8th Cavalry Division (German Empire)

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8th Cavalry Division
(8. Kavallerie-Division)
Stab einer Division.svg
Flag of the Staff of a Division (1871–1918)
Active2 August 1914 – 9 April 1918
Disbanded9 April 1918
Country German Empire
BranchArmy
TypeCavalry
SizeApproximately 5,000 (on mobilisation)
EngagementsWorld War I
First Battle of the Masurian Lakes

The 8th Cavalry Division (8. Kavallerie-Division) was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was dissolved in April 1918. The majority of the division was drawn from the Kingdom of Saxony.

Combat chronicle[]

It was initially assigned to III Cavalry Corps, which preceded the 6th Army on the Western Front. On 30 August 1914, it was transferred to the Eastern Front, where it arrived too late for the Battle of Tannenberg but in time for the Battle of the Masurian Lakes.[1] It was dismounted in 1917 and dissolved on 9 April 1918.[2]

A more detailed combat chronicle can be found at the German-language version of this article.

Order of Battle on mobilisation[]

On formation, in August 1914, the component units of the division were:[3]

See: Table of Organisation and Equipment

Changes in organization[]

  • 23rd Cavalry Brigade joined 1st Cavalry Division on 1 February 1917.
  • 38th Cavalry Brigade joined Guard Cavalry Division on 20 April 1918.
  • 40th Cavalry Brigade dissolved on 10 April 1918.
  • 39th Cavalry Brigade joined from 4th Cavalry Division on 1 February 1917. Rejoined 4th Cavalry Division on 6 April 1918.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Sweetman 2002, p. 177
  2. ^ Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 126
  3. ^ Cron 2002, p. 300

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.
  • Sweetman, John (2002). Tannenberg 1914. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35635-2.
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