Chief of the Royal Danish Army

Chief of the Army Command
Chef for Hærkommandoen
Incumbent Peter Harling Boysen since 1 May 2024
Royal Danish Army
Member of	Defence Command of Denmark
Reports to	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[a] per month (US$ 14,308)
Website	www2.forsvaret.dk/haerstaben

The Chief of the Army Command is the service chief of the Royal Danish Army. The current chief is Major general Peter Harling Boysen.

History

From the time that absolutism was instituted in 1660 until around 1800, the Monarch had absolute control of the military.[2] 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.[2] 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.[3]

In the beginning of the English Wars, Crown Prince Frederick established general commands throughout Denmark.[b] Initially, they had limited power and were planned to be disbanded after the war, it was however decided to keep them.[4] Following the ascension of Christian VIII, the general commands' power and authority were expanded to exceed real military control.[5] 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: Nørrejyske Armékorps).[6] Since Hedemann did not have any control within general command areas, there were often conflicts between him and the chiefs of those commands.[7] 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".[7] 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.[7] 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.[8] Following the loss of the duchies in the Second Schleswig War, 3rd General Command was disbanded and 2nd General Command area was reduced.[8] 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.[8]

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.[5][9]

With the creation of the Defence Staff and Chief of Defence, the General Command was replaced by the Army Command.[10] After the Army Command was subjugated to the Defence Command in 1976, the Army Command was replaced by the Army Staff.[10] In 1982, the title of Chief of the Army was changed to become Inspector of the Army.[11] 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.[12][13] Following the Danish Defence Agreement 2013–17, the Army Operational Command was disbanded and reorganised into the Army Staff. As part of the Danish Defence Agreement 2018–23, the Danish name was changed Army Command.[14]

List of chiefs

Supreme Generals (1848–1932)

First Schleswig War

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Major general Gerhard Christoph von Krogh (1785–1860)	27 March 1849	12 April 1849	16 days	[15]
2		Major general Frederik Bülow [da] (1791–1858)	12 April 1849	24 May 1849	42 days	[16]
(1)		Major general Gerhard Christoph von Krogh (1785–1860)	24 May 1849	2 July 1850	1 year, 39 days	[17]

Second Schleswig War

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		de Meza, ChristianChristian de Meza (1792–1865)	25 December 1863	6 February 1864	43 days	[18]
–		Lüttichau, MathiasMathias Lüttichau (1795–1870) Acting	6 February 1864	28 February 1864	23 days	[19]
2		Gerlach, GeorgGeorg Gerlach (1797–1865)	29 February 1864	4 July 1864	125 days	[20]
3		Steinmann, PeterPeter Frederik Steinmann (1812–1894)	4 July 1864	1 November 1864	150 days	[21]

World War I

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Lieutenant general Vilhelm Gørtz [da] (1852–1939)	1 August 1914	3 August 1917	3 years, 2 days	[22][23]
2		Lieutenant general August Tuxen [da] (1853–1929)	6 August 1917	5 May 1918	272 days	[23][24] [25]
3		Lieutenant general Ellis Wolff [da] (1856–1938)	5 May 1918	31 March 1919	330 days	[23][26]

Chief of the General Command (1923–1926)

Main article: Generalkommandoen

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Wolff, EllisLieutenant general Ellis Wolff [da] (1856–1938)	1 April 1923	19 October 1926	3 years, 183 days	[27][28]
2		Nyholm, AndersLieutenant general Anders Gjedde Nyholm (1861–1939)	20 October 1926	31 July 1931	4 years, 303 days	[29][30]
3		With, ErikLieutenant general Erik With [da] (1869–1959)	1 August 1931	1 December 1939	8 years, 122 days	[31][32]
4		Prior, WilliamLieutenant general William Wain Prior (1876–1946)	1 December 1939	28 August 1941	1 year, 270 days	[31][33] [34]
5		Gørtz, EbbeLieutenant general Ebbe Gørtz [da] (1886–1976)	29 August 1941	30 September 1950	9 years, 32 days	[35]

