The 8th Cavalry Division (''8. Kavallerie-Division'') was a unit of the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was dissolved in April 1918. The majority of the division was drawn from the Kingdom of Saxony.
Combat chronicle
It was initially assigned to
III Cavalry Corps, which preceded the
6th Army on the Western Front. On 30 August 1914, it was transferred to the Eastern Front, where it arrived too late for the
Battle of Tannenberg
The Battle of Tannenberg, also known as the Second Battle of Tannenberg, was fought between Russia and Germany between 26 and 30 August 1914, the first month of World War I. The battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russ ...
but in time for the
Battle of the Masurian Lakes. It was dismounted in 1917 and dissolved on 9 April 1918.
A more detailed combat chronicle can be found at the German-language version of this article.
Order of Battle on mobilisation
On formation, in August 1914, the component units of the division were:
*23rd Cavalry Brigade (from
XII (1st Royal Saxon) Corps
The XII (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps / XII AK (german: XII. (I. Königlich Sächsisches) Armee-Korps) was a Saxon corps level command of the Saxon and German Armies before and during World War I.
The Corps was formed as the Royal Saxon Corps on ...
District)
**
1st Royal Saxon Guards Heavy Cavalry
The 1st Royal Saxon Guards Heavy Cavalry (''Garde-Reiter-Regiment (1. Schweres Regiment)'') was a heavy cavalry of the Royal Saxon Army. Established in 1680 as a cuirassiers unit, the regiment fought in the Battle of Vienna (1683), the Nine Years ...
**17th (1st Royal Saxon) Uhlans "Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary"
*38th Cavalry Brigade (from
XI Corps 11 Corps, 11th Corps, Eleventh Corps, or XI Corps may refer to:
* 11th Army Corps (France)
* XI Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* XI Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army
* ...
District)
**
2nd Jäger zu Pferde
**
6th Jäger zu Pferde
*40th Cavalry Brigade (from
XIX (2nd Royal Saxon) Corps
The XIX (2nd Royal Saxon) Army Corps / XIX AK (german: XIX. (II. Königlich Sächsisches) Armee-Korps) was a Kingdom of Saxony, Saxon corps level command of the German Empire, German German Army (German Empire), Army, before and during World War I. ...
District)
**Carabiniers (2nd Royal Saxon Heavy Cavalry)
**21st (3rd Royal Saxon) Uhlans
*Horse Artillery ''
Abteilung
''Abteilung'' (; abbrv. ''Abt.'') is a German word that is often used for German or Swiss military formations and depending on its usage could mean detachment, department or battalion; it can also refer to a military division. In German, it ...
'' of the 12th (1st Royal Saxon) Field Artillery Regiment
*8th Cavalry Machine Gun Detachment
*Cavalry Pioneer Detachment
*Cavalry Signals Detachment
**Heavy Wireless Station 25
**Light Wireless Station 16
**Light Wireless Station 20
*Cavalry Motorised Vehicle Column 8
See:
Table of Organisation and Equipment
Changes in organization
*23rd Cavalry Brigade joined
1st Cavalry Division on 1 February 1917.
*38th Cavalry Brigade joined
Guard Cavalry Division on 20 April 1918.
*40th Cavalry Brigade dissolved on 10 April 1918.
*39th Cavalry Brigade joined from
4th Cavalry Division on 1 February 1917. Rejoined 4th Cavalry Division on 6 April 1918.
See also
*
German Army (German Empire)
The Imperial German Army (1871–1919), officially referred to as the German Army (german: Deutsches Heer), was the unified ground and air force of the German Empire. It was established in 1871 with the political unification of Germany under the l ...
*
German cavalry in World War I
The history of the German Empire, 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 (Guards, I - XXI and I - III Bavarian) each of two Division (military), divisi ...
*
German Army order of battle (1914)
This is the German Army order of battle on the outbreak of World War I in August 1914.
Commanders and locations of the German Army
The overall commander of the Imperial German Army was Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Chief of the General Staff was General ...
References
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:8
Cavalry divisions of Germany in World War I
Military units and formations established in 1914
Military units and formations disestablished in 1918