XXV Reserve Corps (German Empire)
| XXV Reserve Corps XXV. 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 |
The XXV Reserve Corps (German: XXV. Reserve-Korps / XXV RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Formation
XXV 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 3rd Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.[4]
Structure on formation
On formation in October 1914, XXV 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, 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 Freiherr 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 |
See also
References
- ↑ Cron 2002, p. 87
- ↑ Cron 2002, p. 97
- ↑ Cron 2002, pp. 88–89
- ↑ Ellis & Cox 1993, pp. 186–187
- ↑ AEF GHQ 1920, pp. 486,494
- ↑ Busche 1998, pp. 106–108
- ↑ Cron 2002, p. 116 Active Jäger Battlions had a machine gun company with the exceptions of the 1st and 2nd Bavarian Jäger Battalions
- ↑ Cron 2002, p. 128 Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of three squadrons
- ↑ Cron 2002, p. 136
- ↑ AEF GHQ 1920, p. 485
- ↑ Busche 1998, p. 133 With a machine gun platoon
- ↑ AEF GHQ 1920, p. 493
- ↑ Busche 1998, p. 133 With a machine gun platoon
- ↑ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ↑ "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
Bibliography
- Cron, Hermann (2002). Imperial German Army 1914-18: Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle [first published: 1937]. Helion & Co. ISBN 1-874622-70-1.
- Ellis, John; Cox, Michael (1993). The World War I Databook. Aurum Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85410-766-6.
- Busche, Hartwig (1998). Formationsgeschichte der Deutschen Infanterie im Ersten Weltkrieg (1914 bis 1918) (in German). Institut für Preußische Historiographie.
- Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War (1914-1918), compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces, at General Headquarters, Chaumont, France 1919. The London Stamp Exchange Ltd (1989). 1920. ISBN 0-948130-87-3.
- The German Forces in the Field; 7th Revision, 11th November 1918; Compiled by the General Staff, War Office. Imperial War Museum, London and The Battery Press, Inc (1995). 1918. ISBN 1-870423-95-X.