Erik Wickberg

From Sawiki

General Erik Wickberg

Erik Wickberg was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 6th 1904. His parents were David and Betty Wickberg, and like the children of many Salvation Army Officers his early years were spent travelling around the world. By the age of eighteen his parents postings had taken him to Great Britain, Germany, his native Sweden and then in 1922 to Switzerland, where his father had been appointed Training Principal. In his teen years Erik Wickberg was at best an unenthusiastic Salvationists and often absented himself from meetings. He was also a talented chess player, once beating the national Swiss champion.

Erik secured work in Switzerland as a clerk at Salvation Army Headquarters, supplementing his meagre income by working as a translator and teaching in Swedish. Despite his somewhat patronising attitude he did make some friends, notably the children of Territorial Commander, Commissioner de Groot Chris and Frieda. Despite his close contacts with The Army, he had still not given himself to the Lord. Discovering eventually the joys and wonders of the Bible, Erik shut himself in a bathroom at the Training College and surrendered all to God. One Sunday in June 1924 Erik Wickberg was sworn in as Soldier no. 129 at Berne II Corps by Captain Otto Brekke. The following year he was accepted for Officer Training in London and as a newly commissioned Captain he was posted to Berlin as Educational Secretary at the Training College where his father had once been Principal.

In Berlin he married Frieda de Groot, who he had first met in Switzerland, and one year later, in 1930 Frieda entered a Salvation Army hospital for the birth of their first child. When the baby was eight days old the mother contracted puerperal fever leaving the grief stricken Captain a widower with a young son, later to be named Sven.

In 1932 the then Ensign Wickberg married Captain Margarete Dietrich who had entered Officer Training from Hamburg and had served in Corps appointments throughout Pomerania and East Prussia. They had met when Erik Wickberg visited Divisional Headquarters in Hanover to where Margarete had been appointed.

In January 1933, Hitler became German Chancellor and by 1934 all Salvation Army social institutions were closed. Other Army activities were severely curtailed. The Nazi flag was obliged by law to be flown along side the Army Flag on the Berlin Headquarters. Erik Wickberg was not sorry therefore to receive a new appointment to the Overseas Departments where he served until 1939.

Just before the outbreak of WWII, The Army’s leaders decided that efforts should be made to maintain The Salvation Army in Germany. Erik Wickberg held a Swedish passport, Sweden a was neutral country in the conflict, and was posted to his homeland as I.H.Q. Liaison Officer. The family sailed to Sweden via Norway on the S.S. Vega from Newcastle, said to be the last ship to leave England before war broke out. Maintaining a neutral stance, Erik Wickberg frequently visited Germany, often spending the nights in German air raid bunkers. As the end of the war drew near he was appointed to organise post-war relief, a mammoth task in a now war torn Germany. During this period Wickberg was promoted to Brigadier in 1942, after only 17 years of service.

In 1946 Erik Wickberg was appointed Divisional Commander at Uppsala, Sweden where he served until 1948 when he was appointed Chief Secretary to Switzerland in Berne. Some five years later he returned to his native Sweden as Chief Secretary of Stockholm Headquarters. In 1957 the now Lieutenant Commissioner Wickberg was appointed Territorial Commander for Germany. 1961 saw him return to Britain when Commissioner Wickberg was appointed Chief of the Staff by General Wilfred Kitching. A position he held for the next eight years.

The seventh High Council met a Sunbury Court on July 23rd 1969 to elect the ninth General of The Salvation Army. There were only two nominations, Commissioners Wickberg and Westergard. Unusually only one ballot was needed. Commissioner Wickberg received more than the requested two thirds majority on the first vote. General Erik Wickberg took command of The Salvation Army on September 21st 1969.

During his Generalship Salvation Army work was begun in Bangladesh, Spain, Portugal, Venezuela and the first Officers were appointed to Fiji. He was honoured with awards from not only his native Sweden, but also Korea and The Federal Republic of Germany. General Wickberg retired from active service on July 5th 1974.

Mrs General Wickberg was promoted to Glory in 1976. The following year General Wickberg was married for the third time to Swedish officer, Major Eivor Lindberg.

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