The Home Guard – National Security Forces () is a military reserve force of the Swedish Armed Forces. It was formally established on May 29, 1940, during World War II upon popular demand. While originally composed of former militia groups, today it comprises half of the Swedish Army, thus constituting the basis of the territorial defence of Sweden.
The Home Guard consists mainly of local rapid response units, numbering 17,000 of the 22,000 total Home Guard strength, organised in 40 battalions, with 23 associated auxiliary defence organisations. Most soldiers maintain a civilian job while serving the army part-time. Rapid response units were formed in the early 2000s in parallel to the Swedish government's abolishment of conscription to the Swedish Armed Forces; small-scale conscription has since been reintroduced.
The Chief of Home Guard is the commanding officer of the Home Guard, representing 40,000 present and veteran soldiers, reporting directly to the Chief of Defence.
History
thumb|right|Home Guard soldiers in [[Lund, Scania, in 1940]]
The establishment of the Home Guard was passed into law by the Riksdag on May 29, 1940, after the beginning of World War II, however, units had already been formed by the military before this. Home Guard units were groups of usually eight to 15 men that were to serve as defence units in case of war, located in towns and in both private and state-owned factories, throughout all of Sweden. Members of these small units usually consisted of former professional military men who were equipped with rifles, machine guns, ammunition, medicine, uniforms, and had the option of buying additional materials such as skis, sweaters and marching boots. An additional group, called the Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization, helped with additional tasks that the Home Unit was unable to perform themselves. The Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization helped provide the home unit with additional items such as socks, scarves and gloves as well as performing all administrative work that the unit could not afford to do themselves. In case of war, and in case the Home Guard was unable to utilize local hospitals, the Swedish Red Cross was prepared to set up first aid stations for its use.
Organisation
thumb|right|Home Guard soldiers in [[Ystad during an exercise]]
thumb|right|Swedish Home Guard soldiers
thumb|right|Drummers of the Home Guard Band of [[Eslöv at the Royal Palace in Stockholm]]
The Home Guard with the national security forces are part of the Swedish Armed Forces' mission-based organization. The Home Guard is a unit and constitutes the basis for the protection of Sweden. It has the task of operating over the entire conflict scale, from societal support during great strains in peacetime to armed combat in times of war.
The units of the Home Guard have a response capability that is measured in hours, as opposed to days or weeks. The personnel is made up of locally recruited volunteers and consists largely of experienced soldiers and officers with a background in mission-based units.
When the Armed Forces are called in to help with forest fires, flooding or missing person searches, it often falls to Home Guard units to support the police and Rescue Services. Territorial surveillance, base security, escort duties, transport protection, target identification and artillery spotting are other typical Home Guard duties.
In addition to personnel who have completed their national service or Basic Military Training, the Home Guard includes a large proportion of specialists, for example, paramedics, motorcycle orderlies and dog handlers, that are recruited and trained by voluntary defence organizations.
Territorial organisation
Sweden is divided into four military regions:
- Northern Military Region (MR N) comprises Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Jämtland and Västernorrland counties. The regional command is located at Norrbotten Regiment (I 19) headquarters in Boden.
- Central Military Region (MR M) comprises Stockholm and Gotland, Södermanland, Uppsala, Västmanland, Dalarna and Gävleborg counties. The regional command is located at the Life Guards (LG) headquarters in Stockholm.
- Western Military Region (MR V) comprises Västra Götaland, Halland, Örebro and Värmland counties. The regional command is located at Skaraborg Regiment (P 4) headquarters in Skövde.
- Southern Military Region (MR S) comprises Skåne, Blekinge, Kronoberg, Jönköping, Kalmar and Östergötland counties. The regional command is located at South Scanian Regiment (P 7) headquarters Revinge.
Home Guard battalions are supported for administration, training and logistics by 22 Training Groups (Swedish Utbildningsgrupp). The Training Groups are for the most parts the descendants of disbanded regiments and most Home Guard battalions carry the colours and traditions of its antecedent regiment, e.g. the 17. Dalabataljonen which carries the colours and traditions of the Dalarna Regiment (raised 1628 and disbanded in 2000). Usually, each Training Group supports 1-2 battalions but some have four battalions. The Training Groups in turn belong to a regular regiment. Uniform guidelines and materials for courses are determined centrally by the National Home Guard Combat School.
