XXXX Reserve Corps
World War I German command
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The XXXX Reserve Corps (German: XXXX. Reserve-Korps / XXXX RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
German Empire| XXXX Reserve Corps XXXX. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | December 1914 - posts November 1918 |
| Country | German Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 26,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
Formation
XXXX 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] It was still in existence at the end of the war[4] in the 6th Army, Heeresgruppe Kronprinz Rupprecht on the Western Front.[5]
Structure on formation
On formation in December 1914, XXXX Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions.[6] 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[7]
- Reserve Cavalry Detachments were much smaller than the Reserve Cavalry Regiments formed on mobilisation[8]
- 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)[9]
In summary, XXXX 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXXX Reserve Corps | 79th Reserve Division[10] | 79th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 261st Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 262nd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 263rd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 79th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 63rd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||
| 64th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 79th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 79th Reserve Cyclist Company | |||
| 79th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
| 80th Reserve Division[11] | 80th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 264th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 265th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 266th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 80th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 65th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||
| 66th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 80th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 80th Reserve Cyclist Company | |||
| 80th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
Commanders
XXXX Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[12][13]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 24 December 1914 | General der Infanterie | Karl Litzmann |
| 6 August 1918 | Generalleutnant | Paul Grünert |
