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Chief of the Army Command
Chef for HƦrkommandoen
Coat of arms of the Royal Danish Army
Maj. Gen. Gunner Nielsen (6781621) (cropped)
Incumbent
Gunner Arpe Nielsen [da]
since 15 May 2021
Flag of Denmark Denmark Army
Member of Defence Command of Denmark
Reports to Standard of the Chief of the Defense Staff of Denmark Chief of Defence
Term length No fixed length
Precursor Chief of the Army Operational Command
Formation 1 April 1923 (historical)
1 October 2014 (current)
First holder Ellis Wolff [da] as Chief of the General Command
Deputy Deputy Chief of the Army Command
Salary kr 90,000[lower-alpha 1] per month
(US$ Template:To USD/data/2,019)
Website Official Website

The Chief of the Army Command is the service chief of the Royal Danish Army. The current chief is Major general Gunner Arpe Nielsen [da].[2]

History[]

From the time that absolutism was instituted in 1660 until around 1800, the Monarch had absolute control of the military.[3] Commands of armies could be delegated to designated generals in times of war. As such, general commands would occasionally be established in Norway and the Duchies.[3] During the Scanian War and the Great Northern War there were a total of 19 Supreme Generals, as the commanders served at the King's pleasure.[4]

In the beginning of the English Wars, Crown Prince Frederick established general commands throughout Denmark.[lower-alpha 2] Initially, they had limited power and were planned to be disbanded after the war, it was however decided to keep them.[5] Following the ascension of Christian VIII, the general commands' power and authority were expanded to exceed real military control.[6] This led to a change in the overall command structure, as the field commanders and chiefs of the general commands held the same authority. This problem came to light during the First Schleswig War and the appointment of Hans Hedemann as the commander of the field army (Danish language: NĆørrejyske ArmĆ©korps ).[7] Since Hedemann did not have any control within general command areas, there were often conflicts between him and the chiefs of those commands.[8] On 27 March 1849, Gerhard Christoph von Krogh who earlier had replaced Hedemann, was named supreme commander of "the entire active Army and over the fortifications and batteries in Jutland, on Als and on Funen as well as army magazines and depots set up in those areas".[8] Additionally, it was stipulated that "the active army in all respects was to be independent of the General Commands, which [...] were to assist the army when it was either wholly or partly in the General Command District.[8] While this arrangement ensured there would be no conflict between the supreme commander and the general commands, there were still no unified peacetime commander.

From 1855, there were 3 general commands; 1st General Command responsible for Zealand and surrounding islands, 2nd General Command for North Jutland, Funen and Schleswig, and 3rd General Command for Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg.[9] Following the loss of the duchies in the Second Schleswig War, 3rd General Command was disbanded and 2nd General Command area was reduced.[9] In the 1905 Defence Agreement, it was decided that the chief of the 1st General Command would act as Army Commander-in-Chief in case of war.[9]

With the 1922 Defence Agreement, the Army was subjugated to large cuts. As a result, 1st and 2nd General Command were merged to create the General Command, and thereby creating the first unified peacetime army commander.[6][10] With the creation of the Defence Staff and Chief of Defence, the General Command was replaced by the Army Command.[11] After the Army Command was subjugated to the Defence Command in 1976, the Army Command was replaced by the Army Staff.[11] In 1982, the title of Chief of the Army was changed to become Inspector of the Army.[12] Following the 1988 Defence Commission, it was decided that the Army Staff and the positions of Inspector would be removed and then create the Army Operational Command.[13][14] Following the Danish Defence Agreement 2013ā€“17, the Army Operational Command was disbanded and reorganised into the Army Staff. As part of the Danish Defence Agreement 2018ā€“23, the Danish name was changed Army Command.[15]

List of chiefs[]

Supreme Generals (1848ā€“1932)[]

