VI Reserve Corps (German Empire)
The VI Reserve Corps (German: VI. Reserve-Korps / VI RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
| VI Reserve Corps VI. Reserve-Korps | |
|---|---|
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | 2 August 1914 - post November 1918 |
| Country | German Empire |
| Branch | Imperial German Army |
| Type | Corps |
| Size | Approximately 38,000 (on formation) |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | VI RK |
Formation
VI 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 Konrad von Goßler, brought out of retirement.[2] It was still in existence at the end of the war[3] in the 1st Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.[4]
Structure on formation
On formation in August 1914, VI 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, VI Reserve Corps mobilised with 23 infantry battalions, 8 machine gun companies (48 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies. 11th Reserve Division was slightly stronger than the norm as it included an active infantry brigade.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| VI Reserve Corps[10] | 11th Reserve Division | 23rd Infantry Brigade | 22nd Infantry Regiment |
| 156th Infantry Regiment | |||
| 21st Reserve Infantry Brigade | 10th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 11th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 4th Reserve Hussar Regiment | |||
| 11th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 4th Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 11th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | |||
| 6th Reserve Medical Company | |||
| 12th Reserve Division | 22nd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment[11] | |
| 38th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 6th Reserve Jäger Battalion | |||
| 23rd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 22nd Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 51st Reserve Infantry Regiment[12] | |||
| 4th Reserve Uhlan Regiment | |||
| 12th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 1st Reserve Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 2nd Reserve Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 20th Reserve Medical Company | |||
| Corps Troops | 6th Reserve Telephone Detachment | ||
| Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the III Reserve Corps |
Combat chronicle
On mobilisation, VI Reserve Corps was assigned to the 5th Army forming part of the centre of the forces for the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914.
Commanders
VI Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[13][14]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Konrad von Goßler[15] |
| 10 February 1917 | Generalleutnant | Kurt von dem Borne[16] |
| 18 April 1918 | General der Infanterie |
See also
References
- ^ 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. 316
- ^ Just two battalions
- ^ Just two battalions
- ^ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ Retired. "Konrad von Goßler". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ Promoted. "Kurt von dem Borne". The Prussian Machine. 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.
- 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.