XXIV Reserve Corps (German Empire)
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German Empire| XXIV Reserve Corps XXIV. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | October 1914 - post November 1918 |
| Country | German Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 32,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | XXIV RK |
The XXIV Reserve Corps (German: XXIV. Reserve-Korps / XXIV RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Structure on formation
XXIV 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 still in existence at the end of the war[3] in the 1st Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.[4]
On formation in October 1914, XXIV Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions.[5] 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)[6]
- Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation, though some were provided with a machine gun platoon[7]
- Reserve Cavalry Detachments were much smaller than the Reserve Cavalry Regiments formed on mobilisation[8]
- 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)[9]
In summary, XXIV 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXIV Reserve Corps | 47th Reserve Division[10] | 93rd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 217th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 218th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 94th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 219th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 220th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 19th Reserve Jäger Battalion[11] | |||
| 47th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 47th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 47th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
| 48th Reserve Division[12] | 95th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 221st Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 222nd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 96th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 223rd Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 224th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 20th Reserve Jäger Battalion[13] | |||
| 48th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 48th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 48th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
Commanders
XXIV Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[14][15]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Eberhard von Claer |
| 19 September 1914 | General der Infanterie | Friedrich von Gerok[16] |
| 19 February 1918 | Generalleutnant | Felix Langer |
