German cavalry in World War I


The history of the German Cavalry in World War I is one of an arm in decline.

Pre-war

The peacetime Imperial German Army was organised as 25 Corps each of two divisions. Each division included a cavalry brigade numbered as their parent division with the following exceptions:
This gave a total of 55 brigades and 110 regiments.
BrigadePeacetime CorpsPeacetime DivisionRegimentRegiment
1st Guards CavalryGuards CorpsGuards Cavalry DivisionGarde du CorpsGuards Cuirassiers
2nd Guards CavalryGuards CorpsGuards Cavalry Division1st Guards Uhlans3rd Guards Uhlans
3rd Guards CavalryGuards CorpsGuards Cavalry Division1st Guards Dragoons2nd Guards Dragoons
4th Guards CavalryGuards CorpsGuards Cavalry DivisionGuards Hussars2nd Guards Uhlans
1st CavalryI Corps1st Division3rd Cuirassiers1st Dragoons
2nd CavalryI Corps2nd Division12th Uhlans9th Jäger zu Pferde
3rd CavalryII Corps3rd Division2nd Cuirassiers9th Uhlans
4th CavalryII Corps4th Division3rd Grenadiers zu Pferde12th Dragoons
5th CavalryIII Corps5th Division2nd Dragoons3rd Uhlans
6th CavalryIII Corps6th Division6th Cuirassiers3rd Hussars
7th CavalryIV Corps7th Division10th Hussars16th Uhlans
8th CavalryIV Corps8th Division7th Cuirassiers12th Hussars
9th CavalryV Corps9th Division4th Dragoons10th Uhlans
10th CavalryV Corps10th Division1st Uhlans1st Jäger zu Pferde
11th CavalryVI Corps11th Division1st Leib Cuirassiers8th Dragoons
12th CavalryVI Corps12th Division4th Hussars6th Hussars
13th CavalryVII Corps13th Division4th Cuirassiers8th Hussars
14th CavalryVII Corps14th Division11th Hussars5th Uhlans
15th CavalryVIII Corps15th Division8th Cuirassiers7th Hussars
16th CavalryVIII Corps16th Division7th Jäger zu Pferde8th Jäger zu Pferde
17th CavalryIX Corps17th Division17th Dragoons18th Dragoons
18th CavalryIX Corps18th Division15th Hussars16th Hussars
19th CavalryX Corps19th Division19th Dragoons13th Uhlans
20th CavalryX Corps20th Division16th Dragoons17th Hussars
21st CavalryXVIII Corps21st Division6th Dragoons6th Uhlans
22nd CavalryXI Corps22nd Division5th Dragoons14th Hussars
23rd CavalryXII Corps23rd DivisionSaxon Heavy Cavalry17th Uhlans
24th CavalryXIX Corps24th Division19th Hussars18th Uhlans
25th CavalryXVIII Corps25th Division23rd Guard Dragoons24th Leib Dragoons
26th CavalryXIII Corps26th Division25th Dragoons26th Dragoons
27th CavalryXIII Corps27th Division19th Uhlans20th Uhlans
28th CavalryXIV Corps28th Division20th Leib Dragoons21st Dragoons
29th CavalryXIV Corps29th Division22nd Dragoons5th Jäger zu Pferde
30th CavalryXV Corps30th Division15th Dragoons9th Hussars
31st CavalryXXI Corps31st Division7th Dragoons7th Uhlans
32nd CavalryXII Corps32nd Division18th Hussars20th Hussars
33rd CavalryXVI Corps33rd Division9th Dragoons13th Dragoons
34th CavalryXVI Corps34th Division14th Uhlans12th Jäger zu Pferde
35th CavalryXVII Corps35th Division5th Hussars4th Jäger zu Pferde
Leib HussarXVII Corps36th Division1st Leib Hussars2nd Leib Hussars
37th CavalryXX Corps37th Division10th Dragoons11th Dragoons
38th CavalryXI Corps38th Division2nd Jäger zu Pferde6th Jäger zu Pferde
39th CavalryXV Corps39th Division14th Dragoons3rd Jäger zu Pferde
40th CavalryXIX Corps40th DivisionSaxon Carabiniers21st Uhlans
41st CavalryXX Corps41st Division5th Cuirassiers4th Uhlans
42nd CavalryXXI Corps42nd Division11th Uhlans15th Uhlans
43rd CavalryI Corps2nd Division8th Uhlans10th Jäger zu Pferde
44th CavalryVI Corps12th Division2nd Uhlans11th Jäger zu Pferde
45th CavalryXVI Corps34th Division13th Hussars13th Jäger zu Pferde
1st Bavarian CavalryI Bavarian Corps1st Bavarian Division1st Bavarian Heavy Cavalry2nd Bavarian Heavy Cavalry
2nd Bavarian CavalryI Bavarian Corps2nd Bavarian Division4th Bavarian Chevaulégers8th Bavarian Chevaulégers
3rd Bavarian CavalryII Bavarian Corps3rd Bavarian Division3rd Bavarian Chevaulégers5th Bavarian Chevaulégers
4th Bavarian CavalryII Bavarian Corps4th Bavarian Division1st Bavarian Uhlans2nd Bavarian Uhlans
5th Bavarian CavalryIII Bavarian Corps5th Bavarian Division1st Bavarian Chevaulégers6th Bavarian Chevaulégers
6th Bavarian CavalryIII Bavarian Corps6th Bavarian Division2nd Bavarian Chevaulégers7th Bavarian Chevaulégers