First Schleswig War
No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Gerhard Christoph von Krogh Major general
Gerhard Christoph von Krogh
(1785ā€“1860)
27 March 1849 12 April 1849 16 days [16]
2 BĆ¼low Major general
Frederik BĆ¼low [da]
(1791ā€“1858)
12 April 1849 24 May 1849 42 days [17]
(1) Gerhard Christoph von Krogh Major general
Gerhard Christoph von Krogh
(1785ā€“1860)
24 May 1849 2 July 1850 1 year, 39 days [18]
Second Schleswig War
No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Christian de Meza
de Meza, ChristianChristian de Meza
(1792ā€“1865)
25 December 18636 February 186443 days[19]
ā€“
Mathias LĆ¼ttichau
LĆ¼ttichau, MathiasMathias LĆ¼ttichau (Acting)
(1795ā€“1870)
6 February 186428 February 186423 days[20]
2
Georg Gerlach
Gerlach, GeorgGeorg Gerlach
(1797ā€“1865)
29 February 18644 July 1864125 days[21]
3
Peter Frederik Steinmann
Steinmann, PeterPeter Frederik Steinmann
(1812ā€“1894)
4 July 18641 November 1864150 days[22]
World War I
No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Vilhelm GĆørtz Lieutenant general
Vilhelm GĆørtz [da]
(1852ā€“1939)
1 August 1914 3 August 1917 3 years, 2 days [23][24]
2 August Peder Tuxen Lieutenant general
August Tuxen [da]
(1853ā€“1929)
6 August 1917 5 May 1918 272 days [24][25]
[26]
3 Ellis Wolff by Lieutenant general
Ellis Wolff [da]
(1856ā€“1938)
5 May 1918 31 March 1919 330 days [24][27]

Chief of the General Command (1923ā€“1926)[]

No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Ellis Wolff [da]
Wolff, EllisLieutenant general Ellis Wolff [da]
(1856ā€“1938)
1 April 192319 October 19263 years, 183 days[28][29]
2
Anders Gjedde Nyholm
Nyholm, AndersLieutenant general Anders Gjedde Nyholm
(1861ā€“1939)
20 October 192631 July 19314 years, 303 days[30][31]
3
Erik With [da]
With, ErikLieutenant general Erik With [da]
(1869ā€“1959)
1 August 19311 December 19398 years, 122 days[32][33]
4
William Wain Prior
Prior, WilliamLieutenant general William Wain Prior
(1876ā€“1946)
1 December 193928 August 19411 year, 270 days[32][34]
[35]
5
Ebbe GĆørtz [da]
GĆørtz, EbbeLieutenant general Ebbe GĆørtz [da]
(1886ā€“1976)
29 August 194130 September 19509 years, 32 days[36]

Chief of the Army Command (1950ā€“1970)[]

No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Ebbe GĆørtz [da]
GĆørtz, EbbeLieutenant general Ebbe GĆørtz [da]
(1886ā€“1976)
1 October 19503 July 1951275 days[36]
2
Erik C.V
MĆøller, ErikLieutenant general Erik C.V. MĆøller [da]
(1896ā€“1972)
4 July 195130 June 19575 years, 362 days[37]
3Hjalf, ViggoLieutenant general Viggo Hjalf [da]
(1900ā€“1985)
1 July 195730 June 19602 years, 365 days[38]
4Jacobsen, ValdemarLieutenant general Valdemar Jacobsen
(1902ā€“1987)
1 July 196031 July 19677 years, 30 days[39][40]
5
Otto Blixenkrone-MĆøller [da]
Blixenkrone-MĆøller, OttoLieutenant general Otto Blixenkrone-MĆøller [da]
(1912ā€“2006)
1 August 196731 December 19692 years, 152 days[41]

Chief of the Army Staff (1970ā€“1990)[]

No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Chief of the Army
(Chefen for HƦren)
1
Otto Blixenkrone-MĆøller [da]
Blixenkrone-MĆøller, OttoLieutenant general Otto Blixenkrone-MĆøller [da]
(1912ā€“2006)
1 January 197030 November 19722 years[41]
2Vegger, ChristianMajor general Christian Vegger [da]
(1915ā€“1992)
1 December 197219763ā€“4 years[42]
3
Harald Martin Hermann Boysen
Boysen, HaraldMajor general Harald Martin Hermann Boysen
(1922ā€“2019)
197630 June 19825ā€“6 years[43]
Inspector of the Army
(InspektĆøren for HƦren)
1
Harald Martin Hermann Boysen
Boysen, HaraldMajor general Harald Martin Hermann Boysen
(1922ā€“2019)
1 July 198219874ā€“5 years[43]
2Essemann, J.Major general JĆørgen Christian Essemann
(born 1933)
198719902ā€“3 years[44]
3
Kjeld HillingsĆø
HillingsĆø, KjeldMajor general Kjeld HillingsĆø
(born 1935)
199031 December 19900 years[45]

Chief of the Army Operational Command (1991ā€“2014)[]

