Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Service

The Lotta movement is a Swedish women's organization whose members voluntarily assume tasks in the Swedish defense. The Swedish name of the organization is Riksförbundet Sveriges lottakårer ( SLK ).

The Swedish Lotta movement is now (2006 ) of about 18,000 women aged 15 . Swedish citizenship - except in specific tasks within the armed forces - not a requirement for membership. The name refers to the figure of the Lotta Svärd Johan Ludvig Runeberg's poetry collection from ensign steel. There are supportive members who take in addition to the payment of a contribution only from case to case according to your wishes tasks, active members, which in particular is responsible for management tasks as well as training and public relations, and finally members who possess with the armed forces a temporary four-year contract, the performance of certain functions in the armed forces close.

The first Lottaorganisiation was founded in 1918 in Finland. The Swedish organization followed in 1924, 1928 Lotta organization in Norway was formed in 1946 finally was added a Danish organization. The Finnish organization was banned in 1944 as a result of the peace treaty with the Soviet Union, the Danish organization was disbanded in 1999, when the armed forces for women were opened.