Copyright © Hans Högman 2020-01-10
Military Enrollment Numbers &
Enrollment Areas in the Swedish
Conscription System
Introduction
These pages describes how to interpret the
Swedish military Conscription Enrollment Numbers
(inskrivningsnummer). They are normally found in
the column labelled "värnpliktsförhållanden" in the
household examination rolls and is a three-part
conscript identification number, for example 117
112/96.
Identify the year:
Begin by identifying the year of
conscription/enrollment in the enrollment number.
The year is the last part of the number, after the
slash "/". It can be listed with either two or four
digits.
For example, if we have the enrollment number 117
112/96 then the year is 96, indicating 1896.
The enrollment numbers have two different
interpretations depending of the time period; 1886 -
1901 respectively 1902 - 1942.
How to Begin
Using the year of enrollment as a starting point,
choose one of the links to the charts below. The
breakpoint is the year 1902.
1.
If the year of enrollment is before 1902, i.e.
between 1886 and 1901, use the first link
below.
Go to Enrollment areas/Company areas 1886 -
1901
2.
If the year of enrollment is 1902 or after, i.e.
between 1902 and 1942, use the second link
below.
Go to Enrollment areas/Roll keeping areas
1902 - 1942
About the Enrollment Numbers
& Enrollment Areas
In 1812 an act was passed in the Swedish
parliament establishing a Universal Conscription
Service System (draft system) as a reinforcement of
the regular army. This conscription system was
called Beväringen or Beväringsinrättningen. The
first conscripts were called up for enrollment in the
spring 1813. Between 1813 and 1886 the conscripts
were enrolled at special conscript muster meetings
(beväringsmönstringar) and they were registered in
the so-called beväringsmönsterrullor – conscription
muster rolls.
Enrollment Numbers and Enrollment Areas
1886 - 1901
In 1886 Sweden was divided into 31 Conscription
Enrollment Areas (Inskrivningsområden). These
enrollment areas between 1886 and 1901 were
closely linked to the allotted infantry regiments'
"catchment areas" and the enrollments areas
carried the same name as these regiments, for
example Hälsinge Regiment Enrollment Area.
Each of these enrollment areas were in turn divided
into a number of Company Areas [districts]
(Kompaniområden).
The enrollment of conscripts (draft registration) was
done in respective company area which means that
the rolls were kept per company area. Enrollments
of conscripts were carried out annually.
The conscripts (draftees) were registered in the so-
called inskrivningslängderna (enrollment rolls) and
each conscript was assigned a unique enrollment
number (inskrivningsnummer).
The enrollment number was a three-part draftee
identification number noted in the form SSS CCC/YY
where SSS is the conscript’s personal serial number
in the roll, CCC is the company area
(kompaniområde) of the enrollment
area and YY the year of enrollment of
the conscript.
To the right is an image from a
household examination roll
(husförhörslängd) showing a conscript
enrollment number in the column
"värnpligt".
More about the enrollment numbers
(inskrivningsnummer).
Enrollment Numbers and Enrollment Areas
1902 - 1969
In 1901 the Allotment System was abolished and
Sweden switched to a Universal Conscription
System (Swedish: Allmän Värnplikt) [draft
system/conscription] with a Conscript Army
("Värnpliktsarmé").
The enrollment process of conscripts (draftee
registrations) was slightly changed in the new
National Service System introduced in 1901. The
enrollment areas were reduced to 26 but they still
corresponded to infantry regiment enrollment
areas. However, the enrollment areas were given
new names. The new names now corresponded to
the county names (län). For example, Gävleborg
Enrollment Area.
In 1926 the enrollment areas were further merged
and reduced to 21.
Each Conscription Enrollment Area was subdivided
into 3 Roll Keeping Areas (Rullföringsområden). An
American term for "rullföringsområde" is draft
board.
Navy enrollments were conducted in 5 different
Navy Roll Keeping Areas (Sjörullföringsområden).
The conscript enrollment numbers were also
changed and were now written in the form SSS
RR/YY where SSS is the conscript’s personal serial
number in the roll, RR is the roll keeping area or
local draft board
(rullföringsområde) of the
enrollment area and YY the year of
enrollment of the conscript.
To the right is an image from a
parish book (församlingsbok)
showing a conscript enrollment
number in the column
"värnpliktsförhållanden".
The roll keeping areas were abolished in 1942
and the enrollments of conscripts (draft
registrations) were thereafter handled directly by
the 21 enrollment areas. In 1953 the former
enrollment numbers were replaced by the national
civil registration numbers (folkbokföringsnummer).
In 1969 the nation’s division into conscript
enrollment areas were abolished and Sweden was
instead divided into three regional national service
regions (värnpliktskontor).
Copying of these pages
Is it OK to copy material (text or images) from this
page or from any other page on this site and
publish it on my own homepage?
The answer is NO! However, it is OK to have a link
to my pages.
Finding Information About a
Conscript's Enrollment Number
The first encounter a genealogist will have with the
military enrollment numbers is probably from the
household examination rolls (husförhörslängderna).
Since the enrollment number system was changed
in 1902 you have to begin your research by having
a look at the year-part of the number. The last
digits after the slash are the year of enrollment (SSS
CCC/YY).
•
If the year is between 86 and 01, i.e. between
the years 1886 and 1901, use the page
“Enrollment areas 1886 - 1901”.
•
If the year is between 02 and 42, i.e. between
the years 1902 and 1942, use the page
“Enrollment areas 1902 - 1942”.
•
If the year is between 02 and 41, i.e. between
the years 1902 and 1941 and has an roll
keeping area number (CCC) of 200 or greater,
use the page “Navy Enrollment areas 1902 -
1941”.
Click on one of the links in the navigation bar
below:
Conscription Enrollment
Numbers &
Enrollment Areas