Chief of the Army Command (1950–1970)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Gørtz, EbbeLieutenant general Ebbe Gørtz [da] (1886–1976)	1 October 1950	3 July 1951	275 days	[35]
2		Møller, ErikLieutenant general Erik C.V. Møller [da] (1896–1972)	4 July 1951	30 June 1957	5 years, 362 days	[36]
3		Hjalf, ViggoLieutenant general Viggo Hjalf [da] (1900–1985)	1 July 1957	30 June 1960	2 years, 365 days	[37]
4		Jacobsen, ValdemarLieutenant general Valdemar Jacobsen (1902–1987)	1 July 1960	31 July 1967	7 years, 30 days	[38][39]
5		Blixenkrone-Møller, OttoLieutenant general Otto Blixenkrone-Møller [da] (1912–2006)	1 August 1967	31 December 1969	2 years, 152 days	[40]

Chief of the Army Staff (1970–1990)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Chief of the Army (Chefen for Hæren)
1		Blixenkrone-Møller, OttoLieutenant general Otto Blixenkrone-Møller [da] (1912–2006)	1 January 1970	30 November 1972	2 years	[40]
2		Vegger, ChristianMajor general Christian Vegger [da] (1915–1992)	1 December 1972	1976	3–4 years	[41]
3		Boysen, HaraldMajor general Harald Martin Hermann Boysen (1922–2019)	1976	30 June 1982	5–6 years	[42]
Inspector of the Army (Inspektøren for Hæren)
1		Boysen, HaraldMajor general Harald Martin Hermann Boysen (1922–2019)	1 July 1982	1987	4–5 years	[42]
2		Essemann, J.Major general Jørgen Christian Essemann (born 1933)	1987	1990	2–3 years	[43]
3		Hillingsø, KjeldMajor general Kjeld Hillingsø (born 1935)	1990	31 December 1990	0 years	[44]

Chief of the Army Operational Command (1991–2014)

Main article: Army Operational Command (Denmark)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Hillingsø, KjeldMajor general Kjeld Hillingsø (born 1935)	1 January 1991	1993	1–2 years	[44]
2		Kandborg, Ole LarsenMajor general Ole Larsen Kandborg (born 1941)	1993	1997	3–4 years	[45]
3		Grüner, GustavMajor general Gustav Grüner (born 1944)	1997	1998	0–1 years	[46]
4		Helsø, Hans JesperMajor general Hans Jesper Helsø (born 1948)	1998	27 September 2000	1–2 years	[47]
5		Scharling, JanMajor general Jan Scharling (born 1946)	27 September 2000	27 September 2002	2 years, 0 days	[47]
6		Kiærskou, PoulMajor general Poul Kiærskou [da] (born 1954)	27 September 2002	14 January 2009	6 years, 109 days	[48][49]
7		Bundsgaard, Niels HenrikMajor general Niels Henrik Bundsgaard (born 1957)	15 January 2009	30 June 2010	1 year, 166 days	[50]
8		Rokos, AgnerMajor general Agner Rokos [da] (born 1958)	1 July 2010	31 March 2013	2 years, 273 days	[51]
9		Ludvigsen, PerMajor general Per Ludvigsen [da] (born 1957)	1 April 2013	1 October 2014	1 year, 183 days	[52]

Chief of the Army Staff (2014–2018)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Mathiesen, Hans-ChristianMajor general Hans-Christian Mathiesen (born 1965)	1 October 2014	24 October 2018	4 years, 23 days	[53][54] [55]
–		Christensen, Keld RobertColonel Keld Robert Christensen (born 1963) Acting	24 October 2018	31 December 2018	68 days	[55][56]

Chief of the Army Command (2019–present)

