XXIII Reserve Corps (German Empire)
| XXIII Reserve Corps XXIII. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | October 1914 - 12 August 1918 |
| Country |  German Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 32,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
The XXIII Reserve Corps (German: XXIII. Reserve-Korps / XXIII RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Formation[edit]
XXIII 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 dissolved on 12 August 1918.[3]
Structure on formation[edit]
On formation in October 1914, XXIII Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions.[4] 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)[5]
- Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation, though some were provided with a machine gun platoon[6]
- Reserve Cavalry Detachments were much smaller than the Reserve Cavalry Regiments formed on mobilisation[7]
- 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)[8]
In summary, XXIII Reserve Corps mobilised with 26 infantry battalions, 8 machine gun platoons (16 machine guns), 2 cavalry detachments, 18 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 2 pioneer companies.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXIII Reserve Corps | 45th Reserve Division[9] | 89th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 209th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 210th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 90th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 211th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 212th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 17th Reserve Jäger Battalion[10] | |||
| 45th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 45th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 45th Reserve Pioneer Company | |||
| 46th Reserve Division[11] | 91st Reserve Infantry Brigade | 213th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 214th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 92nd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 215th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 216th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 18th Reserve Jäger Battalion[12] | |||
| 46th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 46th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||
| 46th Reserve Pioneer Company |
Commanders[edit]
XXIII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[13][14]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1914 | General der Kavallerie | Georg von Kleist |
| 19 December 1914 | General der Infanterie | Hugo von Kathen |
| 31 July 1918 | Generalleutnant | Arthur von Gabain |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 87
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 97
- ^ Cron 2002, pp. 88–89
- ^ AEF GHQ 1920, pp. 465, 470
- ^ Busche 1998, pp. 102–104
- ^ 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 Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of three squadrons
- ^ Cron 2002, p. 136
- ^ AEF GHQ 1920, p. 464
- ^ Busche 1998, p. 132 Without a machine gun platoon
- ^ AEF GHQ 1920, p. 469
- ^ Busche 1998, p. 132 Without a machine gun platoon
- ^ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. 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.
- 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.