VIII Reserve Corps (German Empire)
| VIII Reserve Corps VIII. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | 2 August 1914 - post November 1918 |
| Country |  German Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 38,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | VIII RK |
The VIII Reserve Corps (German: VIII. Reserve-Korps / VIII RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Formation[edit]
VIII Reserve Corps was formed on the outbreak of the war in August 1914[1] as part of the mobilisation of the Army. It was initially commanded by General der Infanterie Wilhelm Freiherr von Egloffstein.[2] It was still in existence at the end of the war[3] in the 7th Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.[4]
Structure on formation[edit]
On formation in August 1914, VIII Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions, made up of reserve units. In general, Reserve Corps and Reserve Divisions were weaker than their active counterparts
- Reserve Infantry Regiments did not always have three battalions nor necessarily contain a machine gun company[5]
- Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation[6]
- Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons[7]
- Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each[8]
- Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains [9]
In summary, VIII Reserve Corps mobilised with 21 infantry battalions, 4 machine gun companies (24 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIII Reserve Corps[10] | 15th Reserve Division | 30th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 25th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 69th Reserve Infantry Regiment[11] | |||
| 32nd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 17th Reserve Infantry Regiment[12] | ||
| 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment[13] | |||
| 5th Reserve Uhlan Regiment | |||
| 15th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 4th Company, 8th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 15th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | |||
| 8th Reserve Medical Company | |||
| 16th Reserve Division | 29th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 65th Reserve Infantry Regiment[14] | |||
| 31st Reserve Infantry Brigade | 28th Reserve Infantry Regiment[15] | ||
| 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 2nd Reserve Schwere Reiter Regiment | |||
| 16th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 1st Reserve Company, 8th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 2nd Reserve Company, 8th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 12th Reserve Medical Company | |||
| Corps Troops | 8th Reserve Telephone Detachment | ||
| Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the III Reserve Corps |
Combat chronicle[edit]
On mobilisation, VIII Reserve Corps was assigned to the 4th Army forming part of the centre of the forces for the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914.
Commanders[edit]
VIII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[16][17]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Wilhelm Freiherr von Egloffstein |
| 2 January 1915 | Generalleutnant | Paul Fleck |
| 7 September 1916 | Generalleutnant | Georg Wichura[18] |
| 22 March 1917 | General der Infanterie |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 86
- ^ The Prussian Machine Accessed: 3 March 2012
- ^ Cron 2002, pp. 88–89
- ^ Ellis & Cox 1993, pp. 186–187
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 111 About a third of Reserve Infantry Regiments formed in August 1914 lacked a machine gun company
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 116 Active Jäger Battalions had a machine gun company with the exceptions of the 1st and 2nd Bavarian Jäger Battalions
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 128 Most active cavalry regiments had four squadrons, some were raised to six squadrons
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 134 Active Divisions had a Field Artillery Brigade of two regiments
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 86 Active Corps Troops included a battalion of heavy howitzers (Foot Artillery), an Aviation Detachment, a Telephone Detachment, a Corps Pontoon Train, a searchlight section, 2 munition column sections, one Foot Artillery munitions column section and two Train sections
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 313
- ^ Just two battalions, no machine gun company
- ^ Just two battalions, no machine gun company
- ^ Just two battalions
- ^ Without a machine gun company
- ^ Without a machine gun company
- ^ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ Promoted. "Georg Wichura". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
Bibliography[edit]
- 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.
- 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.