A complete list of the pre-war regiments, their peacetime corps assignments and garrisons is shown here.

Mobilisation

On mobilisation, the pre-war cavalry brigades were withdrawn from their divisions. 33 brigades were used to form the 11 cavalry divisions. The remaining 22 brigades were broken up and their regiments were employed as divisional cavalry for the 50 active divisions. This necessitated 6 regiments being raised to a strength of 6 squadrons before being split into two half-regiments of 3 squadrons each. The regiments involved were:
The other active regiments had a strength of 4 squadrons.
33 Reserve Cavalry Regiments, 2 Landwehr Cavalry Regiments and an Ersatz Cavalry Regiment were also formed and assigned to field formations. Each of these had a strength of 3 squadrons. Finally, there were 38 Landwehr squadrons and 19 Ersatz detachments.
RegimentRaised byDivisional assignmentCorps assignment.
Reserve Guards UhlansGuards Corps3rd Guards DivisionGuards Reserve Corps
Reserve Guards DragoonsGuards Corps1st Guards Reserve DivisionGuards Reserve Corps
1st Reserve UhlansI Corps1st Reserve DivisionI Reserve Corps
1st Reserve HussarsXVII Corps36th Reserve DivisionI Reserve Corps
2nd Reserve DragoonsIII Corps5th Reserve DivisionIII Reserve Corps
3rd Reserve UhlansIII Corps6th Reserve DivisionIII Reserve Corps
1st Reserve Schwere ReiterIV Corps7th Reserve DivisionIV Reserve Corps
1st Reserve Jager zu PferdeXI Corps22nd Reserve DivisionIV Reserve Corps
3rd Reserve DragoonsV Corps9th Reserve DivisionV Reserve Corps
6th Reserve UhlansV Corps10th Reserve DivisionV Reserve Corps
4th Reserve HussarsVI Corps11th Reserve DivisionVI Reserve Corps
4th Reserve UhlansVI Corps12th Reserve DivisionVI Reserve Corps
5th Reserve HussarsVII Corps13th Reserve DivisionVII Reserve Corps
8th Reserve HussarsVII Corps14th Reserve DivisionVII Reserve Corps
5th Reserve UhlansX Corps15th Reserve DivisionVIII Reserve Corps
2nd Reserve Schwere ReiterVIII Corps16th Reserve DivisionVIII Reserve Corps
6th Reserve HussarsIX Corps17th Reserve DivisionIX Reserve Corps
7th Reserve HussarsIX Corps18th Reserve DivisionIX Reserve Corps
2nd Reserve UhlansII Corps2nd Guards Reserve DivisionX Reserve Corps
6th Reserve DragoonsX Corps19th Reserve DivisionX Reserve Corps
Reserve Saxon HussarsXII Corps23rd Reserve DivisionXII Reserve Corps
Reserve Saxon UhlansXIX Corps24th Reserve DivisionXII Reserve Corps
Reserve Wurttenberg DragoonsXIII Corps26th Reserve DivisionXIV Reserve Corps
8th Reserve DragoonsXIV Corps28th Reserve DivisionXIV Reserve Corps
7th Reserve DragoonsXI Corps21st Reserve DivisionXVIII Reserve Corps
4th Reserve DragoonsXVIII Corps25th Reserve DivisionXVIII Reserve Corps
1st Reserve BavarianI Bavarian Corps1st Bavarian Reserve DivisionI Bavarian Reserve Corps
5th Reserve BavarianIII Bavarian Corps5th Bavarian Reserve DivisionI Bavarian Reserve Corps
5th Reserve DragoonsII Corps3rd Reserve DivisionDirectly subordinated to 8th Army
9th Reserve HussarsIII Corps30th Reserve DivisionFortress Strassburg
2nd Reserve HussarsIV Corps33rd Reserve DivisionFortress Metz
3rd Reserve Schwere ReiterXX Corps35th Reserve DivisionFortress Thorn
1st Reserve DragoonsXX Corpsn/aFortress Königsberg
1st Landwehr CavalryV Corps3rd Landwehr DivisionLandwehr Corps
2nd Landwehr CavalryVI Corps4th Landwehr DivisionLandwehr Corps
Ersatz CavalryVI Corps4th Landwehr DivisionLandwehr Corps

Regiments

The 110 active regiments were assigned to the Field Army on mobilisation. Each regiment formed a depot squadron which remained in Germany and took 4 squadrons into the field. 6 regiments were brought up to a strength of 6 squadrons and split into two half regiments; they joined the two divisions of their Corps. 33 Reserve Regiments, 2 Landwehr Regiments and 1 Ersatz Regiment also joined the Field Army, but were only at a strength of 3 squadrons.
SquadronsOfficersNCOs and other ranksriding horsesdraught horsesbridge wagonstelephone wagonsmedical wagonsbaggage wagonssupply wagonsfodder wagons
43668870960211555
6511017105776210777
32751153236000444

Cavalry Divisions

In September 1916, the establishment of cavalry regiments within the Cavalry Divisions was reduced to 675 horses instead of 769. The Supreme Command did not stop there, but also took away the horses of entire regiments and used them as infantry. These regiments were redesignated as Cavalry Schützen Regiments. By the end of the war, just 22 Cavalry Regiments remained mounted, a fifth of the active regiments mobilised in 1914.

Divisional Cavalry

A measure was put into force through the War Ministry at the beginning of August 1916 whereby every division and autonomous brigade in the Army of the West was to command just one squadron of cavalry. The measure also came into force immediately in the Army of the East. The Landwehr and Ersatz formations, together with the individual squadrons and Reserve Detachments set up during the war for the new divisions were dissolved.
For the cavalry regiments allocated as individual squadrons to the divisions, the regimental unit ceased to exist for all practical purposes. The Regimental Staffs were not dissolved, but were for the most part left with the divisions they happened to find themselves with, to be used for special purposes. 16 Regimental Commanders found new employment as horse inspectors; two Regimental Staffs were changed into Infantry Regiment Staffs; and three Regimental Staffs were changed into Jäger Regiment Staffs.
By the end of war, about 250 individual mounted squadrons remained, representing 61 active and 22 reserve cavalry regiments.

