Carl Bonde

Count Carl Carlsson Bonde af Björnö, more commonly known as Carl C:son Bonde (28 February 1897 – 8 May 1990) was a Swedish Army officer. Commissioned in 1917, he rose through the ranks of the General Staff and was military attaché in London before joining the Finnish defense during World War II, first as a company commander in the Swedish Volunteer Corps during the Winter War and later as a battalion commander in the Finnish Army, where he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. Returning to Sweden, he became head of the Defence Staff's Domestic Department in 1943, played a role in Operation Stella Polaris, and later served with the National Swedish Office for Aliens. Promoted to colonel in the reserve in 1945, he retired in 1957. Beyond the military, Bonde managed family estates and became a leading figure in international bridge, serving as chairman of the World Bridge Federation from 1968 to 1970.

Early life Carl, by birth member of the House of Bonde, was born on 28 February 1897 in , Västerås Municipality, Sweden, the son of Crown Equerry, Count Carl Bonde af Björnö and his wife . He was the brother of General Thord Bonde and a half-brother of financier and Cabinet Chamberlain .

Career

Military career He was commissioned as an officer in 1917 and was assigned to the Life Regiment Hussars (K 3) in 1917 as a second lieutenant. He graduated from Stockholm School of Economics in 1933. Bonde was active in Operation Stella Polaris in 1944 before being relocated by the government to the National Swedish Office for Aliens (Statens utlänningskommission) where he was a member from 1944 to 1945.

Personal life Bonde was married between 1920–1945 to Martha Elvira Augusta Elisabeth Mörner (born 1900), the daughter of the chamberlain and ryttmästare Hjalmar Stellan Mörner and Marta Jenny Hilda Carolina Sylvan. He married for the second time in 1946, to Greta Swartling (1905–1961), the daughter of banking director John Swartling and Alice Borg. Bonde married a third time in 1962, to Countess Elisabeth Wachtmeister af Johannishus (1926–1972), the daughter of Hovjägmästare, Count Otto Wachtmeister and Brita Nordenstierna.

Death Bonde died on 8 May 1990 in Mörkö, Södertälje Municipality.

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Foreign

2 x Finnish War Memorial Medal with clasp and sword British commemorative medal