The XXXXI Reserve Corps () was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Formation XXXXI Reserve Corps was formed in December 1914. It was part of the second wave of new Corps formed in the early stages of World War I consisting of XXXVIII - XXXXIIn German military nomenclature, "40" was rendered as "XXXX" in Roman numerals rather than the more conventional "XL". Reserve Corps of 75th - 82nd Reserve Divisions (plus 8th Bavarian Reserve Division). The personnel was predominantly made up of (wartime volunteers) 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 December 1914, XXXXI Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions. but was weaker than an Active Corps the divisions were organised as triangular rather than square divisions with three infantry regiments rather than four, but had a brigade of two field artillery regiments Reserve Infantry Regiments consisted of three battalions but lacked a machine gun company Reserve Cavalry Detachments were much smaller than the Reserve Cavalry Regiments formed on mobilisation Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of three squadrons Reserve Field Artillery Regiments consisted of two (1 gun and 1 howitzer) of three batteries each, but each battery had just 4 guns (rather than 6 of the Active and the Reserve Regiments formed on mobilisation)
In summary, XXXXI Reserve Corps mobilised with 18 infantry battalions, 2 cavalry detachments, 24 field artillery batteries (96 guns), 2 cyclist companies and 2 pioneer companies.
Corps Division Brigade Units XXXXI Reserve Corps 81st Reserve Division 81st Reserve Infantry Brigade 267th Reserve Infantry Regiment 268th Reserve Infantry Regiment 269th Reserve Infantry Regiment 81st Reserve Field Artillery Brigade 67th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment 68th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment 81st Reserve Cavalry Detachment 81st Reserve Cyclist Company 81st Reserve Pioneer Company 82nd Reserve Division 82nd Reserve Infantry Brigade 270th Reserve Infantry Regiment 271st Reserve Infantry Regiment 272nd Reserve Infantry Regiment 82nd Reserve Field Artillery Brigade 69th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment 70th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment 82nd Reserve Cavalry Detachment 82nd Reserve Cyclist Company 82nd Reserve Pioneer Company
On 2 May 1915 in preparation for the Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive the corps consisted of 18 battalions, 4 squadrons, 43 machine guns and 108 guns. The corps was organized as follows:
Corps Division Brigade Units XXXXI Reserve Corps 81st Reserve Division 81st Reserve Infantry Brigade 267th Reserve Infantry Regiment 268th Reserve Infantry Regiment 269th Reserve Infantry Regiment 81st Reserve Field Artillery Brigade 67th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment (3 cannon & 3 light field howitzer batteries) 68th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment (3 cannon & 3 light field howitzer batteries) 81st Reserve Cavalry Detachment 4th Squadron, 7th Dragoon Regiment 84th & 85th Reserve Pioneer Companies 82nd Reserve Division 82nd Reserve Infantry Brigade 270th Reserve Infantry Regiment 271st Reserve Infantry Regiment 272nd Reserve Infantry Regiment 82nd Reserve Field Artillery Brigade 69th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment (3 cannon & 3 light field howitzer batteries) 70th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment (3 cannon & 3 light field howitzer batteries) 82nd Reserve Cavalry Detachment 4th Squadron, 7th Uhlan Regiment 82nd Reserve Pioneer Company & 1st Company, 18th Pioneer Regiment 2nd Battalion, 3rd Foot Artillery Regiment (3 batteries heavy field howitzers) Attached 1 - 15-cm Austro-Hungarian howitzer battery (4 guns) 1 - 12-cm Austro-Hungarian cannon battery (4 guns) 7th Battery, Bavarian 1st Reserve Foot Artillery (4 – 10-cm cannons) 3rd Battalion, 1st Foot Artillery Regiment (2 btrys, 4 – 21-cm mortars each) 229th Light Trench Mortar Detachment (6 mortars) 230th Light Trench Mortar Detachment (6 mortars) 120th Medium Trench Mortar Detachment (4 mortars) 35th Heavy Trench Mortar Detachment (2 mortars)
Commanders XXXXI Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence: From Rank Name24 December 1914 General der Infanterie Hermann von François29 June 1915 Generalleutnant Arnold von Winckler11 September 1915 General der Artillerie Hans von Gronau
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