Karl Silfverberg

Major General Karl Josef Arnold Silfverberg (25 July 1899 – 23 October 1978) was a Swedish Air Force officer. In the early 1920s, Silfverberg earned maritime certifications and entered the Swedish Navy Reserve, eventually transitioning to the Swedish Air Force in the late 1920s. He held various positions within the Air Force, including overseeing the Signal Equipment Office and attending the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College. Silfverberg's career advanced through promotions to captain and major. In 1940, he became the head of the Air Staff's Organizational Department and later attained the ranks of lieutenant colonel and colonel. Instead of leading the Blekinge Wing, he became Vice Chief of the Air Staff in 1943 and simultaneously headed the Royal Swedish Air Force Staff College.

Throughout his career, Silfverberg was involved in defense-related investigations and committees, such as the 1941 Defense Investigation and the organization of private aviation. He also held various leadership and advisory roles in military and civilian organizations, including the Swedish Civil Service Board and the Royal Swedish Aero Club. Silfverberg was an honorary member of several associations, including the Royal Swedish Aero Club and the National Swedish Federation of Government Officers.

Early life Silfverberg born on 25 July 1899 in the Royal Karlskrona Admiralty Parish in Karlskrona, Sweden, the son of K E Silfverberg, a model maker, and his wife (née Svensson). He attended the Cabin Boy Corps (Skeppsgossekåren) in Karlskrona from 1914 to 1917.

Career Silfverberg obtained his mate's examination (styrmansexamen) in 1921, a master's [certificate] examination (sjökaptenexamen) in 1922, and became a second lieutenant in the Swedish Navy reserve in 1923. He was promoted to underlöjtnant in 1928 and completed his limited studentexamen in 1929, along with supplementary training for naval officer certification in the same year. In 1929/1930, Silfverberg transferred to the Swedish Air Force, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant. He attended the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1933 to 1934. His career continued to progress as he was promoted to the rank of captain in 1936 and major in 1940. In 1940, Silfverberg served as the head of the Air Staff's Organizational Department, subsequently attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1942 and colonel in 1943. During his time as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he also served as the head of the Royal Swedish Air Force Staff College from 1944 to 1945. Silfverberg served as the inspector for the Air Force's technical service from 1948 to 1959, when he was promoted to the rank of major general. Following this, he became the head of the Swedish Air Force Reorganization Delegation (flygvapnets personaldelegation) from 1959 to 1964 and concurrently represented the Air Force in the Swedish Armed Forces Reorganization Delegation (försvarets personaldelegation) during the same period. the Swedish Association of Army, Navy, and Air Force Officers, the National Swedish Federation of Government Officers, and the National Federation of Swedish Air Force Associations.

Dates of rank 1923 – Second lieutenant 1928 – Underlöjtnant 1929/30 – Lieutenant 1936 – Captain 1940 – Major 1942 – Lieutenant colonel 1943 – Colonel 1959 – Major general

Awards and decorations

Swedish

SignM

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1943)