20th Army Corps (Russian Empire)
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| 20th Army Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1899–1917 |
| Disbanded | 1917 |
| Country |  Russian Empire |
| Branch | Imperial Russian Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Riga |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | See "Commanders" section |
The Twentieth Army Corps (Russian: 20-й армейский корпус) was a formation of the Imperial Russian Army that was first raised in 1899, and most famous for fighting on the Eastern Front in World War I, most notably during the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Before World War I, the 20th Corps was stationed in the Vilna Military District with its headquarters in Riga. At the outbreak of the war, the corps consisted of two infantry divisions and a number of independent battalions and brigades. Many Lithuanians served in this unit with the 28th Division having particularly many Lithuanians, especially in the 109th and 111th Infantry Regiments.[1] Some regiments in this Corps were 80% Latvian.[2] The corps was demobilized in April 1917.[3]
In 1899, the corps was formed from the 29th and 45th Infantry Divisions. It was under the command of Lieutenant general Richard Troyanovich Meves.
World War I
During the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, the 20th Army Corps was led by General Pavel Illyich Bulgakov. On February 7, in the middle of a snowstorm, Fritz von Below's German Eighth Army launched a surprise attack, advancing 70 miles (110 km) within one week. They inflicted severe casualties on the Imperial Russian Army, resulting in its disorderly withdrawal with many of its soldiers being imprisoned. The greatest loss came when the 20th Army Corps was surrounded by the German Tenth Army in the Augustów Forest. Although many fought their way out, the Corps' remnants surrendered on February 21. A large number of Latvian soldiers were killed, wounded or captured during this battle. This influenced the decision of the Imperial Russian Army to establish the Latvian Riflemen.[3][4]
Composition
Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, on 1 January 1913, the 20th Army Corps comprised the following units:[3]
| Division | Brigade | Regiment | Battalion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28th Infantry Division | 1st Brigade | 109th Infantry Regiment | |
| 2nd Brigade | 111th Infantry Regiment | ||
| 28th Artillery Brigade | |||
| 29th Infantry Division | 1st Brigade | 113th Infantry Regiment | |
| 2nd Brigade | 115th Infantry Regiment | ||
| 29th Artillery Brigade | |||
| — | 1st Separate Cavalry Brigade | 19th Dragoon Regiment | |
| — | 20th Howitzer Artillery Battalion 1st Heavy Artillery Battalion 20th Sapper Battalion 1st Pontoon Battalion 2nd Pontoon Battalion 2nd Cadre Supply-Train Battalion 1st Siege Engineer Park |
At different times during the war, the 20th Corps was part of several different field armies, including the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 10th.[3]
