XXIII Reserve Corps (German Empire)
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German Empire| XXIII Reserve Corps XXIII. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | October 1914 - 12 August 1918 |
| Country | German Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 32,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
The XXIII Reserve Corps (German: XXIII. Reserve-Korps / XXIII RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Structure on formation
XXIII Reserve Corps was formed in October 1914.[1] It was part of the first wave of new Corps formed at the outset of World War I consisting of XXII - XXVII Reserve Corps of 43rd - 54th Reserve Divisions (plus 6th Bavarian Reserve Division). The personnel was predominantly made up of kriegsfreiwillige (wartime volunteers) who did not wait to be called up.[2] It was dissolved on 12 August 1918.[3]
On formation in October 1914, XXIII Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions.[4] but was weaker than an Active Corps
- Reserve Infantry Regiments consisted of three battalions but only had a machine gun platoon (of 2 machine guns) rather than a machine gun company (of 6 machine guns)[5]
- Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation, though some were provided with a machine gun platoon[6]
- Reserve Cavalry Detachments were much smaller than the Reserve Cavalry Regiments formed on mobilisation[7]
- Reserve Field Artillery Regiments consisted of three abteilungen (2 gun and 1 howitzer) of three batteries each, but each battery had just 4 guns (rather than 6 of the Active and the Reserve Regiments formed on mobilisation)[8]
In summary, XXIII Reserve Corps mobilised with 26 infantry battalions, 8 machine gun platoons (16 machine guns), 2 cavalry detachments, 18 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 2 pioneer companies.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXIII Reserve Corps | 45th Reserve Division[9] | 89th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 209th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 210th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 90th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 211th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 212th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 17th Reserve Jäger Battalion[10] | |||
| 45th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 45th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 45th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
| 46th Reserve Division[11] | 91st Reserve Infantry Brigade | 213th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 214th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 92nd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 215th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 216th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 18th Reserve Jäger Battalion[12] | |||
| 46th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 46th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 46th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
Commanders
XXIII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[13][14]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1914 | General der Kavallerie | Georg von Kleist |
| 19 December 1914 | General der Infanterie | Hugo von Kathen |
| 31 July 1918 | Generalleutnant | Arthur von Gabain |
