Magnus Dyrssen

Lieutenant Colonel Magnus Peder Wilhelm Dyrssen (18 May 1894 – 1 March 1940) was a Swedish Army officer. Dyrssen is best known as one of the initiators of the Swedish Volunteer Corps during the Winter War in Finland where he was killed in action.

Early life Dyrssen was born on 18 May 1894 in Karlskrona, the son of Admiral Wilhelm Dyrssen and baroness Lizinka af Uggla. His brother was Lieutenant General Gustaf Dyrssen.

Career Dyrssen was appointed underlöjtnant in Svea Artillery Regiment in 1915. After graduating from the military academy and officer candidate service, he became a captain in the General Staff in 1926 and served for six years as an ADC to the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Carl Gustaf Hammarskjöld (1926–1930) and Major General Bo Boustedt (1930–1932). In 1932 he returned to his regiment as artillery battery commander. Dyrssen became a teacher in Sweden's strategic conditions at Royal Swedish Army Staff College in 1935, and was appointed major in 1936 and lieutenant colonel in 1938. He was briefly acting head of Royal Swedish Army Staff College in 1939. Dyrssen was chairman of the executive committee of the Swedish Military Sports Association (Sveriges militära idrottsförbund) from 1937 to 1939.

On 9 March 1940, Dyrssen was buried in Engelbrekt Church in Stockholm by Pastor Hans Åkerhielm of the Swedish Volunteer Corps. Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf spoke at the stretcher and laid a wreath from the king. The ceremony was attended by a large number of representatives of military and civilian authorities and official institutions, associations, etc. in Sweden and Finland. Members of the Swedish Volunteer Corps parade. The coffin was carried by majors and captains from the Svea Artillery Regiment.

He was buried the same day in the then Stockholms-Näs Cemetery (now Kungsängen Cemetery).

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1939)

Dates of rank 1915 – Underlöjtnant 19?? – Lieutenant 1926 – Captain 1936 – Major 1938 – Lieutenant colonel