Carl August Ehrensvärd

General Count Carl August Ehrensvärd (3August 1892 – 24April 1974) was a Swedish Army officer. Ehrensvärd came from a distinguished family with a military background. His father was Admiral Count Carl August Ehrensvärd, Swedish Minister for Naval Affairs, and his great-grandfather was the renowned fortress builder Augustin Ehrensvärd.

Ehrensvärd's career in the military began in 1911 when he became an officer volunteer in the Svea Life Guards. He served in various capacities in both the Swedish and Finnish armies, participating in the Invasion of Åland in 1918 and commanding the Archipelago Free Corps. He rose through the ranks, achieving the rank of major in the Finnish Army in 1918. Returning to the Swedish Army, Ehrensvärd attended the Royal Swedish Army Staff College and the General Staff Academy, eventually serving in staff and teaching roles. His career included significant positions such as head of the Central Department of the General Staff and Chief of the Defence Staff from 1945 to 1947.

Ehrensvärd faced challenges within the military hierarchy, notably the "Meyerhöffer affair" in 1947, where a proposal to appoint a pro-German officer led to opposition. Despite these challenges, Ehrensvärd became Chief of the Army in 1948. He was intended to be the Supreme Commander but was rejected on the grounds that he was better suited for war than peace. He remained Chief of the Army until 1957 when he was promoted to full general and transferred to the reserve.

Early life and family Ehrensvärd was born on 3 August 1892 in Karlskrona, Sweden, the son of Admiral, Count Carl August Ehrensvärd (1858–1944) and Baroness Lovisa Ulrika (Ulla), née Thott. He was the brother of Vice Admiral Gösta Ehrensvärd (1885–1973) and Deputy Director of the Ministry of Defence Augustin Ehrensvärd (1887–1968). He was the uncle of chemist Gösta Ehrensvärd (1910–1980). His great-grandfather was the fortress builder Augustin Ehrensvärd, his uncle was Albert Ehrensvärd and his cousin was Archibald Douglas, Ehrensvärd's predecessor on the Chief of the Army post. He passed studentexamen on 15 May 1911.

Career Ehrensvärd became an officers volunteer in the Svea Life Guards (I 1) on 24 May 1911. He became the Queen's Page of Honour in 25 August 1912 and a cadet at the Royal Military Academy on 25 October the same year. He took part in the Invasion of Åland as adjutant of the commanding officer of Åland Detachment in 1918 and resigned from the Swedish Army the same year and joined the Finnish Army where he commanded the Archipelago Free Corps (Skärgårdens frikår) and took part in battles in Åboland archipelago and southwestern Finland Ehrensvärd then attended the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1920 to 1922 Ehrensvärd was captain in the Svea Life Guards (I 1) in 1931 and staff adjutant and captain of the General Staff in 1932. He was major and chief adjutant of the General Staff in 1934 and in 1935. He was head of the Central Department of the General Staff from 1935 to 1937 and the Army Operations Department in the Defence Staff from 1937 to 1938. He served as military commander of the I Military District from 1947 to 1948. Ehrensvärd was promoted to lieutenant general and was appointed Chief of the Army in 1948.

Personal life Ehrensvärd married the first time on 24 July 1922 in Lützow, in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany to Countess Gisela Dorothée Anna-Luise Marianne Lilla von Bassewitz (20 December 1895 – 1946), and was buried at Tosterup cemetery.

Dates of rank Commanding officer of the Swedish Volunteer Corps General Ernst Linder (right) and Carl August Ehrensvärd in Tornio.

Swedish Army 31 December 1913 – Underlöjtnant 22 December 1916 – Lieutenant 18 June 1926 – Captain 1934 – Major 1937 – Lieutenant colonel 1940 – Colonel 1944 – Major general 1948 – Lieutenant general 1957 – General

Finnish Army 13 May 1918 – Major 1940 – Colonel

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Danish Medal of Freedom (Dansk frihetsmedalj) 2 x Finnish War Memorial Medal (Finsk krigsminnesmedalj)

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1935)