{{Short description|Swedish count and general (1900–1969)}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Count | name = Thord Bonde | honorific_suffix = | image = Thord Cson Bonde AMA.0000790.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Bonde as lieutenant general (1957–1963). | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Thord C:son Bonde | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date|1900|03|17|df=yes}} | birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden | death_date = {{death date and age|1969|10|18|1900|03|17|df=yes}} | death_place = Danderyd, Sweden | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | allegiance = Sweden | branch = Swedish Army | service_years = 1920–1963 | rank = General | service_number = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records --> | unit = | commands = {{bulleted list|Section 1, Defence Staff|Vice Chief of the Defence Staff|UNTSO|Svea Life Guards|National Defence College|VII Military District|III Military District|Chief of the Army}} | battles = Arab–Israeli conflict | battles_label = | awards = | memorials = | spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced --> | relations = Carl Bonde (father)<br>Carl C:son Bonde (brother) | other_work = Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = }} General Count '''Thord C:son (Carlsson) Bonde af Björnö''' (17{{nbsp}}March 1900 – 18{{nbsp}}October 1969) was a Swedish Army officer. His senior commands include military commander of the VII Military District in 1955, commander of the III Military District from 1955 to 1957 and Chief of the Army from 1957 to 1963.
==Early life== Bonde was born on 17 March 1900 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of Crown Equerry, Count Carl Bonde and his first wife Blanche (née Dickson). He was brother of Carl C:son Bonde and half-brother of financier and cabinet chamberlain Peder Bonde.<ref name="Lagerström (1968), p. 124">{{cite book |editor-last=Lagerström |editor-first=Sten |date=1968 |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1969 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1969 |location=Stockholm |publisher=Norstedt |language=sv |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1969/0140.html |page=124}}</ref>
==Career== Bonde became second lieutenant in the Life Regiment Hussars (K 3) in 1920 and captain of the General Staff in 1932. He was promoted to major in 1941, lieutenant colonel in 1943 and served as military attaché in Washington, D.C. from 1943 to 1945.<ref name="Lagerström (1968), p. 124"/> In March 1946, Bonde was appointed colonel in the General Staff Corps with appointment as colonel in the Defence Staff, head of Section 1 and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1946-03-16/SVNY/5 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Ny souschef i försvarsstaben |page=A5 |date=1946-03-16 |access-date=27 March 2023 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In March 1947, Bonde was appointed by the Minister of Defense as an adviser in the Defence Committee from 1 April.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1947-03-26/SVNY/4 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Officiellt |page=4A |date=1947-03-26 |access-date=27 March 2023 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Bonde served as Chief of Staff of United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) from May 1948 to July 1948 when Åge Lundström succeeded him.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/untso/documents/untso_60_anniversary.pdf |publisher=United Nations |work=UNTSO News Magazine |title=UNITED NATIONS TRUCE SUPERVISION ORGANISATION 60th ANNIVERSARY |format=PDF |page=23 |access-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> On 6 July 1948, Bonde was subjected to Arab firing as he intervened in a battle that occurred near the Arab village of Jaba' south of Haifa en route to Tel Aviv. Bonde was rescued from the situation by a UN jeep.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tidningar.kb.se/4112678/1948-07-07/edition/0/part/1/page/1/ |newspaper=Aftonbladet |title=Greve Thord Bonde beskjuten i Palestina |location=Tel Aviv |agency=TT/Reuters |number=180 |page=1 |date=7 July 1948 |access-date=5 May 2020 |language=sv |url-access=limited}}</ref> Bonde returned to Sweden from Damascus on 13 July.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tidningar.kb.se/1767385/1948-07-14/edition/11636/part/1/page/3/ |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Greve Bonde på hemväg |location=Damascus |agency=Associated Press |page=1 |date=14 July 1948 |access-date=5 May 2020 |language=sv |url-access=limited}}</ref>
Back in Sweden, Bonde continued serving as head of Section 1 in the Defence Staff until February 1950 when he was appointed second-in-command of the Svea Life Guards (I 1).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tidningar.kb.se/1767385/1950-02-24/edition/11637/part/1/page/3/ |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Överste von Stedingk väntas bli kommendant i Stockholm |number=53 |page=3 |date=24 February 1950 |access-date=5 May 2020 |language=sv |url-access=limited}}</ref> He took command of the regiment on 1 October 1950.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tidningar.kb.se/2826843/1950-02-27/edition/149579/part/1/page/5/ |newspaper=Trelleborgs Tidningen |title=Högre militära utnämningar |number=48 |page=5 |date=27 February 1950 |access-date=5 May 2020 |language=sv |url-access=limited}}</ref> He then served as head of the Swedish National Defence College from 1953 to 1955. Bonde was promoted to major general in 1954.<ref name="Lagerström (1968), p. 124"/> Bonde was the military commander of the VII Military District in 1955 and the III Military District from 1955 to 1957 when he was promoted to lieutenant general. He was Chief of the Army from 1957 to 1963 and was appointed general upon his retirement in 1963.<ref name="Lagerström (1968), p. 124"/>
Bonde was chief of His Majesty's Military Staff from 1963 to 1969 and chairman of the Directorate of the Swedish Nobility Foundation from 1965.<ref name="Lagerström (1968), p. 124"/>
