His parents were the Hannoversche Major Georg Poten (1799–1882) and Juliane Dorothea Kannengießer (1804–1841).

His uncle Friedrich Poten (1779–1845), Hanoverian lieutenant colonel, was made hereditary baron in 1827 by Grand Duke Ludwig I of Baden.

They had a son Heinrich Georg Wilhelm Alexander von Poten (1863–1920) also a Prussian major general and commander of the Cuirassiers in Brandenburg.

Berhard von Poten served from 1847 to 1866[citation needed] in the Hanover Military services.

Between 1871 and 1874, he was on the staff of the regiment and 1874–1884 adjutant at the General Inspectorate of the military education and training system.