No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Kjeld HillingsĆø
HillingsĆø, KjeldMajor general Kjeld HillingsĆø
(born 1935)
1 January 199119931ā€“2 years[45]
2Kandborg, Ole LarsenMajor general Ole Larsen Kandborg
(born 1941)
199319973ā€“4 years[46]
3GrĆ¼ner, GustavMajor general Gustav GrĆ¼ner
(born 1944)
199719980ā€“1 years[47]
4
Hans Jesper HelsĆø
HelsĆø, Hans JesperMajor general Hans Jesper HelsĆø
(born 1948)
199827 September 20001ā€“2 years[48]
5Scharling, JanMajor general Jan Scharling
(born 1946)
27 September 200027 September 20022 years, 0 days[48]
6KiƦrskou, PoulMajor general Poul KiƦrskou [da]
(born 1954)
27 September 200214 January 20096 years, 109 days[49][50]
7Bundsgaard, Niels HenrikMajor general Niels Henrik Bundsgaard
(born 1957)
15 January 200930 June 20101 year, 166 days[51]
8
Agner Rokos [da]
Rokos, AgnerMajor general Agner Rokos [da]
(born 1958)
1 July 201031 March 20132 years, 273 days[52]
9
Per Ludvigsen [da]
Ludvigsen, PerMajor general Per Ludvigsen [da]
(born 1957)
1 April 20131 October 20141 year, 183 days[53]

Chief of the Army Staff (2014ā€“2018)[]

No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Hans-Christian Mathiesen
Mathiesen, Hans-ChristianMajor general Hans-Christian Mathiesen
(born 1965)
1 October 201424 October 20184 years, 23 days[54][55]
[56]
ā€“
Keld Robert Christensen
Christensen, Keld RobertColonel Keld Robert Christensen (Acting)
(born 1963)
24 October 201831 December 201868 days[56][57]

Chief of the Army Command (2019ā€“present)[]

No. Portrait Name
(Birthā€“Death)
Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
ā€“
Keld Robert Christensen
Christensen, Keld RobertColonel Keld Robert Christensen (Acting)
(born 1963)
1 January 201931 January 201930 days[56][58]
ā€“Pedersen, KennethMajor general Kenneth Pedersen [da] (Acting)
(born 1968)
31 January 20191 September 2019213 days[59]
1
Michael Lollesgaard [de]
Lollesgaard, MichaelMajor general Michael Lollesgaard [de]
(born 1960)
1 September 20191 April 20211 year, 212 days[60][61]
ā€“
Gunner Arpe Nielsen [da]
Nielsen, GunnerBrigadier general Gunner Arpe Nielsen [da] (Acting)
(born 1967)
1 April 202115 May 202144 days[61]
2
Gunner Arpe Nielsen [da]
Nielsen, GunnerMajor general Gunner Arpe Nielsen [da]
(born 1967)
15 May 2021Incumbent3 years, 179 days[2]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ā†‘ Based on Hans-Christian Mathiesen's salary while on administrative leave.[1]
  2. ā†‘ Except for Zealand, where Frederick remained in control.

References[]

