XXVII Reserve Corps (German Empire)


The XXVII Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.

Formation

XXVII Reserve Corps was formed in October 1914. It was part of the first wave of new Corps formed at the outset of World War I consisting of XXII - XXVII Reserve Corps of 43rd - 54th Reserve Divisions. The personnel was predominantly made up of kriegsfreiwillige who did not wait to be called up. It was still in existence at the end of the war.

Structure on formation

On formation in October 1914, XXVII Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions. but was weaker than an Active Corps
In summary, XXVII Reserve Corps mobilised with 26 infantry battalions, 10 machine gun platoons, 2 cavalry detachments, 18 field artillery batteries and 2 pioneer companies.

Combat chronicle

Formed of Saxon and Württemberg units in the early stages of the First World War, the Corps appeared on the Western Front in Belgium in October 1914. It was assigned to the 4th Army, commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg, with which it participated in the First Battle of Ypres. In 1915, it took part in the Second Battle of Ypres and the Second Battle of Champagne and in 1916 in the Battle of the Somme.
In November 1916, it was transferred to the Eastern Front. In late 1917 it returned to the West, initially on border security duties on the Dutch-Belgian border, before returning to the Flanders front in January 1918. It took part in the Spring Offensive from March 1918 and continued to be engaged on the Western Front for the remainder of the War.
The Corps was dissolved in February 1919.

Commanders

XXVII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:
FromRankName
25 August 1914GeneralleutnantAdolph von Carlowitz
27 October 1914General der ArtillerieRichard von Schubert
28 August 1916General der InfanterieOskar von Ehrenthal
15 June 1917General der KavallerieHans Krug von Nidda
8 September 1917GeneralleutnantBernhard von Watzdorf