Ernst af Klercker


Lieutenant General Achates Ernst Wilhelm af Klercker was a senior Swedish Army officer. His senior commands include postings as chief of the Military Office of the Land Defence and Acting Chief of the Army Staff. He commanded the 1st Army Division and the I Military District during World War II.

Early life

af Klercker was born on 28 December 1881 in Kristianstads Heliga Trefaldighet Parish, Kristianstad County, Sweden, as the youngest of seven brothers, of Major Fredrik af Klercker and Baroness Lotten Bennet.

Career

af Klercker was commissioned as an officer in 1902 and assigned to the 2nd Life Grenadier Regiment as underlöjtnant. He passed the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1909 to 1911, and was appointed, after officer candidate service, Captain of the General Staff in 1916. af Klercker was a teacher of tactics at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1917 to 1918, and he was promoted to Major in 1923.
af Klercker was again serving as a teacher of tactics at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1923 to 1926, and as Chief of Staff at the Inspector of the Military Academy from 1923 to 1926. As head of the General Staff's International Department from 1926 to 1930, he studied certain military conditions abroad. af Klercker was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1928 and served as head of the Military Academy Karlberg from 1930 to 1933 and was promoted to Colonel in 1932.
af Klercker was regimental commander of Hälsinge Regiment from 1933 to 1934 and chief of the Military Office of the Land Defence from 1934 to 1936 as well as Acting Chief of the Army Staff from 1936 to 1937 when he was promoted to Major General. He was then commanding officer of the 1st Army Division from 1937 to 1942 and of the I Military District from 1942 to 1947. af Klercker was promoted to Lieutenant General in the reserve of the General Staff on 1 March 1947 and left active service on 1 April 1947.

Personal life

On 12 October 1907 in Hakarp, Jönköping he married Anna Ingegerd Maria Tham, the daughter of Gustaf Wilhelm Sebastian Tham and Julia Elisabet Louise Reuterskiöld.

Dates of rank

af Klercker's dates of rank:

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Foreign

Honours