Citations
  1. ā†‘ /ritzau/ 2020.
  2. ā†‘ 2.0 2.1 Forsvarskommandoen 2021b.
  3. ā†‘ 3.0 3.1 Gram-Andersen 2000, p. 31.
  4. ā†‘ Rockstroh 1935, p. 268.
  5. ā†‘ Generalstabens Kommandoafdeling 1935, p. 97.
  6. ā†‘ 6.0 6.1 Generalstabens Kommandoafdeling 1935, p. 98.
  7. ā†‘ Rockstroh 1935, p. 258.
  8. ā†‘ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Rockstroh 1935, p. 259.
  9. ā†‘ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Gram-Andersen 2000, p. 32.
  10. ā†‘ Olsen 1985, p. 16.
  11. ā†‘ 11.0 11.1 HillingsĆø 2009.
  12. ā†‘ arma-dania.dk.
  13. ā†‘ Folketinget 1990.
  14. ā†‘ Forsvaret 1989.
  15. ā†‘ DSM.
  16. ā†‘ Rockstroh 1935, pp. 260-261.
  17. ā†‘ Rockstroh 1935, pp. 261-262.
  18. ā†‘ Rockstroh 1935, p. 263.
  19. ā†‘ Rockstroh 1935, p. 264.
  20. ā†‘ Bjerg, Hans Christian. "Mathias LĆ¼ttichau" (in Danish). Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (3 ed.). http://denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Forsvar_og_politi/Officer/G._Gerlach. Retrieved 22 August 2018. 
  21. ā†‘ Rockstroh 1935, p. 265.
  22. ā†‘ Rockstroh 1935, p. 266.
  23. ā†‘ Clemmesen 1982, pp. 3-3.
  24. ā†‘ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Ƙstergaard.
  25. ā†‘ Linvald 1929, p. 294.
  26. ā†‘ Clemmesen 1982, pp. 6-9, 6-11.
  27. ā†‘ Clemmesen 1982, p. 6-11.
  28. ā†‘ Olsen 1985, pp. 16, 30.
  29. ā†‘ Koefoed 1938.
  30. ā†‘ Olsen 1985, pp. 30, 43.
  31. ā†‘ Ramm 1939.
  32. ā†‘ 32.0 32.1 Olsen 1985, pp. 30, 112.
  33. ā†‘ Bjerg n.d..
  34. ā†‘ Clemmesen 1982, p. III-3.
  35. ā†‘ Bjerregaard 1946.
  36. ā†‘ 36.0 36.1 Wolff n.d..
  37. ā†‘ Wolff, E. H.. "Erik C.V. MĆøller" (in da). Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (3 ed.). Gyldendal. http://denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Forsvar_og_politi/Officer/Erik_C.V._MĆøller. Retrieved 20 August 2018. 
  38. ā†‘ Kirchhoff 2020.
  39. ā†‘ Berg 1979.
  40. ā†‘ Fabritius 1963, p. 282.
  41. ā†‘ 41.0 41.1 Bjerg, Hans Christian. "Otto Blixenkrone-MĆøller" (in da). Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (3 ed.). Gyldendal. http://denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Forsvar_og_politi/General/Otto_Blixenkrone-M%C3%B8ller. Retrieved 28 August 2018. 
  42. ā†‘ HillingsĆø, Kjeld. "Christian Vegger" (in da). Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (3 ed.). Gyldendal. http://denstoredanske.dk/Geografi_og_historie/Milit%C3%A6re_forhold_og_krigshistorie/Biografi/Christian_Vegger. Retrieved 28 August 2018. 
  43. ā†‘ 43.0 43.1 Exner 2002.
  44. ā†‘ "Fordelingsliste for opfording til medlemskab af Forenignen for tilvejebringelse og udstilling af kastellets historiske samling" (in da). 6 October 1987. https://www.kastelletsvenner.dk/j30/Dokumenter/FA/Bilag-06.pdf. Retrieved 30 August 2018. 
  45. ā†‘ 45.0 45.1 Berlingske 2010.
  46. ā†‘ Exner 2001.
  47. ā†‘ Stenstrup 2001.
  48. ā†‘ 48.0 48.1 BrĆøndum 1999.
  49. ā†‘ BrĆøndum 2014.
  50. ā†‘ "Lieutenant General Poul Kiaerskou". 9 June 2010. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/who_is_who_60139.htm. Retrieved 21 August 2018. 
  51. ā†‘ "Curriculum Vitae - Niels Henrik Bundsgaard" (in Danish). 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821084319/http://www.fmn.dk/nyheder/Documents/CV-Niels-Henrik-Bundsgaard-CHFPS-2015.PDF. Retrieved 21 August 2018. 
  52. ā†‘ /ritzau/ 2018.
  53. ā†‘ Forsvaret n.d..
  54. ā†‘ "CURRICULUM VITAE: H.-C. Mathiesen" (in da). 2019. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190131155128/https://www2.forsvaret.dk/omos/ledelse/Documents/H-C%20Mathiesen%20_CV_DK_01012019.pdf. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 
  55. ā†‘ "HƦrstaben" (in Danish). https://www2.forsvaret.dk/omos/organisation/haeren/organisation/haerstaben/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 27 August 2018. 
  56. ā†‘ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Forsvarskommandoen 2018.
  57. ā†‘ "Curriculum Viltae - Keld Robert Christensen" (in Danish). 4 July 2016. https://www2.forsvaret.dk/omos/ledelse/Documents/Keld_Robert_Christensen%20_CV_DK_04072016.pdf. Retrieved 24 October 2018. 
  58. ā†‘ "Curriculum Viltae - Keld Robert Christensen" (in Danish). 4 July 2016. https://www2.forsvaret.dk/omos/ledelse/Documents/Keld_Robert_Christensen%20_CV_DK_04072016.pdf. Retrieved 24 October 2018. 
  59. ā†‘ Forsvarskommandoen 2019a.
  60. ā†‘ Forsvarskommandoen 2019b.
  61. ā†‘ 61.0 61.1 Forsvarskommandoen 2021a.
Bibliography
All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Chief of the Royal Danish Army and the edit history here.
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