Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

Karl ''Gustav'' "Gugge" Åkerman (20 October 1901 – 24 May 1988) was a senior

Swedish Army The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...

officer. Åkerman had a distinguished military career in Sweden. He began as a second lieutenant in the Göta Life Guards in 1923 and later became a captain in the

General Staff A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, Enlisted rank, enlisted, and civilian staff who serve the commanding officer, commander of a ...

in 1936. He served as a teacher at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College, held various positions, and was promoted to major general in 1957. He served as Chief of the Army Staff and the General Staff Corps until 1961. Åkerman later became a lieutenant general and served as the military commander of IV Military District and Commandant General in Stockholm, with further roles including Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff from 1969 to 1973.

Early life

Åkerman was born on 20 October 1901 in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

, Sweden, the son of Lieutenant General and his wife Martina (née Björnstjerna). He was the brother of and Richard (Riri) Åkerman.

Career

Åkerman was commissioned as an officer in the Göta Life Guards (I 2) in 1923 with the rank of second lieutenant. He became captain of the

in 1936. Åkerman served as teacher at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1938 to 1941 and served in the

Älvsborg Regiment The Älvsborg Regiment (), designation I 15 and I 15/Fo 34, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traces its origins back 1624. It was disbanded in 1998. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the provinces of Västergötland, ...

(I 15) in 1941. He became major in the General Staff Corps in 1942 and was chief of staff of the V Military District from 1942 to 1944 and was back teaching at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1944 to 1947. Åkerman was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1945 and served in the

Svea Life Guards The Svea Life Guards (), also I 1, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that was active in various forms 1521–2000. The unit was based in the Stockholm Garrison in Stockholm and belonged to the King's Life and Household Troops (''Kungl. Maj: ...

(I 1) in 1947. He was promoted to colonel in 1950 and was regimental commander of Älvsborg Regiment (I 15) from 1951 to 1956. Åkerman served as Inspector of the

Swedish Armoured Troops The Swedish Armoured Troops (, P) is the Armoured warfare, armoured branch of the Swedish Army. Since 2005, the Armoured Troops include the South Scanian Regiment (P 7) in Revingehed, Skaraborg Regiment (armoured), Skaraborg Regiment (P 4) in Sk� ...

from 1956 to 1957 and was promoted to major general in 1957 and was appointed Chief of the Army Staff and the General Staff Corps. He stayed in that position until 1961. Åkerman was military commander of IV Military District from 1961 to 1967 (

Eastern Military District The Order of the Red Banner Eastern Military District ( Russian: Восточный военный округ) is a military district of Russia. It is one of the five military districts of the Russian Armed Forces, with its jurisdiction wi ...

(Milo Ö) 1966–67) and served at the same time as the Commandant General in Stockholm. In 1966 he was promoted to lieutenant general. Åkerman served as chief of the His Majesty's Military Staff from 1969 to 1973.

Other work

Åkerman was military contributor in the ''

Social-Demokraten ''Social-Demokraten'' () was a Swedish daily Social Democratic newspaper, belonging to the Swedish Social Democratic Party. The paper was founded in 1885 by Axel Danielsson and August Palm. Palm also edited the paper from 1885 to 1886. Another ...

'' newspaper from 1940 to 1942 and '' Borås Tidning'' from 1942 to 1945. He was chairman of the association Friends of the Army Museum (''Armémusei vänner'') from 1960 to 1976 and Swedish Military Sports Association (''Sveriges militära idrottsförbund'') from 1958 to 1967.

Personal life

In 1925, he married Clary Magnusson (1904–1973), the daughter of managing director Karl Magnusson and Gerda (née Hasselgren). He was the father of Gerd (born 1927) and Lars (born 1932).

Death

Åkerman died on 24 May 1988 and was buried on 20 October 1988 in

Norra begravningsplatsen Norra begravningsplatsen, literally "The Northern Burial Place" in Swedish, is a major cemetery of the Stockholm urban area, located in Solna Municipality. Inaugurated on 9 June 1827, it is the burial site for a number of Swedish notables. Th ...

in Stockholm.

Dates of rank

*1923 – Second lieutenant *19?? –

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

*1936 –

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

*1942 –

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

*1945 – Lieutenant colonel *1950 –

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

*1957 – Major general *1966 –

Lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Royal_Order_of_the_Sword_-_Commander_Grand_Cross_BAR

Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Sword The Royal Order of the Sword (officially: ''Royal Order of the Sword''; Swedish: ''Kungliga Svärdsorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Or ...

(6 June 1964) * Knight of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish language, Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden''), sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by Frederick I of Sweden, King Frederick I on 23 F ...

SWE_Order_of_Vasa_-_Knight_2nd_Class_BAR

Knight of the

Order of Vasa The Royal Order of Vasa () is a Swedish order of chivalry founded on 29 May 1772 by Gustav III, King Gustav III. It is awarded to Swedish citizens for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. His ...

Foreign

1st Class / Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic () is the most senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of Italy, President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-ranking honour of the Republi ...

(14 June 1966) * Commander with Star of the

Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav. Just be ...

(1 July 1961)

Honours

*Member of the

Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences The Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences () is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden and was founded on 12 November 1796 by Gustaf Wilhelm af Tibell. The academy is an independent organization and a forum for military (army and air force) and de ...

(1948)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akerman, Gustav 1901 births 1988 deaths Swedish Army lieutenant generals Military personnel from Stockholm Burials at Norra begravningsplatsen Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword Knights of the Order of the Polar Star Knights of the Order of Vasa