thumb|Soldiers of the Swedish Landstorm defending the Swedish coast, 1914–1915. The '''Swedish Landstorm''' ({{langx|sv|Svenska landstormen}}) was a form of militia and territorial defence force, a so-called ''Landstorm'' (roughly "land assault", {{lit|land-storm}}), created in Sweden in 1885. It consisted of all conscripts who had completed their service, generally men between 33 and 40 years of age, as well as a smaller number immediately transferred there. The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} was intended "for the defence of the home town" within "own or nearest neighboring enlistment districts." The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} was first raised in time of war, in the parts of the country most threatened by the enemy, and organized according to existing conditions and provided with commanders based on advice and quarters. The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} was abolished in 1942.
== History == [[File:Mobilisering 1914, Landstormen på Södra Latins gård.jpg|thumb|Men of the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} at Södra Latin in Stockholm in 1914.]]
In Sweden, since ancient times, every man fit for military service has been used to take up arms and participate in the defence of the kingdom when the enemy threatened or ravaged the country, upon the call of the King. The 19th century's efforts to rearrange the Swedish military order based on conscription led to the need for a fixed {{lang|sv|landstorm}} organization.<ref name="Bergelin (1951), pp. 346-347">{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/nffm/0213.html |editor-last=Bergelin |editor-first=S.-E. S. |title=Nordisk familjebok: encyklopedi och konversationslexikon |edition=4th |year=1951 |publisher=Förlagshuset Norden |location=Malmö |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|539090}} |pages=346–347}}</ref> However, it wasn't until 9 May 1885, that the Riksdag passed a conscription law to organize the {{lang|sv|landstorm}}.<ref name="Rosén & Westrin (1885), p. 680">{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/nfai/0346.html |title=Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi innehållande upplysningar och förklaringar om märkvärdiga namn, föremål och begrepp |trans-title=Nordic family book: conversation lexicon and real encyclopedia containing information and explanations about significant names, objects and concepts |editor1-first=John |editor1-last=Rosén |editor2-first=Theodor |editor2-last=Westrin |year=1885 |volume=9 |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|78095}} |page=680}}</ref> The six oldest classes of conscripts (ages 27-32) came to form the {{lang|sv|landstorm}}. Through the 1892 Army Order, the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} expanded to include the eight oldest classes, and the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} age range was raised to 33-40 years of age.<ref name="Bergelin (1951), pp. 346-347"/>
The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} was subordinate to the enlistment district commanders, and each enlistment district was usually divided into six {{lang|sv|landstorm}} districts, each under an officer in the reserve (in the absence of another person) assisted by a non-commissioned officer in the reserve as a manager of the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} storehouses available there. Voluntary exercises with the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} command were organized to the extent of available funds. The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} was assembled first in the event of war, and then in the parts of the country most threatened by the enemy. It was organized according to existing conditions and provided with commanders based on advice and quarters.<ref name="Westrin (1911), pp. 1062-1063">{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/nfbo/0561.html |editor-last=Westrin |editor-first=Theodor |title=Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi |trans-title=Nordic family book: conversation lexicon and real encyclopedia |edition=Ny, rev. och rikt ill. uppl. |year=1911 |publisher=Nordisk familjeboks förl. |volume=15 |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|8072220}} |pages=1062–1063}}</ref> The commanders of the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} units were mainly recruited on a voluntary basis.<ref name="Bergelin (1951), pp. 346-347"/>
According to the {{ill|Defence Act of 1914 (Sweden)|lt=Defence Act of 1914|sv|Försvarsbeslutet 1914}}, the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} included men aged 35-42, and conscripts belonging to the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} were subjected to mandatory training of five days during peacetime. However, such training took place only a short time after the adoption of the defence act. Under the Defence Act of 1925, the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} continued to be formed by the eight oldest classes (35-42 years of age), but no peacetime training occurred. The King could, after a decision was made to call up the first levy of conscripts and when the defence or security of the realm required it, call up the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} for the defence of their local area. However, special departments for protection of mobilization could be called upon before that, but they could not be kept together for longer than a maximum of 15 days. The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} was not allowed outside its own or neighboring enlistment district.<ref name="Bergelin (1951), pp. 346-347"/>