Units
As of 2012, the Home Guard consists of 22,000 soldiers (down from 42,000 in 2001) organized into 40 light infantry battalions (down from 69 in 2001) of 300-700 personnel.
In 2001, the Rapid Response units numbered around 5,000 soldiers of the total of 42,000. Rapid Response units have more combat tasks compared to the rest of the Home Guard, including escort duties. Some battalions located near the coast also have marine companies equipped with Combat Boat 90.
As of 2014, the majority of the force, 17,000 out of 22,000 soldiers will be in Rapid Response units. The decrease in number of troops comes with an equal increase in quality and modern equipment.
The designation "hvbat" is an abbreviation of "Hemvärnsbataljon", or "Home Guard Battalion".
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|Designation
|align=left| Unit (Swedish) || Unit (English) || Training Group || Comments
|- style="text-align:left;"
|10. hvbat
| align="left" | Lapplandsjägarbataljonen || Lapland Rifles Battalion || Lapplandsjägargruppen|| Arctic, includes an aircraft troop
|- style="text-align:left;"
|11. hvbat
| align="left" | Gränsjägarbataljonen || Border Rifles Battalion || Lapplandsjägargruppen || Arctic, includes an aircraft troop and a boat platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|12. hvbat
| align="left" | Norrbottensbataljonen || North Bothnia Battalion || Norrbottensgruppen || Arctic, includes an aircraft troop, a pioneer platoon and a logistics (fuel and ammunition) platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|13. hvbat
| align="left" | Västerbottensbataljonen || West Bothnia Battalion || Västerbottensgruppen || Arctic, includes an aircraft troop, a logistics (fuel and ammunition) platoon, a boat platoon and a CBRN platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|14. hvbat
| align="left" | Fältjägarbataljonen || Light Infantry Battalion || Fältjägargruppen || Arctic, includes a logistics (fuel and ammunition) platoon and a reconnaissance company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|15. hvbat
| align="left" | Ångermanlandsbataljonen || Ångermanland Battalion || Västernorrlandsgruppen || Arctic, includes a logistics (fuel and ammunition) platoon, a traffic platoon and a boat platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|16. hvbat
| align="left" | Medelpadsbataljonen || Medelpad Home Guard Battalion || Västernorrlandsgruppen || Arctic, includes an air troop, a logistics (fuel and ammunition) platoon and a boat platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|17. hvbat
| align="left" | Dalabataljonen || Dalarna Home Guard Battalion || Dalregementsgruppen || Arctic, includes an aircraft troop and a mortar platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|18. hvbat
| align="left" | Gävleborgsbataljonen || Gävleborg Battalion || Gävleborgsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a boat platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|19. hvbat
| align="left" | Värmlandsbataljonen || Värmland Home Guard Battalion || Örebro och Värmlandsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop
|- style="text-align:left;"
|20. hvbat
| align="left" | Sannahedsbataljonen || Sannahed Home Guard Battalion || Örebro och Värmlandsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a pioneer platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|21. hvbat
| align="left" | Upplandsbataljonen || Uppland Home Guard Battalion || Uppland/Västmanlandsgruppen || Includes a reconnaissance company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|22. hvbat
| align="left" | Västmanlandsbataljonen || Västmanland Home Guard Battalion || Uppland/Västmanlandsgruppen ||
|- style="text-align:left;"
|23. hvbat
| align="left" | Attundalandsbataljonen || Attundaland Home Guard Battalion || Livgardesgruppen || Includes a reconnaissance company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|24. hvbat
| align="left" | Stockholmsbataljonen || Stockholm Home Guard Battalion || Livgardesgruppen || Includes a traffic platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|25. hvbat
| align="left" | Telgehusbataljonen || Telgehus Home Guard Battalion || Livgardesgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop
|- style="text-align:left;"
|26. hvbat
| align="left" | Ulvsundabataljonen|| Ulvsunda Home Guard Battalion || Livgardesgruppen ||
|- style="text-align:left;"
|27. hvbat