Nomenclature

Although the various regiments were divided into a number of different categories all had the same role. Regiments bore a number within its category, a state and usually an honour title. For example,
Bavarian regiments were numbered in a separate sequence, so 1st Royal Bavarian Uhlans "Emperor William II, King of Prussia" was distinct from 1st Uhlans "Emperor Alexander III of Russia"
Uniquely amongst cavalry regiments, the 7th Dragoon Regiment was awarded an honour title during the war and was thereafter
33 pre-war brigades were used to form the 11 cavalry divisions. The remaining 22 brigades were broken up and their regiments were used to form the divisional cavalry for the 50 pre-war infantry divisions. Other than these, only a handful of other Cavalry Brigades were formed:
All other Cavalry Brigades named for their commanders were temporary formations and merely consisted of reinforced cavalry regiments, for example Cavalry Brigade Kaufmann under the Staff of 6th Uhlans.
By the end of the war, just 10 cavalry brigades remained as mounted formations:
The rest had been dissolved, converted to Cavalry Schützen Commands, or formed mixed units in Russia and the Ukraine.
BrigadeWar service
1st Guards CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to Guards Cavalry Division; 9 April 1917 became independent.
2nd Guards CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to Guards Cavalry Division; 6 June 1916 became independent.
3rd Guards CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to Guards Cavalry Division; 18 October 1916 became independent.
4th Guards CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; Life Guards Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 1st Guards Division and 2nd Guards Uhlans to 2nd Guards Division.
Provisional Guards CavalryFormed by 2nd Cavalry Division on 5 January 1915; 15 January 1915 became independent; 12 November 1916 dissolved.
1st CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division; 3 October 1916 became independent; 13 October to 1 November 1916 Brigade Staff joined 3rd Cavalry Division; 2 November 1916 renamed Siebenbürg Cavalry Brigade.
2nd CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division and remained with the division throughout.
3rd CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 4th Cavalry Division; 30 November 1914 became independent; 17 October 1916 joined 6th Cavalry Division; 6 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 3.
4th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 3rd Grenadiers zu Pferde assigned as divisional cavalry to 3rd Division and 12th Dragoons to 4th Division.
5th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 2nd Cavalry Division; 8 August 1916 became independent; 19 October 1916 joined 6th Cavalry Division; 11 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 5.
6th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 6th Cuirassiers assigned as divisional cavalry to 22nd & 38th Divisions and 3rd Hussars to 5th & 6th Divisions.
7th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 10th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 7th & 8th Divisions and 16th Uhlans to 13th & 14th Divisions.
8th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 2nd Cavalry Division; 25 July 1916 joined 1st Cavalry Division; 18 October 1916 joined 6th Cavalry Division; 6 October 1917 became independent.
9th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 5th Cavalry Division; 26 December 1916 became independent.
10th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 1st Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 9th Division and 1st Jäger zu Pferde to 10th Division.
11th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 5th Cavalry Division; 23 March 1918 joined Guards Cavalry Division; 8 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 11.
12th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 5th Cavalry Division; 20 February 1918 became independent.
13th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 9th Cavalry Division; 8 February 1916, Brigade Staff renamed Cavalry Inspector for the Warsaw General Government; 13 December 1916 joined the Staff of the Quartermaster-General as Representative for Equine Affairs.
14th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 9th Cavalry Division; 23 February 1918 joined Guards Cavalry Division; 8 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 14.
15th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 8th Cuirassiers assigned as divisional cavalry to 15th Division and 7th Hussars to 16th Division.
16th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 3rd Cavalry Division; 1 September 1916 became independent.
17th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 4th Cavalry Division; 1 February 1917 became independent. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war.
18th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 4th Cavalry Division; 12 December 1916 joined 1st Cavalry Division; 15 October 1918 absorbed into XXXXI Reserve Corps.
19th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 9th Cavalry Division; 8 April 1917 joined Guards Cavalry Division; 12 February 1918 became independent.
20th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 16th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 17th & 18th Divisions and 17th Hussars to 19th & 20th Divisions.
21st CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 6th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 25th Division and 6th Uhlans to 21st Division.
22nd CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 3rd Cavalry Division; 13 August 1916 joined 2nd Cavalry Division.
