Erik af Edholm

Lieutenant General Erik Gustaf af Edholm (6 November 1878 – 16 February 1954) was a Swedish Army officer. His senior commands include commanding officer of the Södermanland Regiment, the Eastern Brigade and the III Army Division. af Edholm began his military career in 1899 as a second lieutenant with the Svea Life Guards and later studied at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College, where he also taught tactics from 1912 to 1917. He held various roles in the General Staff, rising through the ranks and gaining experience as a military attaché during the Balkan Wars and through studies with the Italian Army. In 1919, he became secretary of the Committee Against Opposition to National Defence Propaganda.

Over the 1920s and 1930s, he held key positions, including chief of staff of the IV Army Division, battalion commander in the Svea Life Guards, and leader of chemical safety courses. Promoted to colonel, he commanded the Södermanland Regiment from 1929 to 1935 and undertook military studies in Italy and duties in the Saar Territory. In 1936, he was promoted to major general and later served as commander of the III Army Division until his retirement in 1944, when he was placed in the reserve as a lieutenant general.

Early life af Edholm was born on 6 November 1878 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of the First Marshal of the Court (1817–1897) and his wife Emma Mariana Charlotta Braunerhielm (1847–1920). His uncle was the physician (1831–1913), and his grandfather was the physician (1777–1856).

af Edholm passed mogenhetsexamen (upper secondary school leaving examination) in Stockholm on 21 May 1897. He became a volunteer with the Svea Life Guards on 1 June the same year and was promoted to sergeant on 15 August 1898. He entered the Royal Military Academy on 26 September that same year and was appointed fanjunkare (warrant officer) with the Svea Life Guards on 12 August 1899. He completed his officer’s examination on 25 November 1899.

Career af Edholm was commissioned as an underlöjtnant (second lieutenant) and assigned to the Svea Life Guards on 8 December 1899. He became a student at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College in 1902 and was promoted to lieutenant in the same regiment on 24 April 1903. He completed the course at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College on 27 June 1904. He was appointed staff adjutant and lieutenant with the General Staff on 6 November 1908, and promoted to captain in the same staff on 25 June 1912. From 1912 to 1917, af Edholm served as a lecturer in tactics at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College. He returned to the General Staff as staff adjutant and captain on 16 January 1920, and was promoted to senior adjutant and major on the same day.

Personal life af Edholm married Tyra Amanda Steinwall on 8 May 1918, at Gustaf Adolf Church in Stockholm. She was born on 28 March 1898, in Stockholm and was the daughter of accountant Johan Lennart Steinwall and Agnes Josefina Bergstrand.

Dates of rank 15 August 1898 – Sergeant 12 August 1899 – Fanjunkare 8 December 1899 – Underlöjtnant 24 April 1903 – Lieutenant 25 June 1912 – Captain 16 January 1920 – Major 15 January 1926 – Lieutenant colonel 1928 – Colonel 1936 – Major general 1944 – Lieutenant general

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Foreign

Greek campaign medal (2 September 1914)

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences