The Home Guard's 80th anniversary

Headquarters – 29 May 2020 kl: 14.09
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It was on this day, 29 May 1940, that the Swedish Parliament passed the bill to establish the Home Guard. And so today, the Home Guard celebrates 80 years of service.
“The Home Guard is a major and vital part of the Swedish Armed Forces and we consider the Home Guard soldiers to be highly valuable and much appreciated colleagues", Supreme Commander Micael Bydén says.

Grattisfilm för Hemvärnet 80 år.
Grattisfilm för Hemvärnet 80 år.
The Home Guard celebrates 80 years in the company of Supreme Commander Micael Bydén. Photo: Swedish Armed Forces

When the Home Guard was established, 94 000 people from across Sweden enrolled. Currently, the Home Guard comprises approximately 20 700 men and women.

The Home Guard units are modern combat units with a main responsibility to protect, monitor and guard Swedish territory and also provide assistance to the community in times of crisis. In this way, the Home Guard units provide a territorial base for the defence and protection of Sweden.