Christine Hug
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Christine Hug | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981 Zürich, Switzerland |
| Died | 10 July 2023 (aged 41–42) |
| Allegiance |  Switzerland |
| Branch | Swiss Army |
| Years of service | 2001–2023 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands | Panzer Battalion 12 |
Christine Hug (1981 – 10 July 2023) was a Swiss military officer. In September 2019, she became the first openly transgender officer in the Swiss Army. Hug commanded the Panzer Battalion 12, which consisted of almost one thousand soldiers.
Career
Hug joined the Swiss Army at the age of twenty, eventually reaching the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant colonel) in the General Staff.[3][4] She commanded the Panzer Battalion 12, consisting of seventy tanks and almost one thousand soldiers.[1][5]
In March 2019, after informing the Chief of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Philippe Rebord and Federal Councilor and Federal Department of Defense Head Viola Amherd, Hug came out as transgender, making her the first transgender officer in the Swiss Army.[3][2] She then informed all members of the army whom she worked with, sending an email to seven hundred military staff.[5] At the time that Hug came out, the Swiss Army considered transgender people to be medically unfit and would not consider them for military recruits.[5] Hug advocated for women and transgender people to serve in the Swiss military.[1]