Guards Reserve Corps
The Guards Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Formation
Guards Reserve Corps was formed on the outbreak of the war in August 1914 as part of the mobilisation of the Prussian Army. It was initially commanded by General der Artillerie Max von Gallwitz, formerly Inspector General of Artillery. It ceased to exist on 9 February 1915 as its headquarters was used to form the headquarters of Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz on the Eastern Front.Temporary Corps Marschall was formed on 7 July 1915 and renamed Guards Reserve Corps on 18 April 1916. It was still in existence at the end of the war in the 4th Army, Heeresgruppe Kronprinz Rupprecht on the Western Front.
Structure on formation
On formation in August 1914, Guards Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions. In general, Reserve Corps and Reserve Divisions were weaker than their active counterparts, but the Guards Reserve Corps was exceptional in thatIn summary, Guards Reserve Corps mobilised with 26 infantry battalions, 9 machine gun companies, 6 cavalry squadrons, 24 field artillery batteries, 4 heavy batteries and 3 pioneer companies.
Combat chronicle
On mobilisation, Guards Reserve Corps was assigned to the 2nd Army as part of the right wing of the forces that invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914. It participated in the capture of Namur and was immediately transferred to the Eastern Front to join the 8th Army in time to participate in the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes.On 9 February 1915, the Corps headquarters was upgraded to form the headquarters of Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz.
Temporary Corps Marschall was formed on 7 July 1915 and established as the Guards Reserve Corps on 18 April 1916. It was still in existence at the end of the war in the 4th Army, Heeresgruppe Kronprinz Rupprecht on the Western Front.
Commanders
Guards Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:| From | Rank | Name | Notes |
| 2 August 1914 | General der Artillerie | Max von Gallwitz | |
| 9 February 1915 | Upgraded to Armee-Gruppe Gallwitz | ||
| 14 February 1915 | Reformed as Korps Marschall | ||
| 17 April 1916 | General der Kavallerie | Wolf Freiherr Marschall von Altengottern |
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.
- 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.