Viktor Albrecht
(03.03.1859 - 28.11.1930)
place of birth:  Danzig
Königreich Preußen:  KG,  Generalleutnant


Generalleutnant Viktor Albrecht served during the Great War as an Imperial German corps-level commander. Albrecht volunteered for military service in 1879 when he joined a Berlin Guards regiment as a 20-year-old. Although he graduated from the Kriegsakademie (Prussian War College) in 1891, he never did a follow-on tour with the Great General Staff. He instead worked his way up to regimental command (1909-1911) and was then asked to resign from the Army in order to head up Germany's Naval Infantry Inspectorate in Kiel. Albrecht returned to the Army after almost two years in Kiel and was selected to command 3. Garde-Infanterie-Brigade in Berlin.

As War broke out in 1914, Generalmajor Albrecht was tasked with commanding 1. Garde-Reserve-Division under Gallwitz's elite Garde-Reserve-Korps. Following the initial War of the Frontiers, his division was sent to besiege the fortress at Namur, Belgium but soon thereafter was transferred East to fight under Hindenburg's 8. Armee, engaged at Masurian Lakes. Albrecht and his division returned to Bapaume-Cambrai region on the Western Front in October 1915, where they fought alongside troops from Crown Prince Rupprecht's 6. Armee. Following a promotion to Generalleutnant, the summer of 1916 saw Albrecht's division engaged at Thiepval and Courcelette during the Somme Offensive. After two and a half years in command of 1. Garde-Reserve-Division, Albrecht was reassigned in January 1917 to head up XVIII. Armee-Korps which was defending the Hindenburg Line (Siegfried-Stellung.)

XVIII. Armee-Korps was subordinate to Otto von Below's 17. Armee when Germany launched their March 1918 Spring Offensive, also referred to as the Kaiserschlacht. For his distinguished service and leadership during this campaign Generalleutnant Albrecht was decorated with the highest Royal Prussian order of bravery, the
Pour le Mérite. After a brief period of temporary inactive duty in September 1918, General Albrecht was recalled to head up the newly-formed XX. Armee-Korps in Poltava on the Eastern Front. When the Armistice was signed in November 1918, Albrecht lead his corps back home for demobilization. He retired from active duty in September 1919 and on 28 October 1919 was awarded the brevet rank of General der Infanterie.

 
 
Generalleutnant 18.04.1916

Pour le Mérite 09.04.1918
 
 
 

  
 
Curriculum Vitae
   
01.10.1879 Einjährig-Freiwilliger
01.10.1879 ,,Kaiser Alexander” Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 1 - Berlin
09.05.1880 Offizier-Aspirant
09.05.1880 2. Nassauisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 88 - Mainz
12.03.1881 Sekonde-Lieutenant
01.10.1885 2. Nassauisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 88 - Mainz  (Bn Adjutant)
01.10.1888 Preußische Kriegsakademie - Berlin  (Student at Royal Prussian War College)
22.03.1887 Premier-Lieutenant  (Patent ante-dated from 14.12.1889)
14.12.1889 Premier-Lieutenant  (original promotion)
16.01.1890 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 128 - Danzig  (transferred while at War College)
17.06.1891 Hauptmann  (Patent ante-dated from 17.06.1893)
21.07.1891 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 128 - Danzig  (return from War College)
17.06.1893 Hauptmann  (original promotion)
17.06.1893 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 128 - Danzig  (Coy Cdr)
22.03.1897 Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Erinnerungs-Medaille (Zentenarmedaille)
22.03.1897 Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 176 - Thorn/Danzig  (Coy Cdr in Danzig)
18.01.1899 Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden - 4. Klasse
27.01.1900 Major
27.01.1900 Grenadier-Regiment ,,König Friedrich Wilhelm I.” (2. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3 - Königsberg i. Pr.  (aggregiert = Regimental asset)
01.04.1901 Grenadier-Regiment ,,König Friedrich Wilhelm I.” (2. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3 - Königsberg i. Pr.  (Bn Cdr)
15.11.1904 Jäger-Bataillon ,,Graf Yorck von Wartenburg” (Ostpreußisches) Nr. 1 - Ortelsburg  (Cdr)
27.02.1906 Königlich Preußisches Erinnerungszeichen zur Silbernen Hochzeit 1906
10.04.1906 Oberstleutnant
19.01.1908 Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden - 3. Klasse
20.04.1909 Oberst
07.07.1909 5. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß - Spandau  (Cdr)
16.07.1910 Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden - 3. Klasse mit der Schleife
19.12.1911 re-assigned to German Navy
19.12.1911 Inspektion der Marine-Infanterie - Kiel  (assigned to Naval Infantry Inspectorate, Inspector General)
01.10.1912 Generalmajor
15.06.1913 25-jährigen Regierungs-Jubiläum Wilhelm II.
01.07.1913 re-assigned to German Army
01.07.1913 3. Garde-Infanterie-Brigade - Berlin  (Cdr)
30.12.1913 Orden der Königlich Italienischen Krone - Großoffizierkreuz
18.01.1914 Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden - 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub
   
Great War
   
02.08.1914 1. Garde-Reserve-Division  (Cdr)
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 2. Klasse
00.00.1914 das Königlich Preußische Eiserne Kreuz 1914 - 1. Klasse
07.03.1915 Schwertern zum Königlich Preußischen Roten Adler-Orden - 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub
27.01.1916 Generalleutnant  =  Exzellenz
15.10.1916 Stern zum Königlich Preußischen Roten Adler-Orden - 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
24.01.1917 XVIII. Armee-Korps  (Cdr, replaced Schenck)
09.04.1918 Orden Pour le Mérite
27.08.1918 Offizier von der Armee  (Officer of the Army)
02.10.1918 XX. Armee-Korps  (Cdr, formed from Armee-Abteilung "D") 
11.11.1918 Waffenstillstand von Compiègne  (Armistice)
   
   
 

06.05.1914
 

 

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