Stig Synnergren

Stig Synnergren
File:Stig Synnergren.jpg Stig Synnergren, 1974.
Born	(1915-02-25)25 February 1915 Boden, Sweden
Died	Stockholm, Sweden
Allegiance	Sweden
Service/branch	Swedish Army
Years of service	1939–1978
Rank	General
Commands held	Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces

Stig Gustaf Eugén Synnergren (25 February 1915 – 29 April 2004) was a General in the Swedish Army and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from 1970 to 1978. Synnergren was a strong advocate for the conscription system. During his time as Supreme Commander the combat aircraft Saab 37 Viggen was introduced.

Early life

Synnergren was born in Boden, Sweden and was the son of the engine driver Gösta Synnergren and Sara, née Carlstén. His father was also a Social Democratic city councilman in Boden and his mother was a Social Democratic member of the child welfare committee. Synnergrens school years were marked by sports, physical education and outdoor recreation. He passed his school graduation in Luleå in 1936 with the grades A in physics and a in mathematics and chemistry. He was then admitted to the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. He had at this time no thought of becoming an officer.

The turning point of his life happened during a fall day in 1936 during the Berlin Olympics in which Synnergren participated as a member of the Swedish gymnastics squad. The experience of Adolf Hitler, surrounded by the Third Reich throughout threatening paramilitary splendor change Synnergren choice of career. Like so many of his peers, he had a strong feeling that a new world war was imminent. He withdrew his application to the Royal Institute of Technology and decided to become an officer. In 1939, as World War II broke out, he finish first in his class at the Infantry Officer Cadet School (Infanteriets officersaspirantskola) at the Military Academy Karlberg.

Military career

Synnergren became a second lieutenant in 1939 and served in the Ski battalion (I 19 K) in Kiruna during World War II and guarded the Norwegian border when Germany occupied Narvik. After the German attack on Norway on 9 April 1940, he as an intelligence officer in the regimental staff, on several occasions, alone and on skis, got into the war zone in Northern Norway to make contact with the Norwegian forces and gather intelligence within the German dominated area. Because of his fell experience and skills, he became, after a brief interlude as a cadet officer at Karlberg in 1944, the head of evacuation in Jokkmokk and as such was responsible for management of the Norwegian refugees. After the war, he was appointed captain in 1946 and did in a short time a rapid military career.

Synnergren graduated from the War College in 1948 and became a cadet of the General Staff and then captain of the General Staff. He conducted studies in the Norwegian Army in 1950 and 1953, the British Army in 1951 and 1953 and the United States Army in 1951 and 1959. He was a teacher at the War College from 1953 to 1956 and again from 1957 to 1958. Synnergren was appointed major in 1957 and was head of the tactics department at the Army Staff from 1958 to 1960. He studied at the Swedish Defence University in 1960 and was appointed lieutenant colonel at the Svea Life Guards (I 1) in 1961.

Between 1962-63 he was the regimental commander of Västernorrland Regiment (I 21). In 1963 he was appointed major general and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of General Staff Corps. Between 1966-67 he was the military commander of Bergslagen Military Area. In 1967 he was appointed lieutenant general and Chief of Defence Staff, and three years later to general and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. During Synnergrens time as the Supreme Commander, a series of long-term decisions were made that meant big changes for the defense. The policy of neutrality was concluded and thus the idea of a strong defense of universal conscription. It was decided that the aircraft Viggen would be developed while reorganizing and cut-backs were made in the Army and Navy.

Synnergren was in the media most closely associated with military intelligence as the secret intelligence agency IB was exposed during his time as Supreme Commander.

Other work

Synnergren had during and after his military career a series of positions of trust. He was manager of H. M. The King's staff from 1978 to 1986, chairman of the Swedish Tourist Association from 1976 to 1987 and chairman of the Swedish Ski Association from 1973 to 1975. He was also chairman of Stora AB from 1980 to 1986, Bergvik och Ala AB from 1981 and board member of Saab-Scania from 1981 to 1990, LKAB from 1982 to 1986, Saab Combitech from 1982 to 1990 and the International Ski Federation from 1976 to 1988. Synnergren was also a board member of the East Economic Office (Öst Ekonomiska Byrån), an agency which occupied a special position among the agencies engaged in the Swedish military intelligence.

Synnergren became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 1956, an honorary member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences in 1970 and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in 1977.

Personal life

In 1941, Synnergren married junior school teacher Margit Lindgren (born 1916), daughter of the first office clerk at SJ, Anton Lindgren and his wife Anna Richardsson. He was the father of Britta (born 1942), Kristina (born 1946) and Elisabeth (born 1947). Synnergren died in 2004 and is buried at Galärvarvskyrkogården in Stockholm.

Awards

• Knight of the Order of the Sword
• Order of St. Olav

References

Military offices
Preceded by Arne Mohlin	Chief of Army Staff 1963–1966	Succeeded by Ove Ljung
Preceded by Carl Eric Almgren	Chief of Defence Staff 1967–1970	Succeeded by Bo Westin
Preceded by Torsten Rapp	Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces 1970–1978	Succeeded by Lennart Ljung