Axel Rappe (born 1838)

Axel Rappe (2 October 1838 – 18 December 1918) was a Swedish freiherr and military officer. Rappe was born in Kristinelund, Kalmar County. He served at Upplands regemente 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 Légion d'honneur. He then served in Algeria before returning to Sweden in late 1872. He was quickly promoted and was appointed Chief of the Swedish General Staff in 1882. He served as such until 1892 when he was appointed Minister of 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. He is the father of Axel Rappe (born in 1884) who also became freiherr and military officer.