Helge Strömbäck

Helge Hjalmar Immanuel Strömbäck (26 July 1889 – 20 March 1960) was a Swedish vice admiral and the Chief of Navy from 1945 to 1953.

Career
Strömbäck was born in Delsbo, Gävleborg County, Sweden and was the son of vicar Hjalmar Strömbäck and Ida (née Steinmetz). He became a sea cadet in 1903 and sub-lieutenant in the Swedish Navy in 1909. Strömbäck conducted Russian language studies in Moscow from 1913 to 1914 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1918. He attended Sjökrigshögskolan from 1918 to 1921 and was a teacher there and at the Krigshögskolan. Strömbäck was promoted to commander in 1933 and was head of department at the Naval Staff from 1933 to 1936.

He was captain of the seaplane cruiser HSWMS Gotland (1933) in 1936 and then head of department at the Defence Staff from 1937 to 1939. Strömbäck was promoted to captain in 1939 and was flag captain of the Coastal Fleet (Kustflottan) from 1939 to 1941 and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1942 to 1945. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1943 and finally vice admiral in 1945. Strömbäck was Chief of Navy from 1945 to 1953.

Other work
Strömbäck was secretary of the 1929 Defense Investigation and expert assistance in the 1930 Defence Commission. He became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 1939 and an honorary member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences in 1943.

Personal life
In 1921, Strömbäck married Melanie Suchy (1892–1981). He was the father of Melanie (born 1922), Gudrun (born 1925) and Barbro (born 1927). Strömbäck died in 1960 and was buried at Galärvarvskyrkogården in Stockholm.

Awards and decorations
Strömbäck's awards:
 * Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Sword
 * Knight of the Order of the Polar Star
 * Knight of the Order of Vasa
 * Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
 * Commander 1st Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
 * Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords
 * Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta
 * Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
 * Knight of the Order of del Mérito Naval