First DR26 officer killed in WW1

9

911car

Well-known member
I already mentioned this on the forum a long time ago but I thought I should present it again, with the hundredth anniversary of this event coming in just a few weeks. DR26 Reserve Leutnant Albrecht was an engineer in peacetime. On August 21st, 1914, the platoon he was leading encountered a detachment of French cuirassiers in Rixinger Wald (nowadays, forêt de Réchicourt in Lorraine, eastern France). Albrecht attempted to force his way through the enemy. Three dragoons were wounded, including Leutnant Albrecht himself who was later found unconscious with severe head injuries. He was taken to St Johann hospital in Basel, where he died the day after without recovering consciousness. He is buried in Stuttgart. I found these details in "Das Wuerttemberg Dragoner Regiment Koenig im Weltkrieg 1914-1918" (Stuttgart 1921).
Below are his helmet and Ueberzug, his broken sword and one of his spurs which was mounted on a marble cup.
I recovered these from his family in Stuttgart after his last direct relative passed away.
Bruno



 
I remember when you first posted this, and it is still just as amazing to have such a great grouping.
 
Bruno,

An amazing piece of history! I am glad you are the keeper of such an important and absolutely awesome artifact!

As always, thank you for sharing it with us!

John
 
:o :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

FABELHAFT is the first word that comes to my mind right now, congratulations! and I ‘m glad this piece of history is in the hands of a serious collector like yourself.
 
Many thanks for your comments gentlemen. Much appreciated. Below is the helmet. It is a bit battered - the price to be paid to history - but complete. Inside is written "Lt Albrecht". The writing with a blue pencil is almost completely faded; I had to doctor the picture to make it legible. I have also added the report of the fatal fight (1921).
Bruno



 
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