Senior Colonel __NOTOC__ Senior colonel is an officer rank usually placed between a regular colonel and a British brigadier or American brigadier general. Use Most western militaries tend to equate a senior colonel as being on the level of a "brigadier general ...

Torsten Andreas Schmidt (23 February 1899 – 19 December 1996) was a

Swedish Army The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...

officer. Schmidt began his military career in 1919, commissioned as a second lieutenant in the

Wendes Artillery Regiment The Wendes Artillery Regiment (), designation A 3, was a Swedish Army artillery regiment that traced its origins back to the 17th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from Scania, where it was garrisoned. The unit was disban ...

. Over the years, he climbed the ranks, attaining promotions such as lieutenant in 1923, captain in 1934, and major in 1937. Notably, he directed the Armed Forces Chemical Institute from 1937 to 1945 and served in various roles within the Defence Staff until 1959, reaching the rank of senior colonel. Beyond his military service, Schmidt contributed to Air Protection Investigation in 1936, was a member of the Atomic Committee from 1945 to 1959, and held several board positions, including the Defence Missile Board. His multifaceted career extended into teaching and insurance roles from 1960 to 1969. Schmidt was also involved in the

Swedish Armed Forces The Swedish Armed Forces (, literally ''Defence Force'') are the Military, armed forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. It consists of four separate military branches, the Swedish Army, the Swedish Navy, the Swedish Air Force and the Home Guard (Swed ...

' control of the Swedish defense research when it was set up before and during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and when the Swedish nuclear research started.

Early life

Schmidt was born on 23 February 1899 in

Landskrona Landskrona is a town in Scania, Sweden. Located on the shores of the Öresund, it occupies a natural port, which has lent the town at first military and subsequent commercial significance. Ferries operate from Landskrona to the island of Ven, an ...

, Sweden, the son of the banker, vice district judge Martin Schmidt (1858–1942) and his wife Elisabeth Jeanette, née Bruzelius (1867–1911). After passed ''

studentexamen Studentexamen (Swedish for "students' examination" or "students' degree"), earlier also ''mogenhetsexamen'' ("maturity examination") was the name of the university entrance examination in Sweden from the 17th century to 1968. From 1862 to 1968, ...

'' in 1917.

Career

Military career

Schmidt was commissioned as an officer in 1919 and was assigned as a second lieutenant to the

(A 3). He attended the

Artillery and Engineering College Artillery and Engineering College (, AIHS) was a Swedish Army training establishment active between 1878 and 1992, providing courses for artillery officers. It was located within the Stockholm Garrison in Stockholm, Sweden. History The Higher Art ...

from 1921 to 1924. Schmidt was promoted to lieutenant in 1923 and was lieutenant in the anti-aircraft artillery in 1928. He served as a artillery staff officer from 1932 to 1937 and was promoted to captain in 1934 and was assistant teacher at Artillery and Engineering College from 1934 to 1938. Schmidt was promoted to major in 1937 and was director of the Armed Forces Chemical Institute (''Försvarsväsendets kemiska anstalt'') from 1937 to 1945. Schmidt was major in the

Svea Artillery Regiment The Svea Artillery Regiment (), designation A 1, was a Swedish Army artillery regiment that traced its origins back to the 17th century. It was disbanded in 1997. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from Svealand, and it was also gar ...

(A 1) in 1940 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1942. He was administrative director of the Defence Research Council (''Försvarets forskningsnämnd'') from 1943 to 1945, head of department at the Defence Staff from 1945 to 1959 and was promoted to colonel in the

in 1947. Schmidt served at the Defence Staff from 1948 to 1959 and held the rank of senior colonel from 1956 to 1959. He was also head of section at the Defence Staff in 1959 and was placed in the reserve the same year. He had assignment abroad in 1931, 1936–39, 1941, 1946 and 1950.

Other work

Schmidt was assisting in the Air Protection Investigation in 1936 and was a member of Atomic Committee (''Atomkommittén'') from 1945 to 1959 and board member of the

Swedish National Defence Research Institute Swedish National Defence Research Institute (, FOA) was a Swedish government agency in defense research existing from 1945 to 31 December 2000. It was amalgamated with the National Aeronautical Research Institute (FFA) into the Swedish Defence ...

from 1945 to 1959 as well as the Review Board for Certain Patents from 1946 to 1959. He was chairman of the Defence Missile Board (''Försvarets robotvapenråd'') from 1948 to 1959, member of the Inquiry Concerning Protection Against Bacteriological Warfare from 1949 to 1951 (or 1952–53) and the Defence Medical Board of the Medical Research Council from 1951 to 1959. Schmidt was an expert in the Defence Medical Research Organization (''Försvarsmedicinska forskningsorganisationen'') in 1959 and the Defence Medical Research Advisory Committee (''Försvarsmedicinska forskningsutredningen'') from 1959 to 1962. He served as a teacher and in insurance companies from 1960 to 1969.

Personal life

Schmidt was married 1926–1936 to Elsa Elin Märta Vult von Steyern (born 1903), the daughter of lieutenant colonel Nils Vult von Steyern and Eva Hammar. He married a second time in 1938 to Karen Margrete Beatrice Bruun von Neergaard (1911–1986), the daughter of landowner, major Alfried Bruun von Neergaard and Marion, née Schlubach. He was the father of Holger (born 1940), Harald (born 1941) and Christer (born 1942).

Death

Schmidt died on 19 December 1996 and was buried in

Cemetery.

Awards and decorations

Royal_Order_of_the_Sword_-_Commander_1st_Class_BAR

Commander 1st Class of the

Order of the Sword The Royal Order of the Sword (officially: ''Royal Order of the Sword''; Swedish: ''Kungliga Svärdsorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Or ...

(5 June 1954) * Knight of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish language, Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden''), sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by Frederick I of Sweden, King Frederick I on 23 F ...

* National Air Protection Federation Merit Badge in gold

Foreign

Finland Cross of Liberty 3rd Class Military peacetime

Order of the Cross of Liberty The Order of the Cross of Liberty (; ) is one of three official state Order (decoration), orders in Finland, along with the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The awards of the Order of the Cross of Liberty ...

, 3rd Class with swords

Honours

*Member of the

Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences The Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences () is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden and was founded on 12 November 1796 by Gustaf Wilhelm af Tibell. The academy is an independent organization and a forum for military (army and air force) and de ...

(1944)

Bibliography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmidt, Torsten 1899 births 1996 deaths Swedish Army colonels People from Landskrona Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences Commanders First Class of the Order of the Sword Knights of the Order of the Polar Star