OberleutnantHans Berr (20 May 1890–6 April 1917) was a German professional soldier and World War Iflying ace. At the start of the First World War, he served in aJäger battalion until severely wounded; he then transferred to aviation duty. Once trained as a pilot, he helped pioneer the world's first dedicated fighter airplane, theFokker Eindecker "flying gun". Flying one, Berr shot down two enemy airplanes in March 1916 as his contribution to theFokker Scourge. Berr was then chosen to command one of the world's original fighter squadrons,Jagdstaffel 5. Leading his pilots by example, Berr scored eight more victories in a four week span in October - November 1916 while his pilots began to compile their own victories. Hans Berr was awarded Germany's highest military honor, thePour le Merite, on 4 December 1916. During a 6 April 1917dogfight, Berr and hiswingman mortally collided.

Hans Berr
Hans Berr, wearing thePour le Merite awarded him on 4 December 1916. He died in action four months later.
Born	20 May 1890 Magdeburg,German Empire
Died	6 April 1917(Age 26) Vicinity of Noyelles, France
Buried	Neuer Friedhof,Potsdam
Allegiance	German Empire
Service/ branch	Infantry; aviation
Years of service	1908 - 1917
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	4th Magdeburg Reserve Regiment Light Infantry; Royal Prussian Magdeburg Jägerbattalion No.4 Kampfeinsitzerkommando Avillers (Combat Single-Seater Command Avilliers)
Commands	Jagdstaffel 5
Awards	Pour le Merite; Royal House Order of Hohenzollern; Iron Cross First Class Military Merit Order; ReussWar Merit Cross; BrunswickWar Merit Cross; Hanseatic Cross[1]

Hans Berr was born inMagdeburg,Prussian Saxony on 20 May 1890. His father was a civil servant in theReichspost.^[2] Berr attended theWilhelm-Gymnasium in Hamburg, which he graduated in the Summer of 1906 with "Obersekundareife".^[3] This leaving certificate would not have qualified him to attend university, but opened the door to serving in the army for only one year instead of the mandatory three ("Einjährig-Freiwilliger"), qualifying for officer school afterwards.

He joined the army as an infantry lieutenant in 1908. When the war broke out, he was serving withMagdeburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 4 (Magdeburg Scout Battalion No. 4). A month into his war, on 26 September 1914, Berr was seriously wounded.^[4] On 27 January 1915, he was promoted toOberleutnant.^[1]

In March 1915, he transferred to aviation duty and began aerial service as anaerial observer. He subsequently took pilot training. Upon completion of pilot training, Berr was assigned to anad hoc unit ofFokker Eindecker fighters at Avillers, France.Kampfeinsitzerkommando Avillers (Combat Single-Seater Command Avilliers, commonly KEK Avillers) was one of a number of similarly-namedEindecker tactical groupings of two to four planes. TheEindeckers were the first true fighter planes; with their synchronizer gear slaved to their machine guns, they could fire through their own propeller arc without damaging the blades and shooting themselves down. Berr used one of these "flying guns" to shoot down aNieuport on 8 March 1916 over theBattle of Verdun and aCaudron eight days later.^[1][5]

As theimpact of the revolutionary flying weapon wore off, and Germany's opponents developed their own fighters,Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Air Service) was reorganized intoDeutscheLuftstreitkräfte (German Air Force). Several actualJagdstaffeln (fighter squadrons) were organized. KEK Avillers was expanded into ajagdstaffel (fighter squadron), and Berr was given command of this newly founded squadron,Jagdstaffel 5, on 31 August 1916.^[1][6]<^[7]

By 8 October, when theLuftstreitkräfte reorganization became official, Berr had been using his combat experience to teach tactics to his squadron. As the Autumn foul weather cleared enough for flight, both Berr and the new squadron began a run of victories that would result in its being dubbed theKanonestaffelIn ("squadron of aces").^[1][6]

Berr led by example. In the four weeks from 7 October to 3 November 1916, Berr shot down seven enemy airplanes and anobservation balloon.^{[note 1]} On 7 October 1916, he shot down two enemy aircraft overCombles, France. On an evening patrol on 20 October, his victim was a BritishRoyal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b. Added to his twoEindecker victories, his third triumph while flying with his squadron made Hans Berr anace.^[1][6]

On 22 October, a FrenchMorane Parasol fell under his guns. On 26 October, Berr shot down another British FE.2b at 1800 hours, followed up by a highly hazardous successful assault on an observation balloon ten minutes later. On 1 November, his victim was another Caudron. His last victory, his tenth, came on 3 November over a BritishBE.2C.^[1][6]

Now the awards caught up to the valor, as his pending nominations for awards began to be approved and the medals awarded. On 10 November 1916, he added theRoyal House Order of Hohenzollern to hisIron Cross and other earlier medals. Germany's most prestigious military award followed; Berr was awarded theBlue Max on 4 December 1916. Berr was the last of the early German fliers to receive the Blue Max for eight victories.^{[note 2][1][6]}

Hans Berr would continue to leadJagdstaffel 5, though with no further victories.^[1]

On Good Friday, 6 April 1917, Berr and his wingman Paul Hoppe collided and were killed while engaged in adogfight^[4] withNo. 57 Squadron RFC.^[1]

Hans Berr is buried in the Neuer Friedhof inPotsdam, Germany.^{[citation needed]}

Hans Berr's leadership establishedJagdstaffel 5 as one of the German military's premier units. At least eight aces besides Berr served in its ranks, includingHermann Goering andWerner Voss.^{[note 3]} By theArmistice,Jagdstaffel 5 had the third highest aerial victory score of any German fighter squadron, having amassed over 250 aerial victories.^[8]

• Franks, Norman L. R.; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell (1993).Above the lines : the aces and fighter units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. London: Grub Street.ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.OCLC 30027887.
• Kilduff, Peter (1997).The Red Baron Combat Wing : Jagdgeschwader Richthofen in battle. London: Arms and Armour.ISBN 9781854092663.OCLC 38423201.
• Merrill, G. K. (2004).Jagdstaffel 5. Berkhamsted: Albatros Productions.ISBN 978-1902207674.OCLC 244314191.
• VanWyngarden, Greg (2006).Early German aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.ISBN 978-1-84176-997-4.OCLC 70672469.