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.

VI Reserve Corps
VI. Reserve-Korps
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
Active2 August 1914 - post November 1918
Country German Empire
Branch Imperial German Army
TypeCorps
SizeApproximately 38,000 (on formation)
EngagementsWorld War I
Battle of the Frontiers
Insignia
AbbreviationVI RK

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.

Corps Division Brigade Units
VI Reserve Corps[10] 11th Reserve Division 23rd Infantry Brigade 22nd Infantry Regiment
156th Infantry Regiment
21st Reserve Infantry Brigade 10th Reserve Infantry Regiment
11th Reserve Infantry Regiment
4th Reserve Hussar Regiment
11th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
4th Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion
11th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train
6th Reserve Medical Company
12th Reserve Division 22nd Reserve Infantry Brigade 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment[11]
38th Reserve Infantry Regiment
6th Reserve Jäger Battalion
23rd Reserve Infantry Brigade 22nd Reserve Infantry Regiment
51st Reserve Infantry Regiment[12]
4th Reserve Uhlan Regiment
12th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
1st Reserve Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion
2nd Reserve Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion
20th Reserve Medical Company
Corps Troops 6th Reserve Telephone Detachment
Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the
III Reserve Corps

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]

FromRankName
2 August 1914General der InfanterieKonrad von Goßler[15]
10 February 1917GeneralleutnantKurt von dem Borne[16]
18 April 1918General der Infanterie

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
  • 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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