Hans von Hofsten

Hans von Hofsten   (mariner)
Born	9 January 1931
Died	19 July 1992 (Age 61)
Nationality	Swedish
Alma mater	Royal Swedish Naval Academy, Swedish Armed Forces Staff College
Parents	• Fritz von Hofsten • Elsa Wachtmeister af Johannishus
Siblings	Gustaf von Hofsten.
Spouse	Anne-Marie von Essen
Victim of	premature_death
Relatives	Sten Erland von Hofsten
Swedish naval officer who instigated the 1985 "Officers' Revolt" against Prime Minister Olof Palme  Commander in the Swedish Navy In office 1972 - 1991 Employer Sweden/Military Instigated the 1985 "Officers' Revolt" against Prime Minister Olof Palme

Hans Alarik von Hofsten was a Swedish naval officer who instigated the 1985 "Officers' Revolt" against Prime Minister Olof Palme a few months before he was assassinated.

Career

Von Hofsten graduated as a naval officer from the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in 1955 and was appointed ensign in the Navy the same year and promoted to lieutenant in 1957. He underwent torpedo training from 1958 to 1959 and attended the Staff Course at the Military College from 1964 to 1966 as well as being promoted to captain in 1965. In 1970, von Hofsten was promoted to Commander of the second degree, and was at the Ministry of Defense from 1970 to 1973. Von Hofsten was promoted in 1972 to Commander of the first degree. He was director of the weapons regiment officers school at Berga Naval Academy from 1981 to 1984 and of the weapons officers school at Berga Naval Academy from 1984 to 1986. 1986-1988, he was the head of the nautical Department of the Naval Staff, and from 1989 he was in the Military History Department of the Military College.

Von Hofsten was elected in 1987 as a member of the Royal Society of naval officers and was editor of the Journal of the Naval Service published by the society from 1990 to 1992.

Activities

On 10 November 1985, Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) published interviews with twelve senior naval officers in what effectively amounted to an "officers' revolt" against the elected government of Olof Palme. The leadership of an entire arms branch– the Navy – declared that it lacked confidence in the government and openly challenged it. A few months later, Palme was assassinated.

The officers' revolt had begun with a debate article, also in the SvD, by Commander Hans von Hofsten. In his article, Von Hofsten discusses, among other things, the discipline and order of command within the military system. von Hofsten asks the following, in retrospect, very interesting question: "Why, then, have signs of cracks in loyalty (towards discipline and order of command) appeared in recent days?". He himself answers the question: "the extent, intensity and seriousness of the alien underwater activity in our waters is hushed up, belittled or even ridiculed by the prime minister and foreign minister..."

Hofsten's article meant an escalation, partly of the right-wing extremist circles 'incitement against the government, and partly of the right-wing forces' desire to take over the general political initiative in Sweden. The twelve naval officers not only backed up von Hofsten. They went further in two respects. Some bluntly said that they lacked confidence in the government. In addition, several of the naval officers specifically pointed out Olof Palme. Lieutenant Leif Nylander and Captain Peter Nyrén said: "the government's reaction is too weak. It does not take the threat seriously. I do not trust Olof Palme and the government on this issue"... "it may be personal reflections of the prime minister who directs foreign policy. I do not trust Olof Palme but the government".

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