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its policy of freedom from military alliances. The intensification of the Cold War, beginning with the Korean War, induced Sweden to initiate programs for strengthening its armed forces. Sweden's non-alignment policies are based on the concept of strong armed forces, but financial support for defense is not adequate to maintain forces which could repel a major invader.
Sweden does not regard a contribution of troops to the UN Emergency Forces as inconsistent with its policy of neutrality and non alliance and has two infantry battalions (authorized strengths of 690), a 40-man military police platoon, and a 144-man technical contingent that could be made available to UN peacekeeping forces. One of the battalions (with a strength of only 280 men) is now serving with the UN Forces on Cyprus. Before World War II, Swedish military traditions and concepts were patterned after those of Germany. In the postwar period, the Swedes have shown an increasing inclination to emulate US and British doctrines and training methods.
2. Command structure (C)
The legal basis for the control of the armed forces is the Constitution of 1809, under which all executive authority is vested in the King, whose decisions must be taken in the Council of State (cabinet). Since 1917, however, the parliament and the cabinet have ultimately determined defense policy. Control over the armed forces is delegated to the Minister of Defense, who in turn delegates operational control to the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. In peacetime the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces is responsible for operational and long-range planning and the maintenance of a proper balance in the armed forces. In time of war he would be responsible for overall military operations. His principal assistant is the Chief of the Defense Staff who handles operational staff matters. A Joint Chiefs Committee, composed of the Supreme Commander, the Chief of the Defense Staff, and the three service commanders in chief, functions as an advisory and coordinating body for mutual information and policy matters, but final decision is reserved to the Supreme Commander. The three service commanders in chief have the status of chiefs of staff, with the peacetime responsibility for training conscripts; in wartime, they would join the staff of the Supreme Commander.
The Defense Staff is organized into an operations directorate under the Assistant Chief of the Defense Staff, four sections, and a personnel welfare bureau. Section I (Logistics) has staff supervision over procurement, storage, transportation, maintenance, distribution of supplies and equipment, and telecommunications. Section II (Intelligence) has responsibility for security, espionage, and foreign intelligence. Section III (Personnel) deals with assignments of personnel, promotion policies, and public information. Section IV (Plans and Budget) has responsibility for long-term planning and for budgetary matters. The Personnel Welfare Bureau is concerned with social problems and contract negotiations.
The country is divided into six military regions -- Southern, Western, Bergslagen (army only), Eastern, Lower Norrland, and Upper Norrland. Each, except Bergslagen, has a commander, who may be from any service, and a joint or tri-service staff. The regional commanders have operational command responsibilities within their areas and for prescribed areas beyond adjacent territorial waters; they report directly to the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Directly subordinate to the regional commanders are local area defense commanders,
FIGURE 1. Structure and control of the armed forces (U/OU) (chart)
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090016-9
