Carl-Gustaf Ståhl

Major General Carl-Gustaf Ståhl (15 November 1920 – 11 April 2016) was a Swedish Army officer. Ståhl's military career began in 1940 when he joined the Military Academy Karlberg in Stockholm, graduating in 1942 as a second lieutenant. Over the years, he underwent further training and rose through the ranks, serving in various capacities within the Swedish military. Notably, he commanded the third Swedish battalion in Cyprus as part of the UN Peacekeeping Force and later served as a military attaché in Washington, D.C., and Ottawa. Promoted to major general in 1972, he held significant roles in the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration before entering the reserves in 1982. Ståhl's international service continued as he commanded the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Damascus from 1982 to 1985, achieving notable success in facilitating a prisoner exchange between Syria and Israel. Post-retirement, he contributed to educational initiatives on behalf of the Swedish Ecclesiastical Educational Association, receiving recognition for his work on the Middle East Project.

Early life Ståhl was born on 15 November 1920 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the son of Torsten Ståhl and his wife Siri (née Maniette). He grew up in Copenhagen with two siblings. His father was the director of Cederslunds Punch in Denmark. Ståhl dreamed of becoming an engineer, but World War II put an end to that dream. Instead, he was mobilized for military service with the Göta Engineer Regiment in Eksjö. As the war seemed to be prolonged, he sought officer training. Ståhl graduated in 1942 and was commissioned as an officer the same year and was assigned as a second lieutenant into the Swedish Engineer Troops. He studied at the Engineer Officers' School (Ingenjörofficersskolan) in 1945 He served as an office head in the Defence Staff from 1953 to 1956, military secretary in the 1953 Fortification Management Investigation (1953 års fortifikationsförvaltningsutredning), section chief at the VI Military District staff from 1956 to 1958, being promoted to major in 1960. He served in this position until April 1965. On 1 April 1966 he was promoted to colonel. After that, he served as a military attaché at the embassies in Washington, D.C., and Ottawa from 1966 to 1972 and attended the Senior Staff Course at the Swedish National Defence College in 1972.

After his promotion to major general in 1972, he served at the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration from 1972 to 1982: as head of Central Planning from 1972 to 1974 and as head of the Main Army Materiel Department from 1974 to 1982. Ståhl entered the reserves in 1982. UNDOF consisted of approximately 1,200 personnel with the main forces from Finland, Austria, Canada, and Poland. His greatest success was the prisoner exchange between Syria and Israel.

Personal life In 1943, Ståhl married Margaretha Engdahl (1920–2001), the daughter of Gunnar Engdahl and Signe (née Sörensen). They had two children: Gunilla (born 1944) and Claes-Göran (born 1948).

Death Ståhl died on 11 April 2016 in Båstad, Skåne County, Sweden.

Dates of rank 1942 – Second lieutenant ???? – Lieutenant 1950 – Captain 1960 – Major 1963 – Lieutenant colonel 1 April 1966 – Colonel 1972 – Major general

Awards and decorations

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1974)