23rd CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 8th Cavalry Division; 1 February 1917 joined 1st Cavalry Division; 22 October 1917 became independent. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war.
24th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 19th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 40th Division and 18th Uhlans to 24th Division.
25th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 3rd Cavalry Division; 23 September 1916 joined 2nd Cavalry Division.
26th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 7th Cavalry Division; 6 October 1917 became independent.
27th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 19th Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 27th Division and 20th Uhlans to 26th Division.
28th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 6th Cavalry Division; 1 February 1917 joined 4th Cavalry Division; 17 May 1918 joined 7th Cavalry Division; 27 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 28.
29th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 22nd Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 29th Division and 5th Jäger zu Pferde to 28th Division.
30th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 7th Cavalry Division; 27 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 30.
31st CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 7th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 42nd Division and 7th Uhlans to 31st Division.
32nd CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 18th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 23rd Division and 20th Hussars to 32nd Division.
33rd CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 6th Cavalry Division; 14 September 1916 became independent.
34th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 14th Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 34th Division and 12th Jäger zu Pferde to 33rd Division.
35th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 5th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 36th Division and 4th Jäger zu Pferde to 35th Division.
Leib HussarOn mobilisation, assigned to 2nd Cavalry Division; became independent on 20 August 1916. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war.
37th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 10th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 37th Division and 11th Dragoons to 41st Division.
38th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 8th Cavalry Division; 20 April 1918 joined Guards Cavalry Division; 8 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 38.
39th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 14th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 39th Division and 3rd Jäger zu Pferde to 30th Division; 28 September 1914 reconstituted and joined 4th Cavalry Division; 1 February 1917 transferred to 8th Cavalry Division; 6 April 1918 rejoined 4th Cavalry Division.
40th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 8th Cavalry Division; 10 April 1918 dissolved.
41st CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division; 17 October 1916 joined 7th Cavalry Division; 27 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 41.
42nd CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 7th Cavalry Division; 14 September 1916 became independent.
43rd CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 8th Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 1st Division and 10th Jäger zu Pferde to 2nd Division.
44th CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 2nd Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 12th Division and 11th Jäger zu Pferde to 11th Division.
45th CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to 6th Cavalry Division; 14 October 1916 became independent; 1 February 1917 joined 4th Cavalry Division; 1 May 1918 rejoined 6th Cavalry Division; 6 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 45.
1st Bavarian CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to Bavarian Cavalry Division and remained with the division throughout.
2nd Bavarian CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 4th Bavarian Chevaulégers assigned as divisional cavalry to 2nd Bavarian Division and 8th Bavarian Chevaulégers to 1st Bavarian Division.
3rd Bavarian CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 3rd Bavarian Chevaulégers assigned as divisional cavalry to 3rd Bavarian Division and 5th Bavarian Chevaulégers to 4th Bavarian Division.
4th Bavarian CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to Bavarian Cavalry Division; 3 July 1917 became independent. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war.
5th Bavarian CavalryOn mobilisation, assigned to Bavarian Cavalry Division and remained with the division throughout.
6th Bavarian CavalryBrigade dissolved on mobilisation; 2nd Bavarian Chevaulégers assigned as divisional cavalry to 6th Bavarian Division and 7th Bavarian Chevaulégers to 5th Bavarian Division.
7th Bavarian Cavalry1 June 1917 renamed from Siebenbürg Cavalry Brigade; joined 2nd Cavalry Division at some point; 18 February 1918 became independent. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war.
Siebenbürg Cavalry2 November 1916 Staff renamed from 1st Cavalry Brigade, remained attached to 3rd Cavalry Division to 31 May 1917; 1 June 1917 became independent and renamed 7th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade.
4th Landwehr CavalryEstablished at the end of September 1914 with the 4th Landwehr Division; 1 October 1916 dissolved. Brigade Staff became the Staff of 215th Infantry Brigade.

