The Bavarian Cavalry Division (''Bayerische Kavallerie-Division'') was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army, part 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 disbanded in 1919, during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was raised and recruited in Bavaria.
Combat chronicle
The division was formed on mobilization for
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 ...
on 2 August 1914. It was assigned to
III Cavalry Corps, which preceded
6th Army on the
Western Front. Between November 1914 and January 1915, the division took part in occupation duties in Belgium. After a period of training in Germany, it transferred to the
Russian Front from April 1915 to November 1917, when it moved to Romania. In April 1918, the division moved to the Ukraine / Crimea.
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:
*1st Bavarian Cavalry Brigade (from
I Bavarian Corps District)
**
1st Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry "Prince Charles of Bavaria"
**
2nd Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry "Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria"
*4th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade (from
II Bavarian Corps District)
**
1st Royal Bavarian Uhlans "Emperor William II, King of Prussia"
**
2nd Royal Bavarian Uhlans "King"
*5th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade (from
III Bavarian Corps District)
**
1st Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers "Emperor Nicholas of Russia"
**
6th Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers "Prince Albrecht of Prussia"
*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
5th Royal Bavarian Field Artillery "King Alfons XIII of Spain" Regiment
*1st Bavarian Cavalry Machine Gun Detachment
*Bavarian Cavalry Pioneer Detachment
*Bavarian Cavalry Signals Detachment
**Bavarian Light Wireless Station 1
**Bavarian Light Wireless Station 2
**Bavarian Heavy Wireless Station 3
**Bavarian Heavy Wireless Station 4
*Bavarian Cavalry Motorised Vehicle Column 1
See:
Table of Organisation and Equipment
Late World War I organization
From 25 November 1917 to 21 March 1918, the division was without any cavalry; and from 20 April 1918, it only had two Cavalry Brigades.
*4th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade became independent on 3 July 1917
Allied Intelligence rated the Division as 4th Class (of 4). The organisation in 1918 was:