Defence Act of 1936 (Sweden)

The Defence Act of 1936 was a defence act passed by the Swedish Riksdag on 11 June 1936 which remained in effect until 17 June 1942.

Background
The Act increased the yearly budget of the Swedish Armed Forces from 118 million SEK to 148 million, roughly 1,5% of the Swedish GDP. The budget of the Swedish Air Force received the largest increase in funding, bumping its previous allowance of 11 million crowns to 28 million. A domestic aircraft industry was taking shape during this time, composed of Svenska Aeroplan AB (SAAB) and AB Svenska Järnvägsverkstädernas Aeroplanavdelning. The Navy and Coastal Artillery branches were slightly expanded and modernised.

It was decided that certain Army infantry regiments were to be composed of one infantry and one armoured battalion each. At first, the Life Regimental Grenadiers (I 3) as well as the Skaraborg Regiment (I 9) were considered. In November, however, it was agreed that the Södermanland Regiment (I 10) would be reorganised instead of the Life Regimental Grenadiers (I 3). When Göta Life Guards (I 2) was disbanded in 1939, its armoured battalion was split into two battalions which were assigned to the Skaraborg Regiment (I 9) and the Södermanland Regiment (I 10).

The Air Force was significantly expanded with six air wings.

Reorganisation
Reorganisation within the Armed Forces until the Defence Act of 1942:
 * General Staff was disbanded in 1937.
 * Defence Staff (Fst) was established in 1936.
 * Army Staff (AS) was established in 1936.
 * Air Staff (FS) was established in 1936.
 * The Fortification Branch was split in 1937 into three corps; the Engineer Troops, the Signal Troops and the Fortifications Corps

Army

 * The number of Army Divisions was increased from four to six.
 * I.&#x20;Army Division was established in Kristianstad.
 * II. Army Division was established in Östersund.
 * III. Army Division was established in Skövde.
 * IV. Army Division was established in Stockholm.
 * The Gotland Military Area was established in Visby.
 * The Troops of Upper Norrland were established in Boden.
 * Göta Life Guards (I 2) was disbanded in 1939.
 * The fortress battalion of the Kronoberg Regiment (I 11 K) was disbanded in 1939.

Air Force

 * The Air Group, Karlsborg.
 * The First Air Corps in Västerås is in 1936 reorganised into the Västmanland Air Wing (F 1).
 * The Second Air Corps in Hägernäs is in 1936 reorganised into the Roslagen Air Wing (F 2).
 * The Third Air Corps in Malmslätt is in 1936 reorganised into the Östgöta Air Wing (F 3).
 * The Fourth Air Corps in Östersund is in 1936 reorganised into the Jämtlands Air Wing (F 4).
 * The Flight Academy in Ljungbyhed in 1936 is reorganised into the Royal Air Force Flight Academy (F 5).
 * Västgöta Air Force Wing (F 6) is established in 1939 in Karlsborg.
 * Skaraborg Air Force Wing (F 7) is established in 1938 in Lidköping.
 * Svea Air Force Wing (F 8) is established in 1938 in Stockholm.
 * Göta Air Force Wing (F 9) is established in 1940 i Gothenburg (following a 1940 amendment).
 * Scanian Air Force Wing (F 10) is established in 1940 in Bulltofta (following a 1940 amendment).
 * Södermanland Air Force Wing (F 11) was established in 1941 in Nyköping (following a 1940 amendment).
 * Kalmar Air Force Wing (F 12) was established in 1942 in Kalmar (following a 1941 amendment).

Navy

 * Gotland Coastal Artillery Corps (KA 3) was established in 1937 in Fårösund.
 * Älvsborg Coastal Artillery Detachment (KA 4) was established in 1939 in Gothenburg.