Swedes on the Western Front, with Joacim Hallberg

In this conversation, I talk with Joacim Hallberg about his extensive research on Swedish soldiers who fought in World War I, particularly those who are buried along the Western Front. He shares insights into the criteria for his research, some of the immigration patterns of Swedish soldiers, and the emotional connections he forms with the descendants, or family members, of these soldiers. Joacim emphasizes the importance of individual stories and the impact of remembrance, while also reflecting on his own identity and the significance of his work in connecting families to their past.

Takeaways:

*Joacim Hallberg has compiled information on 565 Swedish soldiers from WWI.

*His research includes soldiers buried in the US and UK, as well as those in Belgium and France.

*The criteria for inclusion in his research focus on Swedish-born soldiers who fought in the Great War.

*Joacim's work parallels immigration patterns of Swedes to North America during the war.

*He emphasizes the importance of individual soldier stories and their connections to families.

*Joacim connects with descendants of soldiers, helping them learn about their relatives' histories.

*He uses church records and other archives to trace soldiers' backgrounds and military service.

*Visiting graves and battlefields is a deeply emotional experience for Joacim.

*He views his work as a pilgrimage, connecting families to their past.

*Joacim aims to highlight the legacy of Swedish soldiers in WWI and ensure they are not forgotten.

Major Joacim Hallberg is an Army officer in the Swedish Armed Forces and has served in several international missions, including deployments in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Mali.

In recent years, he has developed a profound interest in the First World War, with a particular focus on Swedish emigrants who enlisted and served as soldiers in their adopted countries' armed forces.

In his research, Hallberg seeks to connect individual life stories with the specific terrains in which these soldiers served. Through extensive archival work and field studies, he has established contacts with the descendants and relatives of the soldiers, both in Sweden and abroad. This has enabled the creation of meaningful links between the families and the soldiers’ final resting places.