- Gustav Hägglund
Johan Edvin Birger Gustav Hägglund (born
September 6 ,1938 ,Viipuri ) is a retired Finnishgeneral . He was the Chief of Defence 1994—2001, and Chairman of theEuropean Union Military Committee 2001–2004.Hägglund's father was General
Woldemar Hägglund , commander of the Karelian front in the Second World War. He was born inViipuri , an area ceded to the Soviet Union in the Second World War. Despite his Swedish-speaking family background, the Finnishlanguage immersion was total in his youth, and he ultimately had to learn Swedish at school. He was educated not only at the Cadet School in Finland, but also in the United States ArmyCommand and General Staff College inLeavenworth, Kansas . He is also a fellow of theHarvard University .He commanded
United Nations troops in as the commander of the Finnish battalion (FINBATT) inUNEF II inSinai , and as the commander ofUNIFIL in Southern Lebanon.He has published three books, one concerning defence of Finland, one about defence of Europe and an
autobiography . In the 2000's, Hägglund has promoted the development of theindependent defence of Europe , and estimated that the United States shifts its focus away from Europe, changing the role ofNATO .References
*Gustav Hägglund: "Leijona ja kyyhky" (2006), Otava, ISBN: 9789511211617
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