Divisions

The German Army constituted 11 cavalry divisions at the outbreak of war - the existing Guards Cavalry Division and 10 more formed on mobilisation. Each consisted of 3 cavalry brigades, a horse artillery Abteilung, a machine gun detachment, plus pioneers, signals and a motor vehicle column. A more detailed Table of Organisation and Equipment can be seen here.
Apart from the opening actions of the war, the use of these divisions as proper cavalry was only possible in the offensive in Courland and on Vilna in 1915, for a short time in Romania, and in 1918 in support of the Ukraine. Most of the time they were used as infantry.
The increasing shortage of horses led to the 4th, 5th and 9th Cavalry Divisions being dismounted in October 1916. The 3rd Cavalry Division was dissolved in November 1916 and the 6th and 7th Cavalry Divisions were also dismounted in November 1917. The Guards Cavalry Division followed in March 1918.
The dismounted divisions were converted to Cavalry Schützen Divisions. Here, the cavalry brigades were renamed Cavalry Schützen Commands and performed a similar role to that of an infantry regiment command. Likewise, the cavalry regiments became Cavalry Schützen Regiments and allotted the role of an infantry battalion and their squadrons acted as infantry companies. However, these units were much weaker than normal infantry formations. However, the 5th, 8th and 9th Cavalry Divisions were dissolved before conversion to Schützen.
By the end of the war, there were only 3 Cavalry Divisions in the East and 4 Schützen Divisions in the West.
DivisionFormedCombat ChronicleFate
Guards Cavalrypre-warOn the Western Front until December 1914, then frontier guard duties against the Netherlands until 30 June 1915, then to Russia. From 16 March 1918 to 9 April 1918 dismounted, re-formation and training on the Zossen troop training ground. Thereafter, Guards Cavalry Schützen Division on the Western Front. In Artois to May 1918, then Champagne / Aisne.Schützen Division disbanded post-war
1st Cavalryon mobilisationRemained in the East throughout the war. 6 January 1915 to 22 August 1917, Coastal Defence duties in northern Courland. To the Ukraine March 1918. From 16 January 1918 it contained just one brigade of 3 regiments.disbanded post-war
2nd Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front. From 12 November 1914 transferred to Russia until 25 November 1916; in Romania until December 1916; then back to the West. Frontier Guard on the Dutch border from 26 February 1917 to 10 September 1917; then again to Russia and finally in the Ukraine from March 1918.disbanded post-war
3rd Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front until December 1914, then occupation duties in Belgium. From 6 April 1915 transferred to Russia and dissolved there on 1 September 1916. Reformed on 9 September 1916 in Hungary and after that in Transylvania.dissolved November 1916
4th Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front until November 1914. Transferred to Russia until March 1918. Returned to the Western Front, in Alsace until the end of the war. Dismounted in October 1916 and restructured to form 4th Cavalry Schützen Division.Schützen Division disbanded post-war
5th Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front until October 1914, then to the Eastern Front. From 14 July 1915 to 1 September 1915 designated as Cavalry Corps Hendebreck. From October 1916 dismounted.dissolved 27 February 1918
6th Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front until October 1914, transferred to Russia until October 1916, and to Romania until February 1917. Returned to the Western Front and in Alsace until July 1918, Flanders until August 1918, Artois to October 1918 and back to Flanders until the end of the war. Dismounted on 5 May 1918 and restructured to form 6th Cavalry Schützen Division.Schützen Division disbanded post-war
7th Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front until October 1915, occupation duties in Belgium until October 1916 and to Romania until January 1917. Returned to the Western Front and in Alsace until May 1918, Flanders until August 1918, Artois to October 1918 and back to Flanders until the end of the war. Dismounted on 14 May 1918 and restructured to form 7th Cavalry Schützen Division.Schützen Division disbanded post-war
8th Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front until 30 August 1914, then to the Eastern Front. Arrived too late for the Battle of Tannenberg but in time for the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Dismounted in 1917.dissolved 9 April 1918
9th Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front until 27 November 1914, then to Russia. Dismounted in October 1916.dissolved 3 March 1918
Bavarian Cavalryon mobilisationOn the Western Front until November 1914. Occupation duties in Belgium until January 1915. Training in Germany until April 1915 before transferring to Russia until November 1917; in Romania until April 1918; then finally in the Ukraine / Crimea.disbanded post-war

