Erik G. Bengtsson

Erik Gustav Bengtsson (born 14 July 1928) is a Swedish Army officer. He was Chief of the Army from 1984 to 1990.

Bengtsson was born in Visnum, Värmland County, Sweden, the son of the farmer Erik Bengtsson and his wife Hildur (née Löfstedt). He passed studentexamen in 1951 and became an officer at Norrland Artillery Regiment (A 4) in 1952. Bengtsson attended the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1958 to 1961 and served at the Army Staff from 1961 to 1964 and the Defence Staff from 1964 to 1967.

He served at Norrland Artillery Regiment (A 4) in 1967 and the Defence Staff in 1968. Bengtsson then served at Boden Artillery Regiment (A 8) in 1972 and was section chief in the Military Area Staff within the Upper Norrland Military Area in 1973. He was promoted to colonel and was chief of education at Boden Artillery Regiment (A 8) and the Boden Defence Area (Fo 63) in 1975.

Bengtsson was promoted to colonel 1st class and vice chief in the Military Area Staff within the Upper Norrland Military Area in 1977. He was promoted to major general and became chief of staff in the Military Area Staff within the Eastern Military Area in 1978. Bengtsson was promoted to lieutenant general and was military commander of the Upper Norrland Military Area from 1980 to 1984 and was then the Chief of Army from 1984 to 1990. As Chief of Army, Bengtsson was also Superior Commanding Officer for the Swedish UN-forces, including the Swedish contingent in Cyprus which was part of UNFICYP.

Bengtsson was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences. He was chairman of Wermländska Sällskapet i Stockholm from 1987 to 2000, chairman of the Swedish Shooting Sport Federation (Svenska Sportskytteförbundet) and chairman of the AFCEA. Bengtsson was military writer for several newspapers and magazines.

In 1949 he married Ulla Axelsson (born 1927), the daughter of master painter Axel Jansson and Gerda (née Ohlsson).