Erik Wickberg, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetErik Wickberg
General of The Salvation Army
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Gävle, Gävleborg County, Sweden
About Erik Wickberg
- Erik Wickberg (July 6, 1904 – April 26, 1996) was the 9th General of The Salvation Army (1969-1974). Born in Gävle, Sweden to officers David and Betty Wickberg, he was constantly moving around the world to follow his parents' appointments.
- As a teenager, he once beat the national Swiss chess champion.
- He soon began working as a clerk at the Salvation Army Headquarters in Switzerland while also working as a translator and Swedish teacher.
- Erik became a soldier of the Salvation Army in 1924 at Berne II Corps, being sworn in by Captain Otto Brekke. In 1925, Erik became an Officer from Bern 2 Corps, Switzerland.
- His first appointment was corps officer in Hamilton, Scotland.
- He then took on the role of Training (Education) Officer in Germany, and Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary and Territorial Commander.
- He went on to become Private Secretary to International Secretary and Assistant to Under Secretary for Europe at International Headquarters (IHQ).
- Soon, he moved to Sweden as IHQ Liaison Officer.
- During World War II, he was appointed to Germany, where he was often obliged to sleep in air raid bunkers.
- When the war was over, he was assigned the task of post-war relief in war-torn Germany.
- His next positions were, divisional commander of Uppsala, Sweden, Switzerland Chief Secretary, Sweden Chief Secretary, Territorial Commander of Germany, and Chief of the Staff (IHQ), before becoming the General.
- He was recognized with awards from Sweden, Korea, and The Federal Republic of Germany.
- Salvation Army work began in Bangladesh, Spain, Portugal, and Venezuela while he was General.
- He retired from active service on July 5, 1974 and died on April 26, 1996. General Wickberg was honoured by many nations for his service to God and humanity.
- He was made Commander, Order of Vasa (1970); admitted to the Order of Moo Koong Wha (Korea, 1970); received an honorary Doctor of Laws (Korea, 1970); awarded the Grand Cross of Merit, Federal Republic of Germany (1971); and awarded the King’s Golden Medal (Grand Cross), Sweden (1980).
- He authored two books: Inkallad (God’s Conscript) (autobiography, Sweden, 1978) and Uppdraget (The Charge - My Way to Preaching, 1990).
Read more at Wikipedia