Torsten Engberg

Lieutenant General Torsten Reinhold Engberg (28 May 1934 – 7 February 2018) was a senior Swedish Coastal Artillery officer. Engberg was Chief of the Naval Staff from 1984 to 1987 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 1987 to 1991 as well as military commander of the Middle Military District (Milo M) from 1991 to 1994. He also served as the first director general of the Swedish Fortifications Agency from 1994 to 1999.

Early life Engberg was born on 28 May 1934 in Norrfjärden Parish, Norrbotten County, Sweden, the son of Amandus Engberg and his wife Märta (née Johansson). He passed studentexamen in 1957. There, he participated early on in raising the new light missile units. and served in the Defence Staff and the year after he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He then served as commanding officer of the Coastal Ranger School in Vaxholm from 1974 to 1976.

Engberg was promoted to colonel and appointed commanding officer of the Gotland Coastal Artillery Defence (KA 3) on 1 October 1980. He was promoted to senior colonel in 1982 and was appointed Chief of Staff of the Western Military District (Milo V) in Skövde. On 1 April 1987, Engberg was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Chief of the Defence Staff. In Commander 's memoirs I kamp mot överheten ("In Battle Against the Authority"), Enberg is accused of filtering out sensitive information in the submarine reports regarding foreign submarines in Swedish waters, and of withholding important facts from the Supreme Commander, General Bengt Gustafsson and the Social Democratic government. The result was abandoned submarine hunts and a low political profile towards the Soviet Union. Engberg commented on the allegations as "sad speculations" from von Hofsten's side.

On 1 July 1991, Engberg was appointed military commander of the Middle Military District (Milo M). At the same time he served as the Commandant General in Stockholm. He served in this position until 1994. The agency was undergoing reorganization and received new tasks both for the Swedish Armed Forces and abroad, among other things he led the creation of protected, underground oil storage facilities in countries in the Middle East where the experience from the Swedish Total Defence came in handy.

Death Engberg died on 7 February 2018 in Simrishamn.

Dates of rank 1959 – Second lieutenant 19?? – Lieutenant 19?? – Captain 1 October 1971 – Major 1972 – Lieutenant colonel 1 October 1980 – Colonel 1982 – Senior colonel 1 April 1984 – Major general 1 April 1987 – Lieutenant general

Awards and decorations

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences