# Division (Sweden)

An army division or division (Swedish: Arméfördelning or Fördelning) was during the 1900s in the Swedish Army a designation for a larger military unit, comprising two or more brigades, an artillery regiment, an engineer battalion, an anti-aircraft battalion, a signal battalion and a transport battalion. An arméfördelning corresponds to a division in many countries' armies, and it has been common to also use the word "division" in Swedish when referring to foreign rather than Swedish military units.

## History

The concept of arméfördelning ("army division"), originally only fördelning ("division") began to be used after the beginning of the 19th century, and was introduced in 1889 as a term also in the peace-time organization. Through the 1892 and 1897 changes made in the organization of the army, the artillery was also placed under the commanding officers of the army divisions. An army division then, apart from some exceptions, consisted of four infantry, one cavalry and one artillery regiment, and one service corps, for which at war, engineer troops were added. The army division was intended for independent operations, but lacks complete administrative bodies in peacetime. Sweden was divided into six army division areas in 1904, with command offices in Helsingborg (1st), Linköping (2nd), Skövde (3rd), Stockholm (4th and 5th) and Härnösand (6th).
The army divisions replaced the peacetime subdivision of military districts that was used in the years 1833–1888. In 1889–1892, the territorial territory of the army division was called military district, but this was abolished from 1893 when the territorial territory of an army division was named army division area (arméfördelningsområde).
Through the Defence Act of 1942, the I-IV Military Districts came to mobilize two divisions each, while the V and VI Military Districts each mobilized one army division. On 1 October 1966, the Roman numerals in the designation of the army divisions was changed to Arabic numerals. Through the Defence Act of 1977, the army divisions were reduced by two staffs. Through 1988 Defense Investigation, the army divisions were reduced by two staffs. Through the Defence Act of 1996, the army divisions were reduced by three staffs, since the three military districts would mobilize one army division each. The last three army divisions were disbanded and replaced by the 1st Mechanized Division (1. mekaniserade divisionen) through the Defence Act of 2000, and the 1st Mechanized Division disbanded through the Defence Act of 2004.

## Divisions
### 1893–1901

The 1893 subdivision was operational from 1 October of that year. From 1898, Roman numerals was used.
| English name | Swedish name | Location | Active |
| 1st Army Division I Army Division | 1. arméfördelningen I. arméfördelningen | Helsingborg Garrison | 1893–1901 |
| 2nd Army Division II Army Division | 2. arméfördelningen II. arméfördelningen | Eksjö Garrison Linköping Garrison | 1893–1894 1894–1901 |
| 3rd Army Division III Army Division | 3. arméfördelningen III. arméfördelningen | Skövde Garrison | 1893–1901 |
| 4th Army Division IV Army Division | 4. arméfördelningen IV. arméfördelningen | Stockholm Garrison | 1893–1901 |
| 5th Army Division V Army Division | 5. arméfördelningen V. arméfördelningen | Stockholm Garrison | 1893–1901 |
| 6th Army Division VI Army Division | 6. arméfördelningen VI. arméfördelningen | Gävle Garrison Härnösand Garrison | 1893–1894 1894–1901 |

### 1902–1927

The 1902 subdivision was operational from 1 January of that year.
| English name | Swedish name | Location | Active |
| I Army Division | I. arméfördelningen | Helsingborg Garrison | 1902–1927 |
| II Army Division | II. arméfördelningen | Linköping Garrison | 1902–1927 |
| III Army Division | III. arméfördelningen | Skövde Garrison | 1902–1927 |
| IV Army Division | IV. arméfördelningen | Stockholm Garrison | 1902–1927 |
| V Army Division | V. arméfördelningen | Stockholm Garrison | 1902–1927 |
| VI Army Division | VI. arméfördelningen | Härnösand Garrison Östersund Garrison | 1902–1910 1910–1927 |

### 1928–1936

The 1928 subdivision was operational from 1 January of that year.
| English name | Swedish name | Location | Active |
| Northern Army Division | Norra arméfördelningen | Östersund Garrison | 1928–1936 |
| Eastern Army Division | Östra arméfördelningen | Stockholm Garrison | 1928–1936 |
| Western Army Division | Västra arméfördelningen | Skövde Garrison | 1928–1936 |
| Southern Army Division | Södra arméfördelningen | Helsingborg Garrison | 1928–1936 |