Main article: Army Command (Denmark)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
–		Christensen, Keld RobertColonel Keld Robert Christensen (born 1963) Acting	1 January 2019	31 January 2019	30 days	[55][57]
–		Pedersen, KennethMajor general Kenneth Pedersen [da] (born 1968) Acting	31 January 2019	1 September 2019	213 days	[58]
1		Lollesgaard, MichaelMajor general Michael Lollesgaard [de] (born 1960)	1 September 2019	1 April 2021	1 year, 212 days	[59][60]
–		Nielsen, GunnerBrigadier general Gunner Arpe Nielsen [da] (born 1967) Acting	1 April 2021	15 May 2021	44 days	[60]
2		Nielsen, GunnerMajor general Gunner Arpe Nielsen [da] (born 1967)	15 May 2021	1 May 2024	2 years, 352 days	[61]
3		Major general Peter Harling Boysen (born 1963)	1 May 2024	Incumbent	229 days	[62]

See also

• Chief of Defence (Denmark)
• Chief of the Royal Danish Navy
• Chief of the Royal Danish Air Force

Notes

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

References

Citations

1. /ritzau/ 2020.
2. Gram-Andersen 2000, p. 31.
3. Rockstroh 1935, p. 268.
4. Generalstabens Kommandoafdeling 1935, p. 97.
5. Generalstabens Kommandoafdeling 1935, p. 98.
6. Rockstroh 1935, p. 258.
7. Rockstroh 1935, p. 259.
8. Gram-Andersen 2000, p. 32.
9. Olsen 1985, p. 16.
10. Hillingsø 2009.
11. arma-dania.dk.
12. Folketinget 1990.
13. Forsvaret 1989.
14. DSM.
15. Rockstroh 1935, pp. 260–261.
16. Rockstroh 1935, pp. 261–262.
17. Rockstroh 1935, p. 263.
18. Rockstroh 1935, p. 264.
19. Bjerg, Hans Christian. "Mathias Lüttichau". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (in Danish) (3 ed.). Retrieved 22 August 2018.
20. Rockstroh 1935, p. 265.
21. Rockstroh 1935, p. 266.
22. Clemmesen 1982, pp. 3–3.
23. Østergaard.
24. Linvald 1929, p. 294.
25. Clemmesen 1982, pp. 6–9, 6–11.
26. Clemmesen 1982, p. 6-11.
27. Olsen 1985, pp. 16, 30.
28. Koefoed 1938.
29. Olsen 1985, pp. 30, 43.
30. Ramm 1939.
31. Olsen 1985, pp. 30, 112.
32. Bjerg n.d.
33. Clemmesen 1982, p. III-3.
34. Bjerregaard 1946.
35. Wolff n.d.
36. Wolff, E. H. "Erik C.V. Møller". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (in Danish) (3 ed.). Gyldendal. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
37. Kirchhoff 2020.
38. Berg 1979.
39. Fabritius 1963, p. 282.
40. Bjerg, Hans Christian. "Otto Blixenkrone-Møller". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (in Danish) (3 ed.). Gyldendal. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
41. Hillingsø, Kjeld. "Christian Vegger". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (in Danish) (3 ed.). Gyldendal. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
42. Exner 2002.
43. "Fordelingsliste for opfording til medlemskab af Forenignen for tilvejebringelse og udstilling af kastellets historiske samling" (PDF). kastelletsvenner.dk (in Danish). 6 October 1987. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
44. Berlingske 2010.
45. Exner 2001.
46. Stenstrup 2001.
47. Brøndum 1999.
48. Brøndum 2014.
49. NATO (9 June 2010). "Lieutenant General Poul Kiaerskou". NATO. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
50. Ministry of Defence (2015). "Curriculum Vitae - Niels Henrik Bundsgaard" (PDF). Forsvarsministeriet (in Danish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
51. /ritzau/ 2018.
52. Forsvaret n.d.
53. "CURRICULUM VITAE: H.-C. Mathiesen" (PDF) (in Danish). 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
54. Danish Defence. "Hærstaben". Forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
55. Forsvarskommandoen 2018.
56. "Curriculum Viltae - Keld Robert Christensen" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). 4 July 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
57. "Curriculum Viltae - Keld Robert Christensen" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). 4 July 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
58. Forsvarskommandoen 2019a.
59. Forsvarskommandoen 2019b.
60. Forsvarskommandoen 2021a.
61. Forsvarskommandoen 2021b.
62. "Peter H. Boysen bliver ny chef for Hæren". Forsvaret (in Danish). 12 April 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.

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