Varangian Group Military Company
| Varangian Group | |
|---|---|
| Varangisk Grupp Militärkompani | |
| Varangisk Grupp | |
 | |
| Type | Private Military Company |
| Traded as | VGMK |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Founder | Corporal Erik Andersson |
| Headquarters | Gustavshamn, Guinean Union |
| Area served | Africa and Asia |
Varangian Group Military Company (Swedish: Varangisk Grupp Militärkompani) is a Swedish-owned private military company headquartered in Gustavshamn, Guinean Union. It offers a multitude of services to its clients, from security operations and rescue missions from war-torn areas around the world. The VGMK markets itself as a better alternative to regular military and other private military companies as they offer military services and expertise without the hindrance of state bureaucracy.
The name of the company came from the Varangian Guard of the Eastern Roman Empire, as Viking fighters(most of whom hailed from modern-day Sweden) fought for the Roman Basileus in various campaigns throughout Europe and Western Asia.
History
Early History
The Varangian Group was founded in 1945, by Erik Andersson, a former army corporal. After the decolonization efforts of the Swedish Republic, the independence of the Guinean Union meant a lack of need for a troop garrison in the area. Though the Swedish troops stationed in Guinea were transferred back to Sweden proper, some of these troops decided to resign. A deciding factor that motivated these soldiers to resign can be their lackluster pay compared to other occupations at the time. Andersson used his connections in the government and abroad, he gathered military surplus discarded by the Swedish military and funds to establish a military company. Around 200 men without a job in the military were offered a deal by Andersson. A 5 year contract in the company in exchange for a salary twice as large than in any white-collar business at the time. The 200 or so personnel at the time would form the basis of what would be the VGMK.
Guinean Union
The VGMK was faced with numerous challenges upon its inception. Problems such as their source of income and recruitment pools. To solve at least some of their problems, the company would look to the recently decolonized nations of Africa and Asia for opportunities, as Anderson stated that 'The continents of Africa and Asia are untapped mines for opportunity. Europe and America, on the other hand, have their own problems already; so I don't much care for them.' The fledgling nation of the Guinean Union would approach the company with contracts, with VGMK personnel training Guinean troops in exchange for a ludicrous amount of money. The company would send 100 men to the country, training their troops and bringing their expertise to help their military operate various military installations left behind by Sweden. The VGMK then used their money to buy modern weapons, and a plot of land in Gustavshamn that would later serve as headquarters for the military company. The Guinean Union used this military training to involve itself in numerous conflicts which would eventually propel the country into a regional power of West Africa.
Involvement in the Zambezian Wars
The Zambezian Wars would prove Andersson's statements correct as numerous private companies stranded in the war-torn region would prove to be the perfect opportunity for the company. The VGMK would accept lucrative contracts from various corporations in the form of escort missions and protecting valuable cargo from militia forces in the region. The company would soon accept contracts from the Portuguese colonial government; as the militia forces around the region impeded evacuation efforts of Portuguese officials from Zambezia.
Tensions would reach their boiling point during the Zambezian Wars as three unnamed personnel of the company would be kidnapped for ransom by ZLF-aligned militants. These militants would end up killing two of the three captives in a public execution. News of these atrocities reached VGMK command and immediately vowed to give justice to the captives. The company would then spearhead Operation Basileus, in which VGMK personnel in the area, alongside Portuguese colonial remnants, embarked on a scorched earth campaign across the region. The kidnapping and execution of VGMK personnel served as a justification for active troops to engage in looting villages, burning homes, and executing supposed ZLF militants. This made ZLF leadership accept their demands and released the sole survivor in captivity. He would later reveal himself to be Felix Lindholm, future commander and head of the Varangian Group Military Company.