| align="left" | Södermanlandsbataljonen || Södermanland Home Guard Battalion || Södermanlandsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a boat platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|28. hvbat
| align="left" | Roslagsbataljonen || Roslagen Home Guard Battalion || Södertörnsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a boat platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|29. hvbat
| align="left" | Södertörnsbataljonen || Södertörn Home Guard Battalion || Södertörnsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a CBRN platoon and a boat company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|30. hvbat
| align="left" | Första livgrenadjärbataljonen || 1st Life Grenadier Battalion || Livgrenadjärgruppen ||
|- style="text-align:left;"
|31. hvbat
| align="left" | Andra livgrenadjärbataljonen || 2nd Life Grenadier Battalion || Livgrenadjärgruppen || Includes 2 boat platoons
|- style="text-align:left;"
|32. hvbat
| align="left" | Gotlandsbataljonen || Gotland Battalion || Gotlandsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a boat platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|33. hvbat
| align="left" | Norra Smålandsbataljonen || North Småland Battalion || Norra Smålandsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a pioneer platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|34. hvbat
| align="left" | Kalmarbataljonen || Kalmar Battalion || Kalmar och Kronobergsgruppen ||
|- style="text-align:left;"
|35. hvbat
| align="left" | Kronobergsbataljonen || Kronoberg Battalion || Kalmar och Kronobergsgruppen || Includes a reconnaissance company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|36. hvbat
| align="left" | Blekinge västra bataljon || West Blekinge Battalion || Blekingegruppen || Includes an aircraft troop
|- style="text-align:left;"
|37. hvbat
| align="left" | Blekinge östra bataljon || East Blekinge Battalion || Blekingegruppen || Includes a boat company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|38. hvbat
| align="left" | Kinnebataljonen || Kinne Home Guard Battalion || Skaraborgsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a traffic platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|39. hvbat
| align="left" | Kåkindbataljonen || Kåkind Home Guard Battalion || Skaraborgsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop
|- style="text-align:left;"
|40. hvbat
| align="left" | Bohusbataljonen || Bohusläns Home Guard Battalion || Bohusdalgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop and a boat company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|41. hvbat
| align="left" | Göteborgs södra bataljon || South Gothenburg Home Guard Battalion || Elfsborgsgruppen || Includes a reconnaissance company with an aircraft troop.
|- style="text-align:left;"
|42. hvbat
| align="left" | Göteborgs norra bataljon || North Gothenburg Home Guard Battalion || Elfsborgsgruppen || Includes a CBRN platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|43. hvbat
| align="left" | Göteborgs skärgårds bataljon || Gothenburg Archipelago Battalion || Elfsborgsgruppen || Includes a boat company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|44. hvbat
| align="left" | Älvsborgsbataljonen || Älvsborg Home Guard Battalion || Elfsborgsgruppen ||
|- style="text-align:left;"
|45. hvbat
| align="left" | Hallandsbataljonen || Halland Battalion || Hallandsgruppen || Includes an aircraft troop
|- style="text-align:left;"
|46. hvbat
| align="left" | Södra skånska bataljonen || South Scania Battalion || Skånska gruppen || Includes a CBRN platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|47. hvbat
| align="left" | Malmöhusbataljonen || Malmöhus Battalion || Skånska gruppen || Includes a traffic platoon
|- style="text-align:left;"
|48. hvbat
| align="left" | Skånska dragonbataljonen || Scania Dragoon Battalion || Skånska gruppen || Includes a reconnaissance company
|- style="text-align:left;"
|49. hvbat
| align="left" | Norra skånska bataljonen || North Scania Battalion || Skånska gruppen || Includes a mortar platoon
|-
|}
Swedish Home Guard organization graphic
thumb|center|1320px|Swedish Home Guard organization as of April 2026 (click image to enlarge)
Doctrine of Defence
There are two main ways to form a doctrine for defence: static and dynamic.
A static defence could for example be stationing coastal missile batteries on Gotland. No warning is needed, the equipment and staff is already in place and can hold the area.
