Iranian Gendarmerie: Difference between revisions
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'''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.<ref name="Cronin">The Making of Modern Iran, page 49</ref> 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 |
'''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.<ref name="Cronin">The Making of Modern Iran, page 49</ref> 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.<ref name="Cronin"/> |
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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, |
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. As a neutral choice between Britain and Russia, the Persians would choose that Sweden would be the country given the task to secure their trade routes and unify the country. On August 15th, 1911, the Swedish Major Hjalmar Hjalmarson would be given the rank of General and put in command of the Persian Gendarmerie. Many other officers, often recruited from the Swedish aristocracy would now come to follow in Hjalmarson's footsteps. |
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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. |
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The officers of the Swedish Gendarmerie, who unlike the Russian Cossack brigade, had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Qajar Shah of Persia would at the outset of the [[First World War]] attempt to convince the Qajars to rid themselves of foreign dominance. Seeing the Swedish military presence as a threat to British and Russian interests, the future [[Reza Shah]] who served with the Russian Cossacks would play a great role in its eventual disbandment. |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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The disbanding of the Gendarmerie, would greatly weaken the [[Qajar]] monarchy and with the [[Cossack]] |
The disbanding of the Swedish Gendarmerie, would greatly weaken the [[Qajar]] monarchy and with the [[Persian Cossack Brigade]] being the only remaining army unit, it greatly facilitated [[Reza Shah]]’s coup in 1921. |
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Hjalmarson would return to Sweden, and take command of the volunteer Swedish Brigade serving on the White side of the [[Finnish Civil War]]. |
Hjalmarson would return to Sweden, and take command of the volunteer Swedish Brigade serving on the White side of the [[Finnish Civil War]]. |
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Revision as of 20:07, 10 June 2009
| Persian Central Government Gendarmerie Zhandarmiri-yi Dawlati | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1911-1920 |
| Country | Persian Empire |
| Allegiance | to the Shah of Persia |
| Size | 7,200 |
| Patron | Ahmad Shah Qajar |
| Colors | light blue, grey and gold |
| Engagements | Shiraz, 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]
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. As a neutral choice between Britain and Russia, the Persians would choose that Sweden would be the country given the task to secure their trade routes and unify the country. On August 15th, 1911, the Swedish Major Hjalmar Hjalmarson would be given the rank of General and put in command of the Persian Gendarmerie. Many other officers, often recruited from the Swedish aristocracy would now come to follow in Hjalmarson's footsteps.
The officers of the Swedish Gendarmerie, who unlike the Russian Cossack brigade, had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Qajar Shah of Persia would at the outset of the First World War attempt to convince the Qajars to rid themselves of foreign dominance. Seeing the Swedish military presence as a threat to British and Russian interests, the future Reza Shah who served with the Russian Cossacks would play a great role in its eventual disbandment.
Aftermath
The disbanding of the Swedish Gendarmerie, would greatly weaken the Qajar monarchy and with the Persian 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
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (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.
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 |
|---|---|
 General Hjalmar O. Hjalmarson
|
August 1911 – February 1915 |
| Colonel Nystrom
|
March 1915 – end of 1916 |
| Colonel Gleerup
|
August 1918 – end of 1921 |
Notable Senior Officers
Notable Officers
StationsMajor Minor ReferencesEnglish:
Swedish:
Notes |