Torgil Thorén
Captain Torgil Vilhelm Hildebad Thorén (30 March 1892 – 11 March 1982) was a Swedish Navy officer, and the first chief of the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA).
Torgil Thorén | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Torgil Vilhelm Hildebad Thorén |
| Born | 30 March 1892 Döderhult, Sweden |
| Died | 11 March 1982 (aged 89) |
| Allegiance | Swedish Armed Forces |
| Branch | Swedish Navy |
| Years of service | 1912–1957 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Other work | DG of National Defence Radio Establishment |
Biography
Torgil Thorén was born on 30 March 1892 in Döderhult, Sweden, the son of medical doctor Adolf Thorén and Anna (née Björck).[1] Thorén was commissioned as an officer in the Swedish Navy with the rank of underlöjtnant in 1912. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1916, lieutenant in 1922, lieutenant commander in 1937, and to commander in 1939. In 1942 he was appointed captain.[1]
He studied at the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1919 to 1920, and then attended the torpedo course there. In 1922-1935, Thorén was a torpedo boat and destroyer captain. After that, he received a position as division commander in the Destroyer Division (Jagardivisionen), but before World War II erupted as head of department at the Naval Staff and, subsequently, at the Defence Staff (1938-1942). In 1942, he ended up at the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) as its first chief, he became the chief executive officer and head in 1952, until retirement in 1957.[1]
His relationship with the Finnish intelligence was the key to Operation Stella Polaris[2][3]
He wrote about his time at the FRA in 1945.[4]
Personal life
In 1920, he married Ingrid Mathiesen (born 1899), the daughter of Halfdan Mathiesen and Olga Breien. They had two children; Rolf (born 1922) and Gösta (born 1924).[1]
Dates of rank
- 1912 – Underlöjtnant
- 1916 – Sub-Lieutenant (Löjtnant)
- 1922 – Lieutenant (Kapten)
- 1937 – Lieutenant commander
- 1939 – Commander
- 1942 – Captain
Awards and decorations
Thorén's awards:[1]
- Commander First Class of the Order of the Sword
- Knight of the Order of the Polar Star
- Knight of the Order of Vasa
- Commander of the Order of St. Olav
- Second Class of the Order of the Cross of Liberty with swords
- Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Officer of the Order of the Three Stars
- Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Officer of the Order of the German Eagle
- King Haakon VII Freedom Cross
- RGM
- KSHstorpk
Honours
- Member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1931)[5]
References
- Harnesk, Paul, ed. (1962). Vem är vem? 1, Stor-Stockholm [Who's Who? 1, Greater Stockholm] (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Vem är vem. pp. 1295–1296. SELIBR 53509. Archived from the original on 2013-09-22. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- West, Nigel (2012). Historical dictionary of signals intelligence. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 209. ISBN 9780810871878. SELIBR 19941446.
- West, Nigel (2007). Historical Dictionary of World War II Intelligence. Scarecrow Press. p. 82. ISBN 9780810864214.
- Beckman, Bengt (1996). Svenska kryptobedrifter: [med en beskrivning av hur Arne Beurling knäckte den tyska chiffertrafiken] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Bonnier. ISBN 91-0-056229-7. SELIBR 7149514.
- Lagerström, Sten, ed. (1968). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1969 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1969] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 952. SELIBR 3681519. Archived from the original on 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Johan Eskil Gester |
Defence Staff's Cryptology Department 1940–1942 |
Succeeded by None |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by None |
Director-General of National Defence Radio Establishment 1942–1957 |
Succeeded by Gustaf Tham |