Tage Olihn

Lieutenant General David Tage Olihn (5 November 1908 – 16 April 1996) was a senior officer of the Swedish Army. Olihn's senior commands include Inspector of the Swedish Armoured Troops and military commander of the I Military District and of the Lower Norrland Military District (Milo NN). Olihn also served in Finland during the Winter War in 1940 and in Abyssinia two times, from 1946 to 1949, and from 1956 to 1959.

Early life Olihn was born on 5 November 1908 in Ronneby, Sweden, the son of Nils Olihn, a teacher, and his wife Elna (née Svensson). He was educated at the Artillery and Engineering College in 1930 and was the same year commissioned as an officer in Halland Regiment (I 16) with the rank of second lieutenant. He then served in the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Finland during the Winter War in 1940. Olihn became captain of the General Staff Corps in 1943. In 1946, a cadet school was established in the Ethiopian Imperial Guard, commanded by Olihn. The army group, "Group Olihn" trained officers in the Imperial Guard until 1948 when it was replaced by "Group Nilsson", commanded by lieutenant colonel Rickard Nilsson. Back in Sweden in 1948, he was promoted to major in the Svea Life Guards (I 1). Olihn became major of the General Staff Corps in 1950 and served as head of the Education Department in the Army Staff from 1950 to 1953. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1952 and attended the Swedish National Defence College in 1953. Back in Sweden, he was appointed regimental commander of Halland Regiment in 1959. After a year, Olihn was appointed Inspector of the Swedish Armoured Troops. Olihn served in this position until 1973 when he was promoted to lieutenant general and retired from the military.

Olihn was a member of the Swedish-Ethiopian Association, succeeding Carl Gustaf von Rosen as chairman in 1960. He was also an honorary member of the Friends of the Halland Regiment Association (Hallands regementes kamratförening).

Personal life In 1940 he married Charlotte Ankarcrona (1918–1999), the daughter of major Sten Ankarcrona and Ellen Kjellberg. They had three children: Nils (born 1941), Ulla (born 1943) and Ann-Charlotte (born 1955).

Dates of rank 1930 – Second lieutenant 19?? – Lieutenant 1943 – Captain 1948 – Major 1952 – Lieutenant colonel 1955 – Colonel 1963 – Major general 1973 – Lieutenant general

Awards and decorations

Swedish