Holger Henning

Vice Admiral Carl Holger Holter Henning (30 July 1905 – 4 February 1981) was a Swedish Navy officer whose career included naval command, strategic planning, and senior defence administration. Commissioned in 1927, he served aboard several warships and held various positions in the Naval Staff, including during the Second World War, when he served aboard and . He later headed the Operations Department of the Naval Staff and, from 1953 to 1960, served in the Defence Staff. Promoted to rear admiral in 1960, he became Chief of the Military Office of the Ministry of Defence, a position he held until his retirement in 1970. He also served as aide-de-camp to Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and later as senior aide-de-camp to King Gustaf VI Adolf. He was ceremonially promoted to vice admiral upon retirement.

Early life Henning was born on 30 July 1905 in in Härnösand, Sweden, the son of Carl Henning and his wife Caroline Holter-Hedström. He passed studentexamen in Stockholm in 1924.

Career Henning was commissioned as an officer in the Swedish Navy in 1927 with the rank of acting sub-lieutenant and then served aboard different coastal defence ships. He was promoted to captain in 1953 and served as head of Section II in the Defence Staff from 1953 to 1960. He retired and was given a tombstone promotion to vice admiral on 1 October 1970.

Henning became ADC to Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf in 1943 and served him until he became king Gustaf VI Adolf in 1953. He then served the king as senior ADC from 1953 to 1973. He was interred at Galärvarvskyrkogården in Stockholm on 27 April 1981.

Dates of rank 1927 – Acting sub-lieutenant 19?? – Sub-lieutenant 19?? – Lieutenant 1944 – Lieutenant commander 1949 – Commander 1953 – Captain 1960 – Rear admiral 1 October 1970 – Vice admiral

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Foreign 50x50px Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav (1 July 1961)

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1943; honorary member in 1960) Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1955)