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 [da]

29 August 1941–30 September 1950
 Royal Danish Army
StyleHis Excellency
ResidenceCommander's House, Kastellet
Precursor1st General Command
2nd General Command
Formation7 August 1922
First holderEllis Wolff [da]
Final holderEbbe Gørtz [da]
Abolished30 September 1950
SuccessionChief of the Army Command
DeputyChief of the General Staff

Role

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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

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No. Portrait Chief of the General Command Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1Wolff, EllisLieutenant general
Ellis Wolff [da]
(1856–1938)
1 April 192319 October 19263 years, 183 days[4][5]
2Nyholm, AndersLieutenant general
Anders Gjedde Nyholm
(1861–1939)
20 October 192631 July 19314 years, 303 days[6][7]
3With, ErikLieutenant general
Erik With [da]
(1869–1959)
1 August 19311 December 19398 years, 122 days[8][9]
4Prior, WilliamLieutenant general
William Wain Prior
(1876–1946)
1 December 193928 August 19411 year, 270 days[8][10]
[11]
5Gørtz, EbbeLieutenant general
Ebbe Gørtz [da]
(1886–1976)
29 August 194130 September 19509 years, 32 days[12]

References

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  1. ^ Olsen 1985, p. 16.
  2. ^ Olsen 1985, p. 135.
  3. ^ a b Generalstabens Kommandoafdeling 1935, p. 99.
  4. ^ Olsen 1985, pp. 16, 30.
  5. ^ Koefoed 1938.
  6. ^ Olsen 1985, pp. 30, 43.
  7. ^ Ramm 1939.
  8. ^ a b 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). Vol. 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.