I Cavalry Corps (German Empire)
Imperial German Army military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The I Cavalry Corps (German: Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando 1 / HKK 1, lit. 'Higher Cavalry Command 1') was a formation of the Imperial German Army in World War I. It was formed on the mobilization of the German army in August 1914 and disbanded in March 1918.
| I Cavalry Corps German: Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando 1 Higher Cavalry Command 1 | |
|---|---|
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | 2 August 1914 – 3 March 1918 |
| Disbanded | 1919 |
| Country |  German Empire |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Cavalry |
| Size | Approximately 13,000 (on mobilisation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | HKK 1 |
I Cavalry Corps
The Corps initially served on the Western Front with the Guards and 5th Cavalry Divisions and preceded the 3rd Army.[1] By 15 September 1914, it had been assigned to 2nd Army and comprised the Guards and 2nd Cavalry Divisions.[2] It was transferred to the east on 6 November 1914[3] and attached to the 9th Army. By 8 February 1915, it consisted of the 6th and 9th Cavalry Divisions.[4]
At various times, the Corps was variously named after its commander as Cavalry Corps Richthofen, Corps Richthofen, and Army Group[5] Richthofen.
It remained with the 9th Army until 20 November 1916, when it was redesignated as 56th Corps (z.b.V.).[6][7]
56th Corps
56th Corps (z.b.V.)[8] was formed on 20 November 1916 by the redesignation of I Cavalry Corps.[9] As the need for large mounted cavalry formations diminished as the war went on, the existing Cavalry Corps increasingly took on the characteristics of a normal Corps Command. This culminated in them being redesignated as "General Commands for Special Use" Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung (Genkdo z.b.V.). 56th Corps was disbanded on 5 March 1918.[10]
Order of battle on mobilisation
Initially, the Corps simply consisted of two Cavalry Divisions (with three Jäger battalions attached) without any Corps troops; in supply and administration matters, the Cavalry Divisions were entirely autonomous. The commander was only concerned with tactics and strategy, hence his title of Senior Cavalry Commander (Höherer Kavallerie-Kommandeur).[11]
On formation in August 1914, the Corps consisted of:[12]
- Guards Cavalry Division
- 5th Cavalry Division
- Kurhessisches Jäger-Batl.Nr.11
- Kgl. Sächs. 1. Jäger-Batl.Nr.12
- Kgl. Sächs. 2. Jäger-Batl.Nr.13
Each cavalry division consisted of 3 cavalry brigades (6 regiments each of 4 squadrons), a horse artillery Abteilung (three 4-gun batteries), a machine gun detachment (company size, 6 machine guns), plus pioneers, signals and a motor vehicle column. The Jäger battalions each consisted of four light infantry companies, one machine gun company (6 machine guns), one cyclist company and a motorised vehicle column.[13]
Commanders
I Cavalry Corps / 56th Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[14][15][16]
| Commander | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| General der Kavallerie Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen | 2 August 1914 | 23 September 1916 |
| General der Kavallerie Götz Freiherr von König | 23 September 1916 | 5 March 1918 |
