XXV Reserve Corps (German Empire)
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| XXV Reserve Corps XXV. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | October 1914 - post November 1918 |
| Country |  German Empire |
| Branch |  Imperial German Army |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 32,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | XXV RK |
The XXV Reserve Corps (German: XXV. Reserve-Korps / XXV RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Structure on formation
XXV Reserve Corps was formed in October 1914.[1] It was part of the first wave of new reserve units formed at the outset of World War I; consisting of XXII to XXVII Reserve Corps and 43rd to 54th Reserve Divisions (plus the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division). The personnel was predominantly made up of Kriegsfreiwillige (wartime volunteers) who enlisted instead of being conscripted.[2] It was still in existence at the end of the war[3] in the 3rd Army, part of the Army Group German Crown Prince on the Western Front.[4]
On formation in October 1914, XXV Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions,[5] thus weaker than a regular Army 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 like the regular or older reserve regiments).[9]
In summary, XXV Reserve Corps mobilised with 26 infantry battalions, 10 machine gun platoons (20 machine guns), 2 cavalry detachments, 18 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 2 pioneer companies.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXV Reserve Corps | 49th Reserve Division[10] | 97th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 225th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 226th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 98th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 227th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 228th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 21st Reserve Jäger Battalion[11] | |||
| 49th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 49th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 49th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
| 50th Reserve Division[12] | 99th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 229th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 230th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 100th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 231st Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 232nd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 22nd Reserve Jäger Battalion[13] | |||
| 50th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 50th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 50th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
Commanders
XXV Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[14][15]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Reinhard von Scheffer-Boyadel |
| 3 September 1916 | Generalleutnant | Karl Suren |
| 18 November 1916 | Generalleutnant | Manfred von Richthofen |
| 8 March 1917 | Generalleutnant | Konstanz von Heineccius |
| 23 November 1917 | General der Infanterie | Horst Edler von der Planitz |
| 20 December 1917 | Generalleutnant | Wilhelm Groener |
| 25 February 1918 | General der Infanterie | Arnold von Winckler |
