Olof Thörnell
| Olof Thörnell | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Birth name | Olof Gerhard Thörnell |
| Nickname(s) | LM (The lust murdurer) |
| Born |
19 October 1877 Trönö, Sweden |
| Died | 25 July 1977 (aged 99) Uppsala, Sweden |
| Buried | Uppsala old cemetery |
| Allegiance | Sweden |
| Service/branch | Swedish Army |
| Years of service | 1897–1950 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Chief of Defence Staff Supreme Commander |
| Other work | Chief of staff for Gustaf V of Sweden |
Olof Gerhard Thörnell (19 October 1877 – 25 July 1977) was a Swedish Army general. He was Sweden's first Supreme Commander from 8 December 1939 until 1944. Before 1939 that had been the role of the King.
Thörnell was born in Trönö, Söderhamn Municipality, the son of the vicar Per Thörnell and Gerhardina "Dine" Margareta (née Lindgren). He was the brother of Professor Gösta Thörnell. After passing studentexamen on 17 May 1895 at Norra Latin in he became an officer in 1897.
He was commissioned as second lieutenant on 10 December 1897 and was then promoted to lieutenant on 7 December 1900 in Uppland Regiment (I 8). On 7 July 1906 Thörnell graduated from the Royal Swedish Army Staff College and was commissioned as an officer cadet at the General Staff. He was promoted to captain of the General Staff on 10 June 1910. From 1911 to 1915 Thörnell was a teacher at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College. In 1915 he left the General Staff and served as captain at Älvsborg Regiment (I 15). After a few years in the field, he returned to the General Staff, where he quickly rose through the ranks. On 27 November 1917, he was promoted to major and on 19 August lieutenant colonel.
He was promoted to major at the General Staff in 1917 and became head of the Central Department of the General Staff in 1918. In 1921 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the General Staff. Thörnell was after that serving at Upplands Infantry Regiment (I 8) in 1924 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel and acting commanding officer of Gotland Infantry Regiment (I 27) in 1926. On 24 August 1926 Thörnell was promoted to colonel and became commanding officer of Vaxholm Grenadier Regiment (I 26). On 1 January 1928 he was appointed military commander of Gotland and in 1931 he was appointed Inspector of the Army Service Troops. On 28 December 1933 he was promoted to major general and was appointed Inspector of the Infantry. On 1 July 1936 he was promoted to lieutenant-general and chief of the Defence Staff. On 8 December 1939 he was appointed Supreme Commander and on 1 January he was promoted to general.
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