Småland Grenadier Corps

Småland Grenadier Corps (Swedish: Smålands grenadjärkår), designated No. 7, was an infantry unit of the Swedish Army that was active in various forms from 1812 to 1901. The unit was based in Ränneslätt, about 2 km west of Eksjö.[2][3][4]

Småland Grenadier Corps
Smålands grenadjärkår
Active1812–1901
CountrySweden
AllegianceSwedish Armed Forces
BranchSwedish Army
TypeInfantry
SizeCorps
Part of2nd Military District (1833–1893)
2nd Army Division (1893–1901)
Garrison/HQRänneslätt
ColorsRed and yellow
March"Finska rytteriets marsch" (unknown)[note 1]
Insignia
Colour m/1844

History

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Småland Grenadier Corps has its origins in the Småland Dragoon Regiment, which on 22 April 1812 was split into an infantry and a cavalry part. In 1816, all Swedish regiments received a designation, where Småland Grenadier Corps was awarded No. 7. The unit adopted the name Småland Dragoon Regiment's Infantry Battalion, and changed its namn in 1824 to Småland Grenadier Battalion. On 27 October 1888, the name Småland Grenadier Corps was adopted.[2]

According to the 1901 Defense Reform, the corps was disbanded as an independent unit on 31 December 1901. Instead it came together with Blekinge Battalion to form Karlskrona Grenadier Regiment on 1 January 1902.[3]

Units

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Uniforms of the Småland Grenadier Battalion (1866).

Companies

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The unit was allotted in western Småland, but trained at Ränneslätt at Eksjö. The unit's four companies constituted the four squadrons of 125 rusthåll (literally "arm household"[note 2]) each, which in 1812 were separated from the Småland Dragoon Regiment.[5][6]

Name Approximate subdivision area
1. Life company Western Hundred (In the first years named Vrigstad Company.)
2. Eastern Hundred Company Southern part of Eastern Hundred and some adjoining socken's
3. Sunnerbo Hundred Company West half of Kronoberg County and the southernmost part of Östbo Hundred
4. Jönköping Company West half of Jönköping County

Barracks and training areas

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Småland Grenadier Corps trained at Ränneslätt which is considered to be the Swedish military exercise site that has been in use for the longest time, from 1686 onwards.[2]

Names, designations and locations

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Name Translation From To
Kungl. Smålands dragonregementes infanteribataljon Royal Småland Dragoon Regiment's Infantry Battalion 1812-04-22 1824-??-??
Kungl. Smålands grenadjärbataljon Royal Småland Grenadier Battalion 1824-??-?? 1888-10-26
Kungl. Smålands grenadjärkår Royal Småland Grenadier Corps 1888-10-27 1901-12-31
Designation From To
No. 7 1816-10-14 1901-12-31
Location From To
Kvarnarps gård 18??-??-?? 1834-??-??
Ränneslätt 1834-??-?? 1901-12-31

Footnotes

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  1. ^ The march was adopted circa 1895. It was also used by Småland Hussar Regiment from 1890 to 1927, and by the Norrbotten Regiment from 1916.[1]
  2. ^ A bigger farm or estate (practically a peasant manor) that could support a horseman with his horse and equipment in exchange for tax exemption.

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Sandberg 2007, p. 10
  2. ^ a b c Braunstein 2003, pp. 45–46
  3. ^ a b Holmberg 1993, p. 9
  4. ^ Kjellander 2003, p. 276
  5. ^ Berg 1975, p. 325
  6. ^ The numbering according to "Smålands Kavalleri-regemente (tidigare Smålands Ryttare)". www.genealogi.se (in Swedish). Kronobergs genealogiska förening. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2011-05-17.

Print

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  • Berg, Lars Otto, ed. (1975). Kungl. Smålands husarregementes historia (in Swedish). Eksjö: Föreningen Smålandshusarers redaktionskommitté. SELIBR 258818.
  • Braunstein, Christian (2003). Sveriges arméförband under 1900-talet. Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 5 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-4-5. SELIBR 8902928.
  • Holmberg, Björn (1993). Arméns regementen, skolor och staber: [en uppslagsbok] : en sammanställning (in Swedish). Arvidsjaur: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek (SMB). ISBN 91-972209-0-6. SELIBR 7796532.
  • Kjellander, Rune (2003). Sveriges regementschefer 1700-2000: chefsbiografier och förbandsöversikter (in Swedish). Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-74-5. SELIBR 8981272.
  • Sandberg, Bo (2007). Försvarets marscher och signaler förr och nu: marscher antagna av svenska militära förband, skolor och staber samt igenkännings-, tjänstgörings- och exercissignaler (in Swedish) (New ed.). Stockholm: Militärmusiksamfundet med Svenskt marscharkiv. ISBN 978-91-631-8699-8. SELIBR 10413065.

Further reading

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  • Bondeson, Lennart (1981–1982). Smålands Grenadier Corps 1812-1901: Biografiska anteckningar rörande officerskåren (in Swedish). [s.l.] SELIBR 3196274.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)