I Reserve Corps (German Empire)
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German Empire| I Reserve Corps I. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | 2 August 1914 - post November 1918 |
| Country | German Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 38,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | I RK |
The I Reserve Corps (German: I. Reserve-Korps / I RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Structure on formation
I Reserve Corps was formed on the outbreak of the war in August 1914[1] as part of the mobilisation of the Army. It was initially commanded by Generalleutnant Otto von Below.[2] It was still in existence at the end of the war[3] in the 3rd Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.[4]
On formation in August 1914, I Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions, made up of reserve units. In general, Reserve Corps and Reserve Divisions were weaker than their active counterparts
- Reserve Infantry Regiments did not always have three battalions nor necessarily contain a machine gun company[5]
- Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation[6]
- Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons[7]
- Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each[8]
- Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains [9]
In summary, I Reserve Corps mobilised with 26 infantry battalions, 11 machine gun companies (66 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 2 pioneer companies. 1st Reserve Division was particularly strong in machine gun formations as the 1st, 3rd and 18th Reserve Infantry Regiments all had two machine gun companies. 36th Reserve Division was formed by units drawn from the XVII Corps District.[10] It included one active Infantry Regiment (54th).
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Reserve Corps[11] | 1st Reserve Division | 1st Reserve Infantry Brigade | 1st Reserve Infantry Regiment[12] |
| 3rd Reserve Infantry Regiment[13] | |||
| 42nd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 18th Reserve Infantry Regiment[14] | ||
| 59th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 1st Reserve Jäger Battalion | |||
| 1st Reserve Uhlan Regiment | |||
| 1st Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 4th Company, 2nd Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 1st Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | |||
| 1st Reserve Medical Company | |||
| 36th Reserve Division | 69th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 21st Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 61st Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 2nd Reserve Jäger Battalion | |||
| 70th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 54th Infantry Regiment | ||
| 5th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 1st Reserve Hussar Regiment | |||
| 36th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 1st Reserve Company, 2nd Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 36th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | |||
| 15th Reserve Medical Company | |||
| Corps Troops | 1st Reserve Telephone Detachment | ||
| Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the III Reserve Corps |
Combat chronicle
On mobilisation, I Reserve Corps was assigned to the 8th Army on the Eastern Front, intended to defend East Prussia while the rest of the German Army executed the Schlieffen Plan offensive against France.
Commanders
I Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[15][16]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 August 1914 | Generalleutnant | Otto von Below[17] |
| 30 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | |
| 28 November 1914 | Generalleutnant | Kurt von Morgen[18] |
| 24 August 1918 | Generalleutnant | Richard Wellmann[19] |
