Jockum Akerman

Joachim was the son of businessman and member of the Swedish parliament, who embarked on a military career. He joined the 1st Life Grenadier Regiment as a second lieutenant in 1889 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1895. Beginning in 1898, he served on the general staff, where he became captain in 1902. In the meantime officer in the Norrbotten Regiment, he rose to the rank of a major in the general staff in 1908. Around this time, he worked as a teacher at the Military Academy (1904–00). Åkerman was appointed lieutenant colonel in the Southern Scanian Infantry Regiment in 1911 and a colonel and commander of the Västmanland Regiment in 1915.

He became a member of the Swedish government as Minister of State and Head of the Department of National Defence in March 1917 but already resigned with the whole government in October. Åkerman returned to active service as commander of the 10th Infantry Brigade in 1918 and was transferred to the reserve as major general one year later. In 1928, he was promoted to lieutenant general.

Joachim Åkerman additionally held a great number of positions in politics, defence, sports, and business. He was a member of the parliament from 1914-17, a city councillor and deputy mayor of Stockholm in the 1920s and 1930s, member of the Royal Academy of Military Sciences. In sports, Åkerman was chairman of various military sports organisations and of Swedish branch of the International Shooting Union. He also held board positions of life insurances and banks and other honorary positions. As a cavalry officer, he was a judge in the show jumping events at the 1912 Olympic Games.

Åkerman married Martina Elisabeth Sofia Albina Björnstjerna in 1897. The couple had three sons. He was made a Commander of the Order of Vasa, of the Order of the Sword and of the Order of the Polar Star in Sweden, of the Polish Order of Polonia Restituta, the Spanish Order of Military Merit and Grand Officer of the French Legion of Honour. Åkerman also received highest honours in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria, and Turkey.