PEEBLES PROFILES
EPISODE 213
Albert von Berrer
MILITARY RISE
Albert von Berrer was born on September 8, 1857 in Unterkochen, located in the Kingdom of Württemberg. Nearly a week after his 17th birthday, Berrer entered military service as a volunteer with the First Württemberg “Queen Olga” Grenadier Regiment Number 119 based in Stuttgart. Over the next few years, he rose through the ranks… first as an officer cadet in April 1875, then a second lieutenant in February 1876.
By the end of 1878, Berrer was an adjutant with the district command in the town of Calw. But within two years, he was back in Stuttgart with the First Württemberg “Queen Olga” Grenadier Regiment Number 119. In mid-August 1881, Berrer was named a battalion adjutant with the unit.
After another promotion to first lieutenant in mid-June 1866, Berrer joined the Seventh Württemberg “Kaiser Friedrich, King of Prussia” Infantry Regiment Number 125 in Stuttgart. He would remain with this unit over the course of five years. During that period, Berrer had a three-year stint in Berlin’s Prussian War Academy.
As the spring of 1891 got underway, Berrer became a captain. He soon joined the general staff of the Fourth Infantry Division based in Bromberg. Nearly six years later (March 22, 1897), Berrer was promoted to major and entered the Württemberg War Ministry in Stuttgart.
Then in 1899, Berrer got his first leadership role. He was made a battalion commander in the Third Württemberg “Alt-Württemberg” Infantry Regiment Number 121 in Ludwigsburg. Two years later (in April 1901), Berrer joined the general staff of Gottlieb Graf von Haeseler’s XVI Corps in Metz. By 1903, Berrer was in Berlin as part of the Great General Staff. In mid-May of that year, he was named section chief… and in mid-September, Berrer was made a lieutenant colonel.
On the 45th birthday of Kaiser Wilhelm II (January 27, 1904), Berrer was named chief of staff in Adolf von Deines’ VIII Corps based in Koblenz. The rank of full colonel was given to Berrer in late May 1906. Then in mid-April 1907, he was named commander of the Tenth Württemberg Infantry Regiment Number 180 based in Tübingen.
Three years would pass, and Berrer was given command of the 52nd Infantry Brigade (2nd Royal Württemberg) based in Ludwigsburg with the rank of major general. By March 1913, he was head of the 31st Infantry Division in Saarbrücken… and with another promotion to lieutenant general.
WAR AND DEATH
Albert von Berrer was still in command of the 31st Infantry Division when the Great War broke out in the summer of 1914. His division was subordinate to General Fritz von Below’s XXI Corps, which was under Crown Prince Rupprecht’s German Sixth Army. Two years later (August 1916) Berrer was with the 200th Infantry Division.
However, his time in that unit lasted only three weeks. On August 27, 1916, Berrer was put in command of 51st Corps, also known as Generalkommando zur besonderen Verwendung Nummer 51 (General Command for Special Use Number 51). During the Kerensky Offensive, Berrer’s men were charged with the defense of the area east of Zloczow. At the urging of German Eleventh Army commander Arnold von Winckler, Berrer was awarded the Pour le Mérite on August 27, 1917 for distinguished service and leadership.
In September 1917, the 51st Corps was renamed Army Group von Berrer. One month later, Berrer’s men were sent to the Italian Front. On October 24th, his unit was one of four in Below’s German Fourteenth Army that achieved a decisive breakthrough in the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo (better known as Caporetto). During the advance, hundreds of Italian prisoners fell into the hands of Army Group von Berrer. By October 27th, the corps had pushed deep into the faltering Italian lines.
Unfortunately for General Albert von Berrer, his staff car proceeded too far ahead of his frontline troops! On October 28, 1917, Berrer entered the town of San Gottardo, which seemed to be deserted. Soon, his car found itself being blocked by Italian soldiers. Shocked, the driver stopped… after which the Italian soldiers fired.
Albert von Berrer was killed by a shot to the head. He was sixty years old.