Torgil Thorén


Captain Torgil Vilhelm Hildebad Thorén was a Swedish Navy officer. Thorén was the first Director-General of the National Defence Radio Establishment.

Early life

Thorén was born on 30 March 1892 in Döderhult, Sweden, the son of medical doctor Adolf Thorén and his wife Anna.

Career

Thorén was commissioned as an officer in the Swedish Navy with the rank of underlöjtnant in 1912. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1916, lieutenant in 1922, lieutenant commander in 1937, and to commander in 1939. In 1942 he was appointed captain.
He studied at the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1919 to 1920, and then attended the torpedo course there. In 1922-1935, Thorén was a torpedo boat and destroyer captain. After that, he received a position as division commander in the Destroyer Division, but before World War II erupted as head of department at the Naval Staff and, subsequently, at the Defence Staff. In 1942, he ended up at the National Defence Radio Establishment as its first chief, he became the chief executive officer and head in 1952, until retirement in 1957.
His relationship with the Finnish intelligence was the key to Operation Stella Polaris.
He wrote about his time at the FRA in 1945.

Personal life

In 1920, he married Ingrid Mathiesen, the daughter of Halfdan Mathiesen and Olga Breien. They had two children; Rolf and Gösta.
He died 11 March 1982.

Dates of rank

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Foreign

Honours