Torsten Schmidt (officer)

Torsten Andreas Schmidt (23February 1899 – 19December 1996) was a Swedish officer. Schmidt was involved in the Swedish Armed Forces' control of the Swedish defense research when it was set up before and during World War II, and when the Swedish nuclear research started.

Military career
Schmidt was born in Landskrona, Sweden and was the son of the banker, vice district judge Martin Schmidt (1858–1942) and Elisabeth Jeanette, née Bruzelius (1867–1911). After graduating in 1917, he became a second lieutenant at the Wendish Artillery Regiment (A 3) in 1919 and studied at the Artillery and Engineering College from 1921 to 1924. Schmidt was promoted to lieutenant in 1923 and was lieutenant in the anti-aircraft artillery in 1928. He was artillery staff officer from 1932 to 1937 and was promoted to captain in 1934 and was assistant teacher at Artillery and Engineering College from 1934 to 1938.

Schmidt was promoted to major in 1937 and was director of the Armed Forces Chemical Institute (Försvarsväsendets kemiska anstalt) from 1937 to 1945. Schmidt was major at the Svealand Artillery Regiment (A 1) in 1940 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1942. He was administrative director of the Defence Research Board (Försvarets forskningsnämnd) from 1943 to 1945, head of department at the Defense Staff from 1945 to 1959 and was promoted to colonel in the Swedish Army in 1947. Schmidt served at the Defense Staff from 1948 to 1959 and held the rank of colonel 1st rank from 1956 to 1959. He was also head of section at the Defense Staff in 1959 and was placed in the reserve the same year.

He had assignment abroad in 1931, 1936–39, 1941, 1946 and 1950.

Other work
Schmidt was assisting in Air Protection Investigation in 1936 and was a member of Atom Committee (Atomkommittén) from 1945 to 1959 and board member of the Swedish Defence Research Establishment from 1945 to 1959 as well as the Review Board for Certain Patents from 1946 to 1959. He was chairman of the Defense Missile Advice (Försvarets robotvapenråd) from 1948 to 1959, member of the Inquiry concerning protection against bacteriological warfare from 1949 to 1951 (or 1952–53 ) and the Defense Medical Board of the Medical Research Council from 1951 to 1959. Schmidt was an expert in the Defense Medical Research Organization (Försvarsmedicinska forskningsorganisationen) in 1959 and the Defense Medical Research Advisory Committee (Försvarsmedicinska forskningsutredningen) from 1959 to 1962.

He became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 1944 He served as a teacher and in insurance companies from 1960 to 1969.

Personal life
Schmidt was married 1926–1936 to Elsa Elin Märta Vult von Steyern (born 1903), the daughter of lieutenant colonel Nils Vult von Steyern och Eva Hammar. He married a second time in 1938 to Karen Margrete Beatrice Bruun von Neergaard (1911–1986), the daughter of landowner, major Alfried Bruun von Neergaard and Marion, née Schlubach. He was the father of Holger (born 1940), Harald (born 1941) and Christer (born 1942).

Schmidt died in 1996 and was buried in Landskrona Cemetery.

Awards and decorations

 * Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Sword
 * Knight of the Order of the Polar Star
 * Order of the Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class with swords
 * National Air Protection Association's Badge of Merit in gold (Riksluftskyddsförbundets förtjänsttecken i guld)