XXIV Reserve Corps (German Empire)

The XXIV Reserve Corps (German: XXIV. Reserve-Korps / XXIV RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.

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

Formation edit

XXIV 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 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 edit

On formation in October 1914, XXIV Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions.[5] 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)[6]
  • Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation, though some were provided with a machine gun platoon[7]
  • Reserve Cavalry Detachments were much smaller than the Reserve Cavalry Regiments formed on mobilisation[8]
  • 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)[9]

In summary, XXIV 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
XXIV Reserve Corps 47th Reserve Division[10] 93rd Reserve Infantry Brigade 217th Reserve Infantry Regiment
218th Reserve Infantry Regiment
94th Reserve Infantry Brigade 219th Reserve Infantry Regiment
220th Reserve Infantry Regiment
19th Reserve Jäger Battalion[11]
47th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
47th Reserve Cavalry Detachment
47th Reserve Pioneer Company
48th Reserve Division[12] 95th Reserve Infantry Brigade 221st Reserve Infantry Regiment
222nd Reserve Infantry Regiment
96th Reserve Infantry Brigade 223rd Reserve Infantry Regiment
224th Reserve Infantry Regiment
20th Reserve Jäger Battalion[13]
48th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
48th Reserve Cavalry Detachment
48th Reserve Pioneer Company

Combat chronicle edit

Commanders edit

XXIV Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[14][15]

From Rank Name
25 August 1914 General der Infanterie Eberhard von Claer
19 September 1914 General der Infanterie Friedrich von Gerok[16]
19 February 1918 Generalleutnant Felix Langer

See also edit

References edit

  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. 475, 480
  6. ^ Busche 1998, pp. 104–106
  7. ^ Cron 2002, p. 116 Active 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. 474
  11. ^ Busche 1998, p. 132 Without a machine gun platoon
  12. ^ AEF GHQ 1920, p. 479
  13. ^ Busche 1998, p. 133 Without a machine gun platoon
  14. ^ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  16. ^ Promoted to General der Infanterie on the same date. "Friedrich von Gerok". The Prussian Machine. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. 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.