Corps

On mobilisation, the German Army formed 4 Cavalry Corps for the Western Front. Initially, each simply consisted of 2 or 3 Cavalry Divisions without any Corps troops; in supply and administration matters, the Cavalry Divisions were entirely autonomous. The Cavalry Corps were entitled Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando and the commander was only concerned with tactics and strategy, hence his title of Senior Cavalry Commander Höherer Kavallerie-Kommandeur.
By the beginning of 1915, with the solidifying of the trench system, they could no longer find employment on the Western Front. II and IV Cavalry Corps were dissolved and I and III Cavalry Corps were transferred to the East. With less use as pure Cavalry formations, each underwent a series of redesignations according to their particular role from time to time. Two new Corps were formed in June 1915 as a gap opened between the Army of the Niemen and 10th Army during the Courland offensive. With the conclusion of the offensive, all four Cavalry Commanders were assigned sectors of the front and thus took on the functions similar to a normal Corps and were reorganised in a similar fashion. Therefore, for the Romanian Campaign, none of the existing Cavalry Corps were brought in, instead a new temporary Cavalry Corps was set up in Transylvannia.
Finally, all the Cavalry Corps were redesignated as General Commands for Special Use Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung and were indistinguishable from other Corps.
CorpsFormedCombat ChronicleFate
I Cavalry Corpson mobilisationOn Western Front with Guards and 5th Cavalry Divisions preceding 3rd Army. Transferred to the East on 6 November 1914. Variously named for the commander as Cavalry Corps Richthofen, Corps Richthofen and Army Group Richthofen. Redesignated 20 November 1916.renamed 56th Corps
II Cavalry Corpson mobilisationOn Western Front with 2nd, 4th and 9th Cavalry Divisions preceding 1st and 2nd Armies. Withdrawn to Belgium at the end of November 1914.dissolved 23 January 1915
III Cavalry Corpson mobilisationOn Western Front with 7th, 8th and Bavarian Cavalry Divisions preceding 6th Army. Transferred to the East on 9 September 1914. Variously named for the commander as Corps Frommel, Cavalry Corps Frommel and Army Group Frommel. Redesignated 20 November 1916.renamed 57th Corps
IV Cavalry Corpson mobilisationOn Western Front with 3rd and 6th Cavalry Divisions preceding 4th and 5th Armies. Transferred to the East on 14 November 1914.dissolved January 1915
V Cavalry Corps3 June 1915During the Courland Offensive a wide gap opened between the Army of the Niemen and 10th Army. Set up by the Army of the Niemen as temporary Cavalry Corps Schmettow, commanded by Generalleutnant Egon Graf von Schmettow. Established 18 August 1915. Redesignated 20 November 1916.renamed 58th Corps
VI Cavalry CorpsJune 1915During the Courland Offensive a wide gap opened between the Army of the Niemen and 10th Army. Set up by the 10th Army as a temporary Cavalry Corps. Established 18 August 1915. Redesignated 20 November 1916.renamed 59th Corps
Cavalry Corps "Schmettow"Temporary formation set up for the invasion of Romania under the command of Generalleutnant Eberhard Graf von Schmettow. Redesignated 11 January 1917.renamed 65th Corps

End of the War

By the end of the war
As the war ended, the regiments marched back to Germany and dissolved as the troops reached their home towns. A number of regiments were perpetrated as squadrons of the post-war Reichswehr.