IV Reserve Corps (German Empire)

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IV Reserve Corps
IV. Reserve-Korps
Stab eines Generalkommandos.svg
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
Active2 August 1914 - post November 1918
Country German Empire
TypeCorps
SizeApproximately 38,000 (on formation)
EngagementsWorld War I
Battle of the Frontiers
Insignia
AbbreviationIV RK

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

Formation[]

IV 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 Artillerie Hans von Gronau, who was recalled from retirement.[2] From 24 July 1916 to 19 December 1917, the Corps was known as Karpathenkorps (Carpathian Corps).[3] The Corps was still in existence at the end of the war[4] as part of the 2nd Army, Heeresgruppe Kronprinz Rupprecht on the Western Front.[5]

Structure on formation[]

On formation in August 1914, IV 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[6]
Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation[7]
Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons[8]
Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each[9]
Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains [10]

In summary, IV Reserve Corps mobilised with 25 infantry battalions, 4 machine gun companies (24 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies.

22nd Reserve Division was formed by units drawn from the XI Corps District.[11]

Corps Division Brigade Units
IV Reserve Corps[12] 7th Reserve Division 13th Reserve Infantry Brigade 27th Reserve Infantry Regiment
36th Reserve Infantry Regiment[13]
14th Reserve Infantry Brigade 66th Reserve Infantry Regiment[14]
72nd Reserve Infantry Regiment
4th Reserve Jäger Battalion
1st Reserve Schwere Reiter Regiment
7th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
4th Company, 4th Pioneer Battalion
7th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train
4th Reserve Medical Company
22nd Reserve Division 43rd Reserve Infantry Brigade 71st Reserve Infantry Regiment[15]
94th Reserve Infantry Regiment[16]
11th Reserve Jäger Battalion
44th Reserve Infantry Brigade 32nd Reserve Infantry Regiment[17]
82nd Reserve Infantry Regiment
1st Reserve Jäger zu Pferde Regiment
22nd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
1st Reserve Company, 4th Pioneer Battalion
2nd Reserve Company, 4th Pioneer Battalion
2nd Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train
11th Reserve Medical Company
Corps Troops 4th Reserve Telephone Detachment
Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the
III Reserve Corps

Combat chronicle[]

On mobilisation, IV Reserve Corps was assigned to the 1st Army, which was on the right wing of the forces that invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914.

Commanders[]

IV Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[18][19]

From Rank Name
2 August 1914 General der Artillerie Hans von Gronau
11 September 1915 Generalleutnant Arnold von Winckler
7 August 1916 Generalleutnant Richard von Conta[20]
18 August 1918 General der Infanterie

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Cron 2002, p. 86
  2. ^ The Prussian Machine Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine Accessed: 29 February 2012
  3. ^ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  4. ^ Cron 2002, pp. 88–89
  5. ^ Ellis & Cox 1993, pp. 186–187
  6. ^ Cron 2002, p. 111 About a third of Reserve Infantry Regiments formed in August 1914 lacked a machine gun company
  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 Most active cavalry regiments had four squadrons, some were raised to six squadrons
  9. ^ Cron 2002, p. 134 Active Divisions had a Field Artillery Brigade of two regiments
  10. ^ 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
  11. ^ War Office 1918, p. 48
  12. ^ Cron 2002, p. 308
  13. ^ Without a machine gun company
  14. ^ Without a machine gun company
  15. ^ Without a machine gun company
  16. ^ Just two battalions
  17. ^ Without a machine gun company
  18. ^ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  19. ^ "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  20. ^ Promoted "Richard von Conta". 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.
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