The Gotland Infantry Regiment (), designations I 27 and I 18, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 19th century. It was reorganized into an armoured regiment in 1963. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited on the island of Gotland, and it was later garrisoned there.

History

The regiment has its origins in the unit Gotland National Conscription which was created in 1811. By a parliamentary decision in 1866 the Gotland National Conscription was transformed into an infantry regiment and an artillery corps (I 27 and A 4). A colonel was made regimental commander who also acted as the commander of Gotland's troops. The lieutenant colonel of the regiment came actually to serve as regimental commander until 1937. As of 1 January 1887 the regiment's name was Royal Gotland Infantry Regiment with the designation I 27. The regiment got a similar organization to other infantry regiments. The National Conscription's company area division remained until 1900 as the registration authority.

In 1892, the agreement that Gotland's troops may not be called for military service outside the island was repealed. At the same time the name Gotland National Conscription was dropped. In 1915, the regiment got Visborg Kungsladugård's land as training area and all the buildings as storehouses. On 1 April 1963, the detachment was amalgamated with Gotland Infantry Regiment (I 18) and formed the Gotland Regiment (P 18) and was simultaneously transferred to the Swedish Armoured Troops.

Heraldry and traditions

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Gotland Infantry Regiment. It was used by Gotland Group (Gotlandsgruppen) since 2000. Blazon: "Azure, the provincial badge of Gotland, a ram passant argent, armed or, banner gules, crosstaff, edging and five flaps or. The shield surmounted two swords in saltire or".

Commanding officers

Commanding officers active at the regiment the years 1884–1963. During the years 1884–1927 and 1937–1963, the commanding officer was referred to as regementschef ("regimental commander"). During the years 1928–1937 the commanding officer was referred to as kårchef ("corps commander").

Gotland Infantry Regiment, I 27 (1887–1928)

thumb|Painting by Ivar Kamke of Colonel [[Olof Thörnell, commander of Gotland Infantry Corps (1928–1931).]]

  • 1884-04-09 – 1896-12-31: Col Herman von Hohenhausen
  • 1895-07-29 – 1908-12-11: Col Gustaf Björlin
  • 1908-12-18 – 1912-04-13: Col Oscar Silverstolpe
  • 1912-07-02 – 1916-12-31: Col Erik Bergström
  • 1917-01-01 – 1922-10-21: Col Axel Carleson
  • 1922-20-22 – 1927-12-31: Col Tell Schmidt

Gotland Infantry Corps, I 18 (1928–1937)

  • 1928-01-01 – 1931-11-30: Col Olof Thörnell
  • 1931-12-01 – 1937-03-31: Col Gösta Törngren

Gotland Infantry Regiment, I 18 (1937–1963)

  • 1937-04-01 – 1940-12-31: Col Axel Linde
  • 1941-01-01 – 1942-09-30: Col Pehr Janse
  • 1942-10-01 – 1945-09-30: Col Gunnar Berggren
  • 1945-10-01 – 1951-09-30: Col Herman Levin
  • 1951-10-01 – 1957-09-30: Col Folke Haquinius
  • 1957-10-01 – 1964-03-31: Col Jan von Horn

Names, designations and locations

{| class="wikitable"

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Name

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Translation

! style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | From

!

! style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | To

|-

| style="font-style:italic;" | Kungl. Gotlands infanteriregemente

| Royal Gotland Infantry Regiment

| 1887-01-01

| –

| 1927-12-31

|-

| style="font-style:italic;" | Kungl. Gotlands infanterikår

| Royal Gotland Infantry Corps

| 1928-01-01

| –

| 1937-06-30

|-

| style="font-style:italic;" | Kungl. Gotlands infanteriregemente

| Royal Gotland Infantry Regiment

| 1937-07-01

| –

| 1963-03-31

|-

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Designation

! style="font-weight:bold;" |

! style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | From

!

! style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | To

|-

| No. 27

|

| style="text-align: center;" | 1887-01-01

| style="text-align: center;" | –

| style="text-align: center;" | 1914-09-30

|-

| I 27

|

| style="text-align: center;" | 1914-10-01

| style="text-align: center;" | –

| style="text-align: center;" | 1927-12-31

|-

| I 18

|

| style="text-align: center;" | 1928-01-01

| style="text-align: center;" | –

| style="text-align: center;" | 1963-03-31

|-

! style="font-weight:bold;" | Location

! style="font-weight:bold;" |

! style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | From

!

! style="text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | To

|-

| Visby Garrison

|

| style="text-align: center;" | 1905-09-30

| style="text-align: center;" | –

| style="text-align: center;" | 1963-03-31

|}

See also

  • List of Swedish infantry regiments
  • Military on Gotland
  • Gotland Brigade
  • Gotland Regiment
  • Gotland Artillery Regiment

Footnotes