XXXVIII Reserve Corps (German Empire)
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German Empire| XXXVIII Reserve Corps XXXVIII. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | December 1914 - post November 1918 |
| Country | German Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 26,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
The XXXVIII Reserve Corps (German: XXXVIII. Reserve-Korps / XXXVIII RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Structure on formation
XXXVIII Reserve Corps was formed in December 1914.[1] It was part of the second wave of new Corps formed in the early stages of World War I consisting of XXXVIII - XXXXI[2] Reserve Corps of 75th - 82nd Reserve Divisions (plus 8th Bavarian Reserve Division). The personnel was predominantly made up of kriegsfreiwillige (wartime volunteers) who did not wait to be called up.[3] From 28 March 1915 to 31 December 1917 it was known as Beskidenkorps (Beskids Corps).[4] The Corps was still in existence at the end of the war[5] in the 3rd Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.[6]
On formation in December 1914, XXXVIII Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions.[7] but was weaker than an Active Corps
- the divisions were organised as triangular rather than square divisions with three infantry regiments rather than four, but had a brigade of two field artillery regiments
- Reserve Infantry Regiments consisted of three battalions but lacked a machine gun company[8]
- Reserve Cavalry Detachments were much smaller than the Reserve Cavalry Regiments formed on mobilisation[9]
- Reserve Field Artillery Regiments consisted of two abteilungen (1 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)[10]
In summary, XXXVIII Reserve Corps mobilised with 18 infantry battalions, 2 cavalry detachments, 24 field artillery batteries (96 guns), 2 cyclist companies and 2 pioneer companies.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division[11] | 75th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 249th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 250th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 75th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 55th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||
| 57th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 75th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 75th Reserve Cyclist Company | |||
| 75th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
| 76th Reserve Division[12] | 76th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 252nd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 253rd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 254th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 76th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 56th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||
| 58th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 76th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 76th Reserve Cyclist Company | |||
| 76th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
Commanders
XXXVIII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[13][14]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 24 December 1914 | General der Kavallerie | Georg von der Marwitz |
| 21 July 1915 | Generalleutnant | Max Hoffmann |
| 23 September 1916 | General der Kavallerie | Manfred von Richthofen |
| 3 August 1918 | Generalleutnant | Arthur Freiherr von Lüttwitz |