A dynamic defence could for example be stationing a coastal missile battery in conjunction with an air transport and airborne troops ready to be transported to any area if warning is given.
The current doctrine MSD 16 includes elements of both strategies in synergy.
According to MSD 16 the National Security Forces are to have an increased integration with the Swedish Defence. National Defensive Force operators are stationed in the area where they live. This means they know the terrain and can more easily spot unusual activity. They will also be the first on site, with the role of detecting, reporting and if possible denying an intruder freedom of action. As first responders to any given region, they are also required to support the mobilisation of the specialised, dynamic defence.
The current organisation of the Swedish defence has highly specialised units which requires time to assemble. During this period, there would be no opposition for a forward operating resource such as an aerial troop landing. However the National Defensive Forces are stationed in the area where they live. In case of a surprise attack, the National Security Forces Handbook states that the National Defensive Forces are to become an integrated part of the dynamic response of the Swedish defence. Since each operator is stationed in the area they live in, they know the terrain, they notice when something is out of place and thus will likely be the first to detect and respond to an incursion. By using knowledge of terrain they are to deny, delay or harass the opposing force until friendly specialised units have been mobilised to the given theatre. They can also aid with this knowledge to achieve synergy in the counteroperation.
The current role of the National Security Forces is dynamic, first acting as the spearhead, first on site. After the more specialised troops have been mobilised and deployed, the role shifts to either aiding the unarmed civilian defence force and securing food, medical care and infrastructure for civilians, or fighting the invading force using asymmetric warfare and local knowledge.
Key Tasks
- Assist/protect mobilisation of specialised units (Swedish Defence)
- Early intelligence
- Make use of forward operating forces difficult or impossible
- Protect key assets from sabotage and theft by qualified or unqualified actors
- Contingency: Free War Doctrine
Protection and assistance of mobilisation of specialised units
The Swedish Defence units are highly specialised, but operators may live far from the given base. Mobilisation during a surprise attack could take several days. The National Defence Force (Hemvärnet) is composed of less specialised units, and each operator is assigned to a unit near their home. This makes Hemvärnet the first qualified force on site, anywhere within the national borders of Sweden. With this in mind, one of the primary roles are to protect the mobilisation of the specialised units as well as assisting through local knowledge.
The lower degree of specialisation of the National Defence Force is here a significant strength, as they are by default able to function well in the random groups that would be formed during the initial phases of a surprise attack. Each unit is expected to practice this.
Early Intelligence
During the initial phases of a surprise conflict, confusion may be significant. With local knowledge, and being the first assembled force on site, the National Defence Force can provide centralised command posts with accurate intelligence. This in turn allows for a more synergistic allocation of resources, and gives a more robust situational awareness to allow for decisions. A secondary effect of accurate intelligence is giving political leaders a correct and reliable strategic situational image.
Against Qualified Hostile Forward Operating Resource
- Detect and report activity to give central command accurate situation intelligence.
- Denial of Access.
- Denial of Freedom of Action.
- Denial of freedom of movement.
- Delaying field work.
- Detection of hostile forward operating elements using dogs, alarm systems, alarm mines and local knowledge.
- If opforce is detected within a key asset, certain National Security Force units have the task to re-take the key asset.
- If possible, elimination of hostile forward operating elements.
- Covert reconnaissance.
- Force reconnaissance.
- Protection of key assets from sabotage or attack.
- Destruction of key assets if undefendable. If excessive explosive loads are used for example on a concrete harbour, only gravel will be left, easily overcome by landing crafts. Destruction is in this case designed to transform the asset into large blocks forming delaying obstacles. For this purpose, special destruction tubes have been built into certain key assets.
- Protection of civilians
Against Unqualified Opportunistic Actors
- Guarding key assets
- Noticing when situation deviates from normal activity, possibly indicating imminent sabotage or theft.
- Protection of civilians
For clarification:
Unqualified opportunistic actors are usually divided into two groups. Criminals and political, with varying overlap.
Criminal gangs, "gangs of war", are actors who want to steal things for monetary gain. Perhaps they want weapons so they can extort locals, or perhaps they want to steal food deliveries to sell them for extremely high prices.