==Personal life== In 1926, Bonde married Anna-Greta Sjöberg (1900–1983),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tjelvar.se/biografica/akter-1/1677.htm |publisher=Gotland militärhistoria & Gotlands trupper |website=www.tjelvar.se |title=Thord Carlsson-Bonde |first=Kjell |last=Olsson |access-date=24 September 2015 |language=sv}}</ref> the daughter of the state agricultural engineer A. L. G. Sjöberg and his wife. He was the father of Birgitta (born 1927), Margaretha (born 1931) and Claes (born 1941).<ref name="Harnesk (1962), p. 183">{{cite book |editor1-last=Harnesk |editor1-first=Paul |date=1962 |title=Vem är vem? 1, Stor-Stockholm |trans-title=Who is who? 1, Greater Stockholm |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm |publisher=Vem är vem |language=sv |url=https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/sthlm62/0207.html |page=183}}</ref>
==Dates of rank== *1920 – Second lieutenant *19?? – Lieutenant *1932 – Captain *1941 – Major *1943 – Lieutenant colonel *1946 – Colonel *1954 – Major general *1957 – Lieutenant general *1963 – General
==Awards and decorations==
===Swedish=== * 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword (6 June 1959)<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/65665/1/gupea_2077_65665_1.pdf |title=Sveriges statskalender. 1969 |editor-first=Bengt |editor-last=Sköldenberg |year=1969 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|3682754}} |page=94}}</ref> *50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander of the Order of Vasa<ref name="Harnesk (1962), p. 183"/> *50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Knight of the Order of the Polar Star<ref name="Harnesk (1962), p. 183"/>
===Foreign=== *50x50px {{flagicon|Finland}} Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland<ref name="Harnesk (1962), p. 183"/> *50x50px {{flagicon|Norway}} Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (1 July 1960)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995&q=Bonde%2C+T.C.&type=&aarstall= |publisher=Royal Court of Norway |website=www.kongehuset.no |title=Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer |trans-title=Awards of medals and medals |access-date=2021-12-13 |language=no}}</ref> *50x50px {{flagicon|Italy}} 1st Class / Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 July 1968)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/34052 |publisher=President of Italy |website=www.quirinale.it |title=BONDE Gen.Conte Thord |accessdate=17 February 2021 |language=it}}</ref> *50x50px {{flagicon|USA}} Commander of the Legion of Merit (4 December 1959)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=400733 |publisher=Military Times |website=www.valor.militarytimes.com |title=Count Thord Bonde: AWARDS AND CITATIONS |date=December 4, 1959 |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> *50x50px {{flagicon|USA}} Officer of the Legion of Merit (1946)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tidningar.kb.se/8224221/1946-04-12/edition/11161/part/1/page/16/ |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |title=Militärattaché dekorerad |location=Washington |page=16A |date=12 April 1946 |access-date=5 May 2020 |language=sv |url-access=limited}}</ref> *50px {{flagicon|Austria}} Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria (1960)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXIV/AB/10542/imfname_251156.pdf |publisher=Austrian Parliament |title=Anfragebeantwortung |trans-title=Response to inquiries |id=10542/AB XXIV. GP |page=94 |date=23 April 2012 |access-date=5 September 2024 |language=de}}</ref> <!-- The abbreviation "KÖGylleneO1kl" in Harnesk (1962), p. 183 might stand for 'Commander First Class of the Order of the Golden Fleece' (Austrian Order). K = Commander, Ö = Austria (Österrike), Gyllene = Golden, O = order, 1kl = First Class. No exact explanation of the abbreviation is given. -->
==Honours== *Member of Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1945)<ref name="Lagerström (1968), p. 124"/>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commonscat|Thord C:son Bonde|Thord Bonde}}
{{S-start}} {{S-mil}} {{Succession box | title = Vice Chief of the Defence Staff | years = 1946–1950 | before = Nils Swedlund | after = Moje Östberg }} {{Succession box | title = Section 1 of the Defence Staff | years = 1946–1950 | before = Nils Swedlund | after = ? }} {{s-new}} {{s-ttl|title = Chief of Staff, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization| years = 1946–1948}} {{s-aft| after = Åge Lundström}} {{Succession box | title = Svea Life Guards | years = 1950–1953 | before = Gösta von Stedingk | after = Malcolm Murray }} {{Succession box | title = Swedish National Defence College | years = 1953–1955 | before = Richard Åkerman | after = Ivar Backlund }} {{Succession box | title = IV Military District | years = 1955–1955 | before = Ivar Backlund | after = Hilding Kring }} {{Succession box | title = III Military District | years = 1955–1957 | before = Sven Colliander | after = Richard Åkerman }} {{Succession box | title = Chief of the Army | years = 1957–1963 | before = Carl August Ehrensvärd | after = Curt Göransson }} {{s-court}} {{Succession box |title=Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff |before=Hugo Cederschiöld |years=1963–1969 |after=Gustav Åkerman}} {{s-npo|pro}} {{succession box | title = Chairman of the Directorate of the Swedish Nobility Foundation | years = 1965–1969 | before = Carl Hamilton | after = Sten Ankarcrona }} {{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonde, Thord}} Category:1900 births Category:1969 deaths Category:Swedish Army generals Category:United Nations military personnel Category:Chiefs of Army (Sweden) Category:Military personnel from Stockholm Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences Category:Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword Category:Commanders of the Order of Vasa Category:Knights of the Order of the Polar Star Category:Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland Category:Commanders of the Legion of Merit Category:20th-century Swedish military personnel Category:Military attachés for Sweden