In accordance with the Defence Act of 1936, the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} was extended to include the 11 oldest classes (35-45 years of age). Peacetime training now consisted of a {{lang|sv|landstorm}} rehearsal exercise of five days for the majority of conscripts and, immediately before this, a {{lang|sv|landstorm}} command exercise of seven days for trained commanders and others. The previously applicable regulations, stating that the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} could not be taken outside its own or neighboring enlistment district, were repealed. The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} received increased tasks, including serving in territorial air defence and providing air surveillance. Additionally, the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} would make up the infantry of the coastal fortifications, and some engineering and service units would be organized.<ref name="Bergelin (1951), pp. 346-347"/>
According to the {{ill|Defence Reform of 1901 (Sweden)|lt=Defence Reform of 1901|sv|Försvarsreformen 1901}} and continuing until the {{ill|Defence Act of 1942 (Sweden)|lt=Defence Act of 1942|sv|Försvarsbeslutet 1942}}, the Swedish mainland was divided into {{lang|sv|landstorm}} districts to account for and organize the {{lang|sv|landstorm}}. Each {{lang|sv|landstorm}} district had a {{lang|sv|landstorm}} district commander, and for those {{lang|sv|landstorm}} districts where storehouses were established, there was also a {{lang|sv|landstorm förvaltare}}{{efn|In a military context, {{lang|sv|förvaltare}} is translated as: garrison sergeant major, staff sergeant major 1st class, conductor, (US) chief warrant officer; (in the air force, Br) warrant officer, (US) chief warrant officer.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/svenfack/0303.html |last=Gullberg |first=Ingvar E. |title=Svensk-engelsk fackordbok för näringsliv, förvaltning, undervisning och forskning |trans-title=A Swedish-English dictionary of technical terms used in business, industry, administration, education and research |edition=2nd |year=1977 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-1-775052-0 |id={{SELIBR|8345587}} |page=283}}</ref>}}. With the implementation of the Conscription Act of 1941, the division of conscripts into {{lang|sv|beväringen}} and the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} was abolished.<ref name="Bergelin (1951), pp. 346-347"/>
==Uniform== The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} troops originally did not wear uniforms but instead wore civilian clothes. Many of them wore a triangular hat ({{lang|sv|Hatt m/1910}}) reminiscent of the hats worn by the Caroleans.<ref name="Stråth (2012), p. 199">{{cite book |last=Stråth |first=Bo |title=Sveriges historia. [kungarna och eliterna, unionen Sverige-Norge, borgerligheten, kvinnorörelsen och könsrollerna, riksdagsreformen, arbetarrörelsen, massmedierna, nyodlingsprojekten, industrialiseringen, emigrationen, befolkningsökningen, fattigdom och välfärd, vetenskap och konst] 1830-1920 |year=2012 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9789113024424 |id={{LIBRIS|12348258}} |page=199}}</ref> To be recognized as a belligerent force, they were given a visible distinguishing mark within rifle range, which couldn't be easily removed. In Sweden, this was called the {{lang|sv|landstormsmärke}} ("landstorm badge") if no uniform was available. The {{lang|sv|landstorm}} badge, affixed to the front of the cap (model 1905), consisted of an enameled circular metal plate (3.3 cm) with a blue field and a yellow Greek cross on it.<ref name="Westrin (1911), pp. 1062-1063"/>
In the 1914 infantry instructions, it was specified that the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} badge should be worn securely fastened and visible from a distance, along with a {{lang|sv|landstorm}} armband. At the outbreak of World War I, the landstorm troops were armed with Remington M1867 rifles.<ref name="Stråth (2012), p. 199"/>
{{Gallery |width=160 | height=170 |align=center |File:Landstormen vapenrock modell 1911 AM.070505 (cropped).jpg |Tunic ({{lang|sv|Vapenrock m/11}}) with armband |File:Landstormsman modell 1911 AM.011648 (cropped).jpg |Private |File:Landstormskompanichef modell 1911 AM.070519 (cropped).jpg |Company commander |File:Landstormsbataljonschef AM.011646 (cropped, table align).jpg |Battalion commander |File:Landstormsmössa modell 1926 AM.070483.jpg |Cap ({{lang|sv|Mössa m/1926}}) with battalion commander's rank insignia. |File:Landstormsmärke modell 1905 AM.001177.jpg |The yellow cross on a blue background distinguished the {{lang|sv|landstorm}} }}
== Police force == Between 1941 and 1949, there was {{lang|sv|Landstormspolis}} ("Landstorm Police") in Sweden, which was a term for military police personnel,<ref name="Bergelin (1951), pp. 346-347"/> intended primarily for guarding communication facilities, power plants and industries in the event of war.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/svda/1925/0023.html |title=Svenska Dagbladets årsbok (Händelserna 1941) |trans-title=Swedish Dagbladet Yearbook (Events of 1941) |editor-first=H. E. |editor-last=Kjellberg |year=1942 |publisher=Svenska Dagbladet |location=Stockholm |page=19 |id={{LIBRIS|283647}} |language=sv}}</ref> The {{lang|sv|Landstormspolis}}'s tasks were taken over by the {{lang|sv|Bevakningspolisen}} ("Surveillance Police"), which was part of the civil defence.<ref name="Bergelin (1951), pp. 346-347"/>
== See also == * Federation of Landstorm Associations Medal of Merit
== Footnotes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Landstorm Category:Military units and formations of Sweden Category:Disbanded units and formations of Sweden Category:Military units and formations established in 1885 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1942 Category:1885 establishments in Sweden Category:1942 disestablishments in Sweden