### 1937–1942

The 1937 subdivision was operational from 1 January of that year.
| English name | Swedish name | Location | Active |
| I Army Division | I. arméfördelningen | Helsingborg Garrison Kristianstad Garrison | 1937–1939 1939–1942 |
| II Army Division | II. arméfördelningen | Östersund Garrison | 1937–1942 |
| III Army Division | III. arméfördelningen | Skövde Garrison | 1937–1942 |
| IV Army Division | IV. arméfördelningen | Stockholm Garrison | 1937–1942 |

### 1943–1966

The 1943 subdivision was operational from 7 February of that year.
| Designation | English name | Swedish name | Military district | Location | Active |
| I. förd | I Army Division | I. arméfördelningen | I Military District | Kristianstad Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| II. förd | II Army Division | II. arméfördelningen | II Military District | Östersund Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| III. förd | III Army Division | III. arméfördelningen | I Military District | Skövde Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| IV. förd | IV Army Division | IV. arméfördelningen | IV Military District | Strängnäs Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| XI. förd | XI Army Division | XI. arméfördelningen | I Military District | Ystad Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| XII. förd | XII Army Division | XII. arméfördelningen | II Military District | Östersund Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| XIII. förd | XIII Army Division | XIII. arméfördelningen | I Military District | Kristianstad Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| XIV. förd | XIV Army Division | XIV. arméfördelningen | IV Military District | Linköping Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| XV. förd | XV Army Division | XV. arméfördelningen | VI Military District | Boden Garrison | 1942–1966 |
| XVI. förd | XVI Army Division | XVI. arméfördelningen | V Military District | Karlstad Garrison | 1942–1966 |

### 1966–1994

| Designation | English name | Swedish name | Military district | Location | Active |
| 1. förd | 1st Army Division | 1. arméfördelningen | Southern Military District | Kristianstad Garrison | 1966–1991 |
| 2. förd | 2nd Army Division | 2. arméfördelningen | Lower Norrland Military District | Östersund Garrison | 1966–1978 |
| 3. förd | 3rd Army Division | 3. arméfördelningen | Southern Military District | Skövde Garrison | 1966–1994 |
| 4. förd | 4th Army Division | 4. arméfördelningen | Middle Military District | Strängnäs Garrison | 1966–1994 |
| 11. förd | 11th Army Division | 11. arméfördelningen | Southern Military District | Ystad Garrison | 1966–1991 |
| 12. förd | 12th Army Division | 12. arméfördelningen | Lower Norrland Military District | Östersund Garrison | 1978–1994 |
| 13. förd | 13th Army Division | 13. arméfördelningen | Southern Military District | Skövde/Kristianstad Garrison | 1966–1997 |
| 14. förd | 14th Army Division | 14. arméfördelningen | Middle Military District | Linköping/Strängnäs Garrison | 1966–1994 |
| 15. förd | 15th Army Division | 15. arméfördelningen | Upper Norrland Military District | Boden Garrison | 1966–1994 |
| 16. förd | 16th Army Division | 16. arméfördelningen | Bergslagen Military District | Karlstad Garrison | 1966–1978 |

### 1994–2000

| Designation | English name | Swedish name | Military district | Location | Active |
| 2. förd | Lower Northern Army Division | Nedre norra arméfördelningen | Northern Military District | Östersund Garrison | 1994–1997 |
| 3. förd | Western Army Division | Västra arméfördelningen | Southern Military District | Skövde Garrison | 1994–1997 |
| 4. förd | Eastern Army Division | Östra arméfördelningen | Middle Military District | Strängnäs Garrison | 1994–2000 |
| 6. förd | Upper Northern Army Division | Övre norra arméfördelningen | Northern Military District | Boden Garrison | 1994–1997 |
| 6. förd | Northern Army Division | Norra arméfördelningen | Northern Military District | Boden Garrison | 1997–2000 |
| 13. förd | Southern Army Division | Södra arméfördelningen | Southern Military District | Kristianstad Garrison | 1994–2000 |
| 14. förd | Central Army Division | Mellersta arméfördelningen | Middle Military District | Linköping Garrison | 1994–1997 |