Politically motivated actors, who may seek to aid the invader, or seek to cause so much chaos that they're free to (for a short time) reign over an area and do whatever pleases them.
Though motivations of these may be seen as the polar opposites of each other, their modus operandi are very similar.
Contingency
If all contact with friendly forces is lost, National Security Forces are to follow the "Free War" doctrine. The second colour of the Home Guard is a double swallow-tailed Swedish flag.
Medals
In 1947, the Home Guard Medal of Merit in gold (HVGM) of the 8th size was established. It was revised in 1951 and in 1974. The medal ribbon is of blue moiré with five evenly divided yellow stripes. The Home Guard Medal of Merit also comes in a silver issue (HVSM).
In 1951, the Home Guard Silver Medal (HvSM) of the 8th size was established. The reverse varies in the different defence districts or production-guards. The medal ribbon is of blue moiré with one yellow stripe on each side and two yellow stripes on the middle.
In 1996, the Hemvärnets Petrimedalj ("The Home Guard Petri Medal") in silver and bronze (HvPetriSM/BM) of the 8th size was established. It was revised in 2001. The medal ribbon is of green moiré with broad blue edges and with a yellow line in the middle of the blue fields. The ribbon is attached to a narrow pole carried by two slanting ornaments of leaves.
In 2006, the Home Guard Bronze Medal (HvBM) of the 8th size was established. The medal is exactly the same in design as the Home Guard Silver Medal, but is embossed in bronze. The ribbon of blue moiré pattern with two vertical yellow, two mm wide stripes in the middle. The number of awards is marked with metal stars on the ribbon and ribbon bar.
In 2019, the Home Guard Service Medal (HVtjgSM/GM/GMmemalj) of the 8th size was established. The award is given to a Home Guard soldiers, Home Guard musicians and volunteer staff with a valid Home Guard contract and to those who remain in the Home Guard as a Home Guard veteran. The medal is made of three denominations: silver, gold and gold with enamel.
In addition to these medals, the Association of Home Guard Officers (Hemvärnsbefälets Riksförbund, HBR) awards the Association of Home Guard Officers Royal Medal since 1996 (silver medal since 2018) and the Association of Home Guard Officers Merit Badge since 1991.
Other
On 4 November 1946, the march "Hemvärnets marsch" (Damberg) was adopted, that in connection with a prize competition.
Hemvärnschefer
- 1940-07-01 – 1952-03-31: Gustaf Petri
- 1947-04-01 – 1948-06-30: Sven-Erik Allstrin
Rikshemvärnschefer
- 1948-07-01 – 1952-03-31: Sven-Erik Allstrin
- 1952-04-01 – 1955-09-30: Gunnar Brinck
- 1955-10-01 – 1968-09-30: Per Kellin
- 1968-10-01 – 1971-09-30: Karl Gustaf Brandberg
- 1971-10-01 – 1980-12-31: Fredrik Löwenhielm
- 1981-01-01 – 1983-09-30: Karl Eric Holm
- 1983-10-01 – 1988-03-01: Robert Lugn
- 1988-04-01 – 1988-09-30: Lars-Eric Wahlgren
- 1988-10-01 – 1994-03-31: Reinhold Lahti
- 1994-04-31 – 1997-09-30: Jan-Olof Borgén
- 1997-10-01 – 2000-06-30: Alf Sandqvist
- 2000-07-01 – 2002-09-30: Mats Welff
- 2002-10-01 – 2005-06-30: Anders Lindström
- 2005-07-01 – 2018-08-30: Roland Ekenberg
- 2018-09-01 – 2022-09-30: Stefan Sandborg
- 2022-10-01 – 2026-01-08: Laura Swaan Wrede
- 2026-01-09 – present: Mattias Ardin
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;" | Hemvärnet
| Home Guard
| 1940-05-29
| –
|
|-
! 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
|-
| Hv
|
| style="text-align: center;" | 1940-05-29
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
! 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
|-
| Stockholm Garrison
|
| style="text-align: center;" | 1940-05-29
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" |
|}
References
Notes
External links
- Swedish National Home Guard official website
- Swedish Armed Forces official website