Erik G. Bengtsson


Lieutenant General Erik Gustav Bengtsson is a Swedish Army officer. He was Chief of the Army from 1984 to 1990.

Early life

Bengtsson was born on 14 July 1928 in Visnum, Värmland County, Sweden, the son of Erik Bengtsson, a farmer, and his wife Hildur. He passed studentexamen in 1951.

Career

Bengtsson was commissioned as an officer in Norrland Artillery Regiment in 1952. Bengtsson attended the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1958 to 1961 and served in the Army Staff from 1961 to 1964 and in the Defence Staff from 1964 to 1967.
He served in Norrland Artillery Regiment in 1967 and the Defence Staff in 1968. Bengtsson then served in Boden Artillery Regiment in 1972 and was section chief in the Military District Staff within the Upper Norrland Military District in 1973. He was promoted to colonel and was chief of education in Boden Artillery Regiment and the Boden Defence District in 1975.
Bengtsson was promoted to senior colonel and was appointed vice chief in the Military District Staff within the Upper Norrland Military District in 1977. He was promoted to major general and became chief of staff of the Eastern Military District in 1978. Bengtsson was promoted to lieutenant general and served as military commander of the Upper Norrland Military District from 1 October 1980 to 1984 and then as the Chief of Army from 1 October 1984 to 1990. As Chief of Army, Bengtsson was also Superior Commanding Officer for the Swedish UN forces, including the Swedish contingent in Cyprus which was part of UNFICYP.

Other work

Bengtsson was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences. He was chairman of Wermländska Sällskapet i Stockholm from 1987 to 2000, chairman of the Swedish Sport Shooting Federation and chairman of the AFCEA. Bengtsson was military writer for several newspapers and magazines.

Personal life

In 1949 he married Ulla Axelsson, the daughter of master painter Axel Jansson and Gerda. Bengtsson was the father of preschool teacher Anna-Lena Margareta Bengtsson and Maria Bengtsson.

Dates of rank

Awards and decorations