The III Reserve Corps (German: III. Reserve-Korps / III RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
| III Reserve Corps III. 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 | III RK |
Formation
III 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 Hans von Beseler, recalled from retirement.[2] It was still in existence at the end of the war.[3]
Structure on formation
On formation in August 1914, III 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[4]
- Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation[5]
- Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons[6]
- Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each[7]
- Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains [8]
In summary, III Reserve Corps mobilised with 25 infantry battalions, 7 machine gun companies (42 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| III Reserve Corps[9] | 5th Reserve Division | 9th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 8th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 48th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 10th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 12th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 52nd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 3rd Reserve Jäger Battalion | |||
| 2nd Reserve Dragoon Regiment | |||
| 5th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 4th Company, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 5th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | |||
| 3rd Reserve Medical Company | |||
| 6th Reserve Division | 11th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 20th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 24th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 12th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 26th Reserve Infantry Regiment[10] | ||
| 35th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 3rd Reserve Uhlan Regiment | |||
| 6th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 1st Reserve Company, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 2nd Reserve Company, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 6th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | |||
| 16th Reserve Medical Company | |||
| Corps Troops | 3rd Reserve Telephone Detachment | ||
| 5th & 6th Reserve Munition Column Sections[11] | |||
| 5th & 6th Reserve Train Sections[12] | |||
| 2 Reserve Bakery Columns |
Combat chronicle
On mobilisation, III Reserve Corps was assigned to the 1st Army on the right wing of the forces that invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914. It was detached from 1st Army to take part in the Siege of Antwerp thereby missing the 1st Army's early battles (Mons, Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne, Arras). With the conclusion of the siege on 10 October 1914, it was assigned to 4th Army and took part in the First Battle of Ypres.
Commanders
III Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[13][14]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Hans von Beseler |
| 26 August 1915 | General der Infanterie | Adolph von Carlowitz |
| 8 August 1917 | Generalleutnant | Alfred von Böckmann |
| 5 September 1917 | Generalleutnant | Anatol Graf von Bredow |
See also
References
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.