XXV Reserve Corps
XXV. Reserve-Korps
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
ActiveOctober 1914 - post November 1918
Country German Empire
Branch Imperial German Army
TypeCorps
SizeApproximately 32,000 (on formation)
EngagementsWorld War I
Insignia
AbbreviationXXV RK

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 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]

Structure on formation

On formation in October 1914, XXV Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions,[5] thus weaker than a regular Army Corps:

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Cron 2002, p. 87
  2. ^ Cron 2002, p. 97
  3. ^ Cron 2002, pp. 88–89
  4. ^ Ellis & Cox 1993, pp. 186–187
  5. ^ AEF GHQ 1920, pp. 486, 494
  6. ^ Busche 1998, pp. 106–108
  7. ^ Cron 2002, p. 116 Regular Jäger battalions had a machine gun company with the exceptions of the 1st and 2nd Bavarian Jäger Battalions.
  8. ^ Cron 2002, p. 128 Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of three squadrons.
  9. ^ Cron 2002, p. 136
  10. ^ AEF GHQ 1920, p. 485
  11. ^ Busche 1998, p. 133 With a machine gun platoon
  12. ^ AEF GHQ 1920, p. 493
  13. ^ Busche 1998, p. 133 With a machine gun platoon
  14. ^ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.

Bibliography

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