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{{trivia|date=April 2009}}
{{trivia|date=April 2009}}
It is commonly held that the Persian word ''lat'' meaning ''lazy'', was a direct introduction to the Persian language from the Swedish word of the same meaning, stemming from the meticulous drills of the Swedish officers.
It is commonly held that the Persian word ''lat'' meaning ''lazy'', was a direct introduction to the Persian language from the Swedish word of the same meaning, stemming from the meticulous drills of the Swedish officers.

An officer of the Gendarmerie was the last person who in 1915 was awarded the Swedish medal for bravery upon the field of battle ''"[[För tapperhet i fält]]"''.


==Commanders==
==Commanders==

Revision as of 19:22, 10 June 2009

Persian Central Government Gendarmerie
Zhandarmiri-yi Dawlati
Active1911-1920
CountryPersian Empire
Allegianceto the Shah of Persia
Size7,200
PatronAhmad Shah Qajar
Colorslight blue, grey and gold
EngagementsShiraz, Kazerun, Boroujerd, Soltanabad
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Gen H Hjalmarson

Persian (Iran's) Government Gendarmerie (Jandarmiri-ye Daulati) also commonly known as The Swedish Gendarmerie of Persia played a significant part in politics from 1910 until 1921.[1] Originally established as a constitutional army, the force began with Swedish officers and Iranian troops, with traditional police duties besides military campaigns against tribal forces.[1] It was overshadowed by the leadership it helped install.[1] The Swedish element waned, and the gendarmes grew a nationalistic faction which helped install Riza Khan in the 1921 coup.[1]

Throughout the nineteenth century military modernization was a constant preoccupation of Iranian reformers and the history of the Qajar period is peppered with attempts to create a standing army on the European model. On August 15th, 1911, Hjalmarson, the general instructor of the Persian Gendarmerie together with two comrades arrived in Teheran; other Swedish officers soon followed It had been created through the pressure of England for the security of Persian trade routes of commerce under the command of Swedish officers in the pay of Persia. This military unit resisted foreign intervention from the Russians, Germans and Ottoman Empire, was not only influenced by Iranian nationalism but also Bolshevism which had become very popular throughout Central Asia, Turkey and Iran after the 1917 revolution in Russia.

Aftermath

The disbanding of the Gendarmerie, would greatly weaken the Qajar monarchy and with the Cossack brigade being the only remaining army unit, it greatly facilitated Reza Shah’s coup in 1921.

Hjalmarson would return to Sweden, and take command of the volunteer Swedish Brigade serving on the White side of the Finnish Civil War.

Another officer, Eric Carlberg would later on become Sweden’s ambassador to Iran, and a confidant of Mohammed Mosaddeq.

Miscellanea

It is commonly held that the Persian word lat meaning lazy, was a direct introduction to the Persian language from the Swedish word of the same meaning, stemming from the meticulous drills of the Swedish officers.

An officer of the Gendarmerie was the last person who in 1915 was awarded the Swedish medal for bravery upon the field of battle "För tapperhet i fält".

Commanders

Name Period
Sweden General Hjalmar O. Hjalmarson August 1911 – February 1915
Sweden Colonel Nystrom March 1915 – end of 1916
Sweden Colonel Gleerup August 1918 – end of 1921

Notable Senior Officers