Carl Petersén

Career He became a second lieutenant in the Uppland Artillery Regiment (A 5) in 1903 He attended the Royal Central Gymnastics Institute in 1907. Petersén was major and instructor in the Persian Gendarmerie from 1911 to 1913 and participated in the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915. The same year he was promoted to captain in the Swedish Army and did the certificate exams for balloon license.

During the war, Petersén and his colleague Algot Törneman had organised private arms trades. They had sold weapons via a private firm, Skandiastål, to the Norwegian and Danish resistance movements. After the war Petersén moved to Switzerland where he continued to represent the weapons firm Skandiastål. He became a major in the reserve of Bergslagen Artillery Regiment in 1945 and a lieutenant colonel in 1947. Petersén later served as secretary general of the International Road Transport Union in Geneva. and they married on 22 February 1910. Esther was the daughter of Oscar Andrén (1858–1918) and his wife Ellen Andersson (1863–1952). Esther was adopted by her stepfather Carl Warodell (1847–1902), a captain of the Göta Life Guards.

One daughter was born in Tehran, Iran on 19 October 1912. They also had on son, ambassador (1914–1976).

Death

Petersén died on 14 April 1963 in Geneva, Switzerland. He was interred on 27 June 1963 at Norra begravningsplatsen i Stockholm.

Dates of rank

Sweden 1903 – Underlöjtnant 1906 – Lieutenant 1916 – Captain 1932 – Major 1947 – Lieutenant colonel

Finland 1918 – Lieutenant colonel

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Swedish Red Cross' Silver Medal

Foreign

Orders

Medals and crosses

Finnish War Memorial Medal Tampere Medal Iranian Gold Medal French Red Cross' Silver Medal Italian Red Cross' Silver Medal Polish Red Cross' Medal Netherlands Red Cross' Cross of Merit Norwegian Red Cross Badge of Honour 2nd Class of the German Red Cross Badge of Honour