Brigadier General Ernst Albrecht leaves the special command of WEGA after 28 years. He remembers the Islamist raids and the anti-terrorist operation in the center of Vienna. A life between danger to life and fulfillment of duty.
On November 2, 2020, the WEGA special unit put an end to the terrorist situation in the center of Vienna in just nine minutes. Commander Ernst Albrecht was right in the middle of his men during the major operation. “Just 150 meters away from me, my son was taking care of a wounded comrade as a paramedic,” says the former suburban child of Simmeringen – as he proudly calls himself – looking back on the fateful day when the special commando was able to prove its qualities. effectiveness in a tragic night of terror.
Brigadier General Albrecht had an ambivalent relationship with WEGA. Before he joined the ranks of the elite police after his officer training in 1995, he distrusted this force: “As a former patrol officer, I didn’t like WEGA that much at first.” The image of wild “door-kickers and local dismantlers” was simply far removed from him.
In fact, after ten years on the operational front and 18 years as a commander, the now 58-year-old brigadier general managed to merge the crew into a reliable team.
“WEGA’s recipe for success lies in team spirit”
“We don’t need aggressive six-foot-tall rods or wannabe Rambos. The secret of WEGA’s modern-day success lies in team spirit.” To filter out reliable team players, a rigid admissions process is required. Out of 100 applicants, only 25 pass the physical and psychological bone tests. Whether it’s a raid against Islamists or right-wing radicals, perfect basic skills are the most important thing.
Curious question from a journalist: “Have your lives ever been in danger?” “I once had a guardian angel in the 15th precinct: a person being chased pointed a gun at me from a yard away, pulled the trigger, but forgot to reload. And in Simmering a gunman responded to my attempt to negotiate with a pump-action shotgun burst into the corner of the house behind which I was standing.
Euphoria and a new start in serving others
And your most moving moment? “It’s hard to say, considering the hundreds of missions. It was always euphoric when we came back from a tough job – and EVERYONE came home.”
By the way: Brigadier General Albrecht is not retiring, but is now training police officers for the Austrian-wide “Rapid Intervention Group” (SIG) of the Ministry of the Interior.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
