2008 |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He was interred on 15 June 2009 at Solna Cemetery.<ref name="finngraven.se">{{cite web |url=http://www.finngraven.se/(S(4hmkuh0w5nkouku0h5zuq2uy))/DisplayInfo.aspx?id=576454 |website=www.finngraven.se |title=Nils Gustaf Axel Welin |access-date=3 March 2021 |language=sv}}</ref>

==Dates of rank== *1952 – Second lieutenant *19?? – Lieutenant *1964 – Captain *1968 – Major *1971 – Lieutenant colonel *1975 – Colonel *1 April 1979 – Senior colonel *1 October 1980 – Major general *1 October 1988 – Lieutenant general

==Awards and decorations== * 50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Knight of the Order of the Sword (6 June 1970)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/E0000849_00033#?c=&m=&s=&cv=32&xywh=4032%2C-317%2C2988%2C1638 |publisher=Royal Court of Sweden |work=Kungl. Maj:ts Ordens arkiv |title=Matriklar (D 1) |trans-title=Directory (D 1) |volume=14 |page=59 |date=1970–1979 |access-date=18 December 2024 |language=sv |via=National Archives of Sweden |url-access=registration}}</ref> * 50x50px {{flagicon|UN}} United Nations Medal (UNFICYP) (1968) * 50x50px {{flagicon|UN}} United Nations Medal (UNDOF) (1988)

==Honours== *Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1973)<ref name="Salander Mortensen (1996), p. 1174"/>

==Bibliography== *{{cite book |editor-last1=Huldt |editor-first1=Bo |editor-last2=Welin |editor-first2=Gustaf |editor-last3=Örn |editor-first3=Torsten |title=Bevara eller skapa fred: FNs nya roll |year=1995 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9119522622 |id={{SELIBR|7156839}}}} *{{cite book |last1=Lehander |first1=Bengt |author-link=Bengt Lehander |last2=Welin |first2=Gustaf |last3=Persson |first3=Ragnar |title=Försvarsmaktens avvägning |year=1981 |location=Linköping |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|639084}}}} *{{cite book |last1=Welin |first1=Gustaf |last2=Bringmark |first2=Gösta |title=Några synpunkter på det militära försvarets roll i framtida svensk säkerhetspolitik: inträdesanförande i Kungl Krigsvetenskapsakademien 27 november 1973 |year=1973 |location=[Stockholm] |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|2055316}}}} *{{cite book |last1=Welin |first1=Gustaf |last2=Ekelund |first2=Christer O:son |title=FN på Cypern: den svenska fredsbevarande insatsen 1964-1993 |year=1999 |publisher=Probus |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9187184613 |id={{SELIBR|7762944}}}} *{{cite book |last1=Welin |first1=Gustaf |last2=Ekelund |first2=Christer O:son |last3=Von Horn |first3=Johan |title=The U.N. in Cyprus: the Swedish peace-keeping operations 1964-1993 |year=2004 |publisher=Hurst & Company |location=London |isbn=1850657416 |id={{SELIBR|9800747}}}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{succession box | title = Värmland Brigade | years = 1978–1978 | before = John Petersson | after = Krister Larsson }} {{succession box | title = Chief of Staff of the Western Military District | years = 1979–1980 | before = Robert Lugn | after = Jan Enquist }} {{succession box | title = Chief of Staff of the Eastern Military District | years = 1980–1984 | before = Erik G. Bengtsson | after = Roland Grahn }} {{succession box | title = Swedish National Defence College | years = 1984–1987 | before = Bengt Liljestrand | after = Bror Stefenson }} {{succession box | title = {{no wrap|United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)}} | years = July 1986 – September 1988 | before = Gustav Hägglund | after = Adolf Radauer }} {{succession box | title = Commanding General, Southern Military District | years = 1988–1992 | before = Carl Björeman | after = Owe Wiktorin }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Welin, Gustaf}} Category:1930 births Category:2008 deaths Category:Swedish Army lieutenant generals Category:UNDOF Force Commanders Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences Category:Military personnel from Gothenburg Category:Knights of the Order of the Sword