64th Corps (German Empire)

The 64th Corps (Württemberg) (German: Generalkommando zbV 64 (Württemberg)) was a corps formation of the German Army in World War I. It was formed in January 1917 and was still in existence at the end of the war.[1]

64th Corps (Württemberg)
(Generalkommando zbV 64 (Württemberg))
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
ActiveJanuary 1917-1919
Disbanded1919
Country German Empire
BranchArmy
EngagementsWorld War I
Insignia
AbbreviationGenkdo zbV 64

Chronicle

The 64th[2] Corps (z.b.V.)[3] was formed in January 1917.[4]

With the onset of trench warfare, the German Army recognised that it was no longer possible to maintain the traditional Corps unit, that is, one made up of two divisions. Whereas at some times (and in some places) a Corps of two divisions was sufficient, at other times 5 or 6 divisions were necessary. Therefore, under the Hindenburg regime (from summer 1916), new Corps headquarters were created without organic divisions.[5] These new Corps were designated General Commands for Special Use (German: Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung).

By the end of the war, the Corps was serving on the Western Front as part of Armee-Abteilung B, Heeresgruppe Herzog Albrecht von Württemberg with the following composition:[6]

The units assigned were lower quality Landwehr and Cavalry Schützen Divisions indicative of the relatively quiet sector that the Armee-Abteilung was operating in, on the extreme southern end of the Western Front, to the north of Basel.

Commanders

The 64th Corps was commanded throughout its existence by General der Kavallerie Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach.[7][8] Wilhelm was the head of the morganatic Urach branch of the House of Württemberg. The corps was a part of the Army Group D commanded by Duke Wilhelm's cousin, Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg.

Glossary
  • Armee-Abteilung or Army Detachment in the sense of "something detached from an Army". It is not under the command of an Army so is in itself a small Army.[9]
  • Armee-Gruppe or Army Group in the sense of a group within an Army and under its command, generally formed as a temporary measure for a specific task.
  • Heeresgruppe or Army Group in the sense of a number of armies under a single commander.

See also

References
  1. Cron 2002, p. 89
  2. Note that Corps (z.b.V.) were designated with Arabic, not Roman, numerals.
  3. General Commands for Special Use Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung (Genkdo z.b.V.)
  4. Cron 2002, p. 89
  5. Cron 2002, p. 87
  6. Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 187
  7. "The Prussian Machine, GenKdo". Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. "German War History". Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  9. Cron 2002, p. 84

Bibliography
  • Cron, Hermann (2002). Imperial German Army 1914-18: Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle [first published: 1937]. Helion & Co. ISBN 1-874622-70-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ellis, John; Cox, Michael (1993). The World War I Databook. Aurum Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85410-766-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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