Persian Central Government Gendarmerie
Encyclopedia
The Swedish Gendarmerie, also called the Government Gendarmerie (Jandarmiri-ye Daulati), was the first modern highway patrol and rural police force in Persia. A paramilitary
force, it also played a significant part in politics from its establishment in 1910 until the advent of the Pahlavi dynasty
in 1921. It continued its services into the Pahlavi era. 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.
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 15, 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.
During the First World War the officers of the Swedish Gendarmerie, who like most of the Iranian intelligentsia and constitutionalists were sympathetic towards Germany helped the Central Powers and at one point in autumn 1915 seized the control of Shiraz with the connivance of the German- Trained provincial governor Mohammad-Qoli Mokhber'ol Saltaneh Hedayat. [Sykes vol.II. 444- 446]. After the 1921 coup d'état the War Minister Reza Khan
merged the two viable military forces which existed in Iran at that point i.e. the Cossack division and the Gendarmerie, to create the modern Iranian national army. A rural police, amnieh, was created and the nazmieh or the police force was also revamped and placed under the Iranian officers. [Aqeli, Roozshomari, vol. II. , pp.164-8.]
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 in the Finnish Civil War
. Another officer, Eric Carlberg
, would later on become Sweden’s ambassador to Iran, and a confidant of Mohammed Mosaddeq.
Minor
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
force, it also played a significant part in politics from its establishment in 1910 until the advent of the Pahlavi dynasty
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
in 1921. It continued its services into the Pahlavi era. 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.
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 15, 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.
During the First World War the officers of the Swedish Gendarmerie, who like most of the Iranian intelligentsia and constitutionalists were sympathetic towards Germany helped the Central Powers and at one point in autumn 1915 seized the control of Shiraz with the connivance of the German- Trained provincial governor Mohammad-Qoli Mokhber'ol Saltaneh Hedayat. [Sykes vol.II. 444- 446]. After the 1921 coup d'état the War Minister Reza Khan
Reza Shah
Rezā Shāh, also known as Rezā Shāh Pahlavi and Rezā Shāh Kabir , , was the Shah of the Imperial State of Iran from December 15, 1925, until he was forced to abdicate by the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran on September 16, 1941.In 1925, Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar...
merged the two viable military forces which existed in Iran at that point i.e. the Cossack division and the Gendarmerie, to create the modern Iranian national army. A rural police, amnieh, was created and the nazmieh or the police force was also revamped and placed under the Iranian officers. [Aqeli, Roozshomari, vol. II. , pp.164-8.]
The disbanding of the Swedish Gendarmerie, would greatly weaken the Qajar monarchy and with the Persian Cossack Brigade
Persian Cossack Brigade
The Persian Cossack Brigade was an elite cavalry unit formed in 1879 in Iran. During much of their history they were the only functional, effective military unit of the Qajar Dynasty...
being the only remaining army unit, it greatly facilitated Reza Shah
Reza Shah
Rezā Shāh, also known as Rezā Shāh Pahlavi and Rezā Shāh Kabir , , was the Shah of the Imperial State of Iran from December 15, 1925, until he was forced to abdicate by the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran on September 16, 1941.In 1925, Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar...
’s coup in 1921. Hjalmarson would return to Sweden, and take command of the volunteer Swedish Brigade serving on the White side in the Finnish Civil War
Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
. Another officer, Eric Carlberg
Eric Carlberg
Gustaf Eric Carlberg was a Swedish sport shooter, fencer, and modern pentathlete who competed in the 1906 Summer Olympics, in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1924 Summer Olympics.1906 AthensIn the 1906 Summer Olympics he participated in the following shooting...
, would later on become Sweden’s ambassador to Iran, and a confidant of Mohammed Mosaddeq.
Organisation
The Gendarmerie's Purpose was to guard the frontiers and interior. It consisted of battalions of 4 to 6 Companies. For discipline and administration, the force was under the supervision of the General Officer commanding the division in whose area it was stationed. For police administration work, it came under local civil authorities. It was armed with old pattern rifles of various makes and some Soviet, French and British carbines, but not many modern. It consisted of a total of 7 Independent Mixed Regiments and 15 Mixed Battalions, forming a Corps.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 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 fältFör tapperhet i fältFör tapperhet i fält and För tapperhet till sjöss are two Swedish military medals awarded to officers and soldiers of the Swedish Armed Forces who have—as the medal names suggest—shown valour in the field or at sea in wartime...
". - Eric CarlbergEric CarlbergGustaf Eric Carlberg was a Swedish sport shooter, fencer, and modern pentathlete who competed in the 1906 Summer Olympics, in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1924 Summer Olympics.1906 AthensIn the 1906 Summer Olympics he participated in the following shooting...
- Colonel PesianColonel PesianColonel Mohammad Taqi-Khan Pessian , born into an aristocratic family in Tabriz, was a popular military leader of Iran and became a national hero after his assassination...
- Hasan ArfaHasan ArfaHasan Arfa was an Iranian general and ambassador of the Pahlavi dynasty.-Early life:Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, of an Anglo-Russian mother and Iranian father, Hasan Arfa was a career military officer in the Iranian army and who achieved the rank of general...
- Lahuti
- Mahmud Khan PuladeenMahmud Khan PuladeenMajor General Mahmud Khan Pulādeen was a senior military leader of the Reza Shah Pahlavi era.In 1921, he served as personal guard to Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee...
Stations
Major- TehranTehranTehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
,
Minor
- ShirazShirazShiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
- KermanKerman- Geological characteristics :For the Iranian paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. Finding new dinosaur footprints in 2005 has now revealed new hopes for paleontologists to better understand the history of this area.- Economy :...
- QazvinQazvinQazvin is the largest city and capital of the Province of Qazvin in Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 349,821, in 96,420 families....
- Isfahan
- Boroujerd