Generalkommandoen

The General Command (Danish: Generalkommandoen) was the highest command body in the Royal Danish Army. It was erected in 1922 Defence Agreement, adopted by Rigsdagen on 7 August 1922 and was a result of collecting 1st and 2nd General Command.[1] It was terminated in 1950, following the Danish defense reform of 1950, which split it into Eastern and Western Regional Command.

Chief of the General Command Chefen for Generalkommandoen
Flag for the Chief of the General Command
Longest serving Ebbe Gørtz 1 October 1941–30 September 1950
Royal Danish Army
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Commander's House, Kastellet
Precursor	1st General Command 2nd General Command
Formation	7 August 1922
First holder	Ellis Wolff
Final holder	Ebbe Gørtz
Abolished	30 September 1950
Succession	Chief of the Army Command
Deputy	Chief of the General Staff

Role

The Chief of the General Command was responsible for the war preparations, but the execution was left to the General Staff, which until 1932 was an independent institution directly under the Ministry of War. The Chief of the General Staff, thus held an independent advisory position to the Ministry of War even though he was designated as the Chief of Staff to the Chief of the General Command. After the 1932 Defence Agreement, the General Staff was place under the General Command.[2] This meant the Chief of the General Command had two subordinate staffs:[3]

• The General Command Staff: command over the troops, exercises and education
• The General Staff: war preparation

Additionally, the Inspector Generals and the heads of the technical corps were also subjugated the Chief of the General Command.[3]

Chiefs of the General command

No.	Portrait	Chief of the General Command	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref
1		Lieutenant general Ellis Wolff (1856–1938)	1 April 1923	19 October 1926	3 years, 183 days	[4][5]
2		Lieutenant general Anders Gjedde Nyholm (1861–1939)	20 October 1926	31 July 1931	4 years, 303 days	[6][7]
3		Lieutenant general Erik With (1869–1959)	1 August 1931	1 December 1939	8 years, 122 days	[8][9]
4		Lieutenant general William Wain Prior (1876–1946)	1 December 1939	30 September 1941	1 year, 303 days	[8][10] [11]
5		Lieutenant general Ebbe Gørtz (1886–1976)	1 October 1941	30 September 1950	8 years, 364 days	[12]

References

1. Olsen 1985, p. 16.
2. Olsen 1985, p. 135.
3. Generalstabens Kommandoafdeling 1935, p. 99.
4. Olsen 1985, pp. 16, 30.
5. Koefoed 1938.
6. Olsen 1985, pp. 30, 43.
7. Ramm 1939.
8. Olsen 1985, pp. 30, 112.
9. Bjerg n.d.
10. Clemmesen 1982, p. III-3.
11. Bjerregaard 1946.
12. Wolff n.d.

Bibliography

• Bjerg, Hans Christian (n.d.). "Erik With". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (in Danish) (3 ed.). Gyldendal. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
• Bjerregaard, W. (24 June 1946). "Generalløjtnant W. W. Prior". krigsvidenskab.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 9 September 2020.
• Clemmesen, Michael Hesselholt (1982). Jyllands landforsvar fra 1901 til 1940 (in Danish). Copenhagen: Det Krigsvidenskabelige Selskab. ISBN 87-981346-0-4.
• Generalstabens Kommandoafdeling (1935). "Generalkommandoen". In Boeck, Hector; Johnstad-Møller, S.E.; Hjalf, C.V. (eds.). Danmarks Hær (in Danish). 1st. Copenhagen: Selskabet til Udgivelse af Kulturskrifter. pp. 97–100.
• Koefoed, E. (13 August 1938). "Generalløjtnant Ellis Wolff". krigsvidenskab.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 9 September 2020.
• Olsen, Ole Isgaard (1985). Planlægning af det Sjællandske Landforsvar: 1922-1944 (in Danish). Forsvarskommandoen.
• Ramm, P. (5 August 1939). "Generalløjtnant A. G. Nyholm". krigsvidenskab.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 25 August 2020.
• Wolff, E. H. (n.d.). "Ebbe Gørtz". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (in Danish) (3 ed.). Gyldendal. Retrieved 27 August 2018.