Introduction:

The last fifteen years have seen the swedish defence forces and the army in particular decimeted until a it is quantitatively a mere shadow of what it was. Before all is gone and no one remembers what once existed the following page will try to keep the memory of traditions and excellence alive.

The basis of the information are the units in existance when the conscriptsystem was introduced almost 100 years ago. Since then may changes have been made. Many of the old units of the great power era and the following 200 years are thus not included. These were often mercenary units and have had no successor. Their banners are at the army museum and they are outside the scope of this work.

The information on each unit follows the same guidelines listed below.

History:

The history of the regiment is only told very briefly. The organisational ties with older units is clarified, in some cases some minor simplifications have been made. The wartime achievements is not the subject of this work and is mentioned briefly if at all.

Colours:

Banners, standards and other symbols have been used since the medieval times and have great significanse in Sweden as in other countries. Today only used in ceremonys they still represent the spirit and elan of the unit. The colour is often embroided with victory names especially in the case of infantry units. The infantry units color is a banner of the dimensions 140 cm height and 160 cm length. Earlier the dimensions were 120x150 cm. In the late medieval era the pattern on the banner was most often one with various geometrical shapes in different colors. Different slogans ,often in latin, were added to the banner. This habit started to fall in disuse around 1620 and in 1686 the new regulations for colours regulated the embroidment to be of the countryparts heraldic symbol where the unit was raised and the banner of every company as well as the regimental one to have the colours of that countrypart as well. A clear connection to the  local tradition and the importance of this can not be overestimated over the centuries.   Even today politicians vote for disarmament and the local population go half insane in rage if "their" regiment is to be disbanded. The guard company of every regiment had a white banner with the royal emblem instead with a small coutrypart emblem in the corner as well as the life guard regiments where all banners were white and with the royal emblem. Every regiment contained eight companies divided in to two battalions. In 1731 the number of banners was reduced to two per battalion The cavalrys standards are smaller and square with the exception of dragoon units that have split standards. The lifeguards on horse had white standards with the royal emblem.

Carl XIV Johan (Bernadotte) introduced a new (french) colour tradition where all colours were the national flag with the royal emblem in the middle and with bands in the swedish colours. Only one banner per battalion was allowed. His son Oscar I  reintroduced in 1844 the local colors but kept the bands and ordered the banners to be emboided with the voctorynames of each regiment. Oscar II reintroduced the national colours for the banners in 1877 but kept the local heraldic symbol.

The present regulations stipulate the banners to be in the local colours with the local heraldic symbol but with the bands in the national colors. Since colors are not exchanged until worn out the regiments of today use a mix of the different regulation depending on the age of their banner. Only one colour per unit is allowed today with several regiments using unofficial colors for their companies.

Victory names/battle credits:

The use of victory names started in 1844 and the present regulation of 1950 stipulates that the qualifications for using a victory name on a color are:

• His/her majesty decides wether to allow or not in every single case

• Only names on battles that have had importance for Sweden, its historical development, or from the operative view, for the fought campaign are to be allowed. The battle must have been an undsiputed swedish victory.

• Names of other battles won from a tactical viewpoint where the unit has fought with extreme distinction and ability may be allowed.

• Names of campaigns of importance to Sweden where the unit has distincyioned itself may be allowed.

Heraldic symbol:

Infantry and armor regiments use the local heraldic symbol combined with the heraldic symbol of their branch while the artillery and anti aircraft artillery units use the symbol of the branch combined with a smaller local heraldic symbol. Other branches use the branch symbol and a local color.

Except on banners these symbols were little used until the dailly dress m/60 was introduced when the heraldic sign started to be worn on the uniforms. Units disbanded before the introduction of that uniform lacks the m/60 version of the heraldic sign and thus it can not be displayed.

Device/slogan:

Many, but far from all, units use a device.

Celebration day:

Many, but not all, units have a special rembrance day that is honored every year.

Miscellaneous:

Different information that didnt fit the other headlines.