V Reserve Corps (German Empire)

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

V Reserve Corps
V. Reserve-Korps
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
AbbreviationV RK

Formation

V 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 Erich von Gündell, brought out of retirement.[2] It was still in existence at the end of the war[3] in the 5th Army, Heeresgruppe Gallwitz on the Western Front.[4]

Structure on formation

On formation in August 1914, V 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, V Reserve Corps mobilised with 22 infantry battalions, 7 machine gun companies (42 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies. 10th Reserve Division was slightly stronger than the norm as it included an active infantry brigade.

Corps Division Brigade Units
V Reserve Corps[10] 9th Reserve Division 17th Reserve Infantry Brigade 6th Reserve Infantry Regiment
7th Reserve Infantry Regiment
19th Reserve Infantry Brigade 19th Reserve Infantry Regiment
5th Reserve Jäger Battalion
3rd Reserve Dragoon Regiment
9th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
4th Company, 5th Pioneer Battalion
9th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train
19th Reserve Medical Company
10th Reserve Division 77th Infantry Brigade 37th Füsilier Regiment
155th Infantry Regiment
50th Reserve Infantry Brigade 37th Reserve Infantry Regiment
46th Reserve Infantry Regiment
6th Reserve Uhlan Regiment
10th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
1st Reserve Company, 5th Pioneer Battalion
2nd Reserve Company, 5th Pioneer Battalion
10th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train
5th Reserve Medical Company
Corps Troops 5th Reserve Telephone Detachment
Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the
III Reserve Corps

Combat chronicle

On mobilisation, V 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

V Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[11][12]

FromRankName
2 August 1914GeneralleutnantErich von Gündell[13]
2 September 1914General der Infanterie
3 September 1916GeneralleutnantOtto von Garnier
27 August 1917GeneralleutnantViktor Kühne[14]
21 November 1917General der InfanterieFranz Freiherr von Soden[15]

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 Battlions 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. "German War History". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  12. "Armee-Reserve-Korps". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  13. On transfer to active reserve status (retirement) on 4 September 1913, he was given an honorary promotion General der Infanterie (Charakter). "Erich von Gündell". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  14. Replaced Soden as commander of XI Corps. "Viktor Kühne". The Prussian Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  15. Replaced by Kühne as commander of XI Corps. "Franz Freiherr von Soden". 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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