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VI Reserve Corps (German Empire)

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

Formation

VI 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 Konrad von Goßler, brought out of retirement.[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

On formation in August 1914, VI 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, VI Reserve Corps mobilised with 23 infantry battalions, 8 machine gun companies (48 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies. 11th Reserve Division was slightly stronger than the norm as it included an active infantry brigade.

Combat chronicle

On mobilisation, VI Reserve Corps was assigned to the 5th Army forming part of the centre of the forces for the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914.

Commanders

VI Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Cron 2002, p. 86
  2. ^ The Prussian Machine Accessed: 3 March 2012
  3. ^ Cron 2002, pp. 88–89
  4. ^ Ellis & Cox 1993, pp. 186–187
  5. ^ Cron 2002, p. 111 About a third of Reserve Infantry Regiments formed in August 1914 lacked a machine gun company
  6. ^ Cron 2002, p. 116 Active Jäger Battalions had a machine gun company with the exceptions of the 1st and 2nd Bavarian Jäger Battalions
  7. ^ Cron 2002, p. 128 Most active cavalry regiments had four squadrons, some were raised to six squadrons
  8. ^ Cron 2002, p. 134 Active Divisions had a Field Artillery Brigade of two regiments
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ Cron 2002, p. 316
  11. ^ Just two battalions
  12. ^ Just two battalions
  13. ^ "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  15. ^ Retired. "Konrad von Goßler". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  16. ^ Promoted. "Kurt von dem Borne". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.

Bibliography