The X Reserve Corps (German: X. Reserve-Korps / X RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
| X Reserve Corps X. 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 | X RK |
Formation
X 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 Günther Graf von Kirchbach, formerly President of the Military Tribunal.[2] It was still in existence at the end of the war[3] in the 4th Army, Heeresgruppe Kronprinz Rupprecht on the Western Front.[4]
Structure on formation
On formation in August 1914, X 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, X Reserve Corps mobilised with 25 infantry battalions, 9 machine gun companies (54 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies.
Despite its name, 2nd Guards Reserve Division was not formed by units drawn predominantly from the Guards Corps[10] but from II Corps District[11] (divisional cavalry), VII Corps District[12] (26th Reserve Infantry Brigade) and X Corps District[13] (38th Reserve Infantry Brigade, field artillery regiment and pioneers).
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| X Reserve Corps[14] | 2nd Guards Reserve Division | 26th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 15th Reserve Infantry Regiment[15] |
| 55th Reserve Infantry Regiment[16] | |||
| 38th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 77th Reserve Infantry Regiment[17] | ||
| 91st Reserve Infantry Regiment[18] | |||
| 10th Reserve Jäger Battalion[19] | |||
| 2nd Reserve Uhlan Regiment | |||
| 20th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 4th Company, 10th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 2nd Guards Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | |||
| 2nd Guards Reserve Medical Company | |||
| 19th Reserve Division | 37th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 73rd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |
| 78th Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| 39th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 74th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
| 92nd Reserve Infantry Regiment | |||
| III Battalion, 79th Reserve Infantry Regiment[20] | |||
| 6th Reserve Dragoon Regiment | |||
| 19th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 1st Reserve Company, 10th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 2nd Reserve Company, 10th Pioneer Battalion | |||
| 19th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | |||
| 10th Reserve Medical Company | |||
| Corps Troops | 10th Reserve Telephone Detachment | ||
| Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the III Reserve Corps |
Combat chronicle
On mobilisation, X Reserve Corps was assigned to the 2nd Army as part of the right wing of the forces that invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914.
Commanders
X Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[21][22]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Günther Graf von Kirchbach |
| 30 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Johannes von Eben[23] |
| 11 June 1915 | Generalleutnant | Robert Kosch[24] |
| 18 August 1916 | General der Infanterie | |
| 28 August 1916 | Generalleutnant | Georg Fuchs |
| 15 October 1916 | General der Infanterie | Magnus von Eberhardt |
| 6 August 1918 | Generalleutnant | Arthur von Gabain |
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.
- 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.