The XII (Royal Saxon) Reserve Corps () was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
Formation XII Reserve Corps was formed on the outbreak of the war in August 1914 as part of the mobilisation of the Army. It was initially commanded by General der Artillerie Hans von Kirchbach, recalled from retirement.The Prussian Machine Accessed: 3 March 2012 It was still in existence at the end of the war in Armee-Abteilung C, Heeresgruppe Gallwitz on the Western Front.
Structure on formation On formation in August 1914, XII Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions, made up of reserve units. In general, Reserve Corps and Reserve Divisions were weaker than their active counterparts Reserve Infantry Regiments did not always have three battalions nor necessarily contain a machine gun company About a third of Reserve Infantry Regiments formed in August 1914 lacked a machine gun company Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation Active Jäger Battalions had a machine gun company with the exceptions of the 1st and 2nd Bavarian Jäger Battalions Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons Most active cavalry regiments had four squadrons, some were raised to six squadrons Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each, though the Reserve Field Artillery Regiments of XII Corps had three abteilungen Active Divisions had a Field Artillery Brigade of two regiments Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains Active Corps Troops included a battalion of heavy howitzers (Foot Artillery), an Aviation Detachment, a Telephone Detachment, a Corps Pontoon Train, a searchlight section, 2 munition column sections, one Foot Artillery munitions column section and two Train sections
In summary, XII Reserve Corps mobilised with 26 infantry battalions, 6 machine gun companies (36 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 18 field artillery batteries (108 guns) and 3 pioneer companies.
24th Reserve Division was formed by units drawn from the XIX Corps District.
Corps Division Brigade Units XII (Royal Saxon) Reserve Corps 23rd Reserve Division 45th Reserve Infantry Brigade 100th Reserve Infantry Regiment 101st Reserve Infantry Regiment 12th Reserve Jäger Battalion 46th Reserve Infantry Brigade 102nd Reserve Infantry RegimentWithout a machine gun company 103rd Reserve Infantry Regiment Saxon Reserve Hussar Regiment 23rd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment3 abteilungen, 9 batteries, 54 guns 4th Company, 12th Pioneer Battalion 23rd Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train 1st Saxon Reserve Medical Company 24th Reserve Division 47th Reserve Infantry Brigade 104th Reserve Infantry Regiment 106th Reserve Infantry Regiment 13th Reserve Jäger Battalion 48th Reserve Infantry Brigade 107th Reserve Infantry Regiment 133rd Reserve Infantry RegimentWithout a machine gun company Saxon Reserve Uhlan Regiment 24th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment3 abteilungen, 9 batteries, 54 guns 1st Reserve Company, 12th Pioneer Battalion 2nd Reserve Company, 12th Pioneer Battalion 2nd Saxon Reserve Medical Company Corps Troops 12th Reserve Telephone Detachment Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to theIII Reserve Corps
Combat chronicle On mobilisation, XII Reserve Corps was assigned to the predominantly Saxon 3rd Army on the right wing of the forces that invaded France as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914.
Commanders XII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence: From Rank Name 2 August 1914 General der Artillerie Hans von Kirchbach15 December 1917 General der Infanterie Horst Edler von der Planitz24 July 1918 Generalleutnant Max Leuthold
See also
German Army order of battle (1914) German Army order of battle, Western Front (1918)
References
Bibliography