1st Cavalry Division (German Empire)


The 1st Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.

Combat chronicle

Initially, it was the sole cavalry division on the Eastern Front, where it was assigned to the 8th Army. It remained in the East throughout the war. From 6 January 1915 to 22 August 1917, the division was involved in coastal defence duties in northern Courland. It was transferred to the Ukraine in March 1918, where it remained until 29 January 1919. From 16 January 1918, it contained just one brigade of 3 regiments.

Battle Calendar

The Division was formed as Part of the Mobilization at the Beginning of the First World War and was used exclusively on the Eastern Front. Here it remained as a German Police Force after the Peace of Brest-Litovsk. It was first used in Livonia and Estonia and then came to Ukraine, where it remained until 16 March 1919.
1914
– 17 August – Battle of Stallupönen
19 to 20 August – Battle of Gumbinnen
23–31 August – Battle of Tannenberg
5–15 September – Battle of the Masurian Lakes
25 to 30 September – Battle of the Njemen
1 October to 5 November – position Fights at Grajewo-Wizajny
6–8 November – Battle of Göritten
13–16 November – Battle of the Romintener Heath
From 15 November – jockeying for position for The Field position at Lötzen and at the Angerapp
1915
– Until 7 February – jockeying for position for the Field Position Lötzen-Angerapp.
8–22 February – Winter Battle in Masuren
23 February to 6 March – Battles at the Bobr
7–16 March – Battles in the Border position Sereje-Simno-Luzhwinov and Mariampol 9–12 March – Battles at Sejny
25–30 March – Battles at Krasnopol and Krasne
31 March to 20 July – Position Battles between Augustov, Mariampol and Pilwiszki
21 July to 7 August – battles at the Jesia and at Wejwery
8–18 August – Siege of Kowno
19 August to 8 September – Njemen battle
9 September– Szyrwinty
9 to 24 September – Battle of Vilnius
24 September to 19 October – Battles at the Mjadsjolka and Dryswjata
From 6 November – Coastal Protection in Northern Courland
1916
– Coastal Protection Northern Courland
1917
– Until 22 August – Coastal Protection North Kurland
23 January to 3 February – Winter Battle on the Aa
1–5 September – Battle of Riga
6 September to 28 October – Position Battles north of the Düna
From 29 October – Crew service at Budget Inspection 10
1918
– Until 10 March – Crew service at Budget Inspection 10
11 March to 2 May – Occupation of Livonia and Estonia as a German Police force
3 May to 21 June – Fighting in Ukraine
22 June to 15 November – Occupation of Ukraine
From 16 November – Eviction of Ukraine
1919
– Until 16 March – Evacuation of the Ukraine

Order of Battle on mobilisation

On formation, in August 1914, the component units of the division were:
See: Table of Organisation and Equipment

Late World War I organization

In the course of the War, the Division saw a number of changes to its assigned Brigades.
Allied Intelligence did not rate the Division's fighting value. Its late war organisation was: