Axel Rappe

Axel Rappe
Ministers for War
In office 22 June 1892 – 27 October 1899
Prime Minister	Erik Gustaf Boström
Preceded by	Hjalmar Palmstierna
Succeeded by	Jesper Crusebjörn
Personal details
Born	Axel Emil Rappe (1838-10-02)October 2, 1838 Arby, Kalmar Municipality, Sweden
Died	December 18, 1918(1918-12-18) (aged 80) Stockholm, Sweden
Resting place	Norra begravningsplatsen
Occupation	Military officer
Military service
Branch/service	Swedish Army
Years of service	1859–1903
Rank	General
Commands	General Staff
Battles/wars	Franco-Prussian War

Axel Emil Rappe (2 October 1838 – 18 December 1918) was a Swedish free lord and military officer.

Biography

Rappe was born in Christinelund manor in Kalmar County. He served at Uppland Regiment and studied at Uppsala University. Rappe travelled to France in 1869 to study the French Army, and decided to join that army in May 1870, and he served as general staff officer in the Franco-Prussian War during which he was wounded and received the Legion of Honour. He then served in Algeria before returning to Sweden in late 1872. He was quickly promoted and was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 1882. He served as such until 1892 when he was appointed Minister for War. In 1899 he resumed his duty as Chief of the General Staff and served as such until 1905. Rappe was promoted to general in 1903.

He has been called the spiritual father of Boden Fortress.

Personal life

Rappe married on 2 May 1875 to Anna Sandahl, the daughter of professor Oskar Theodor Sandahl. He was the father of opera singer Signe Rappe-Welden (1879-1974), Axel Rappe (1884-1945) who also became free lord and military officer, and five more children. Rappe died in 1918 and was buried in Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm.

External links

• Article at Svenskt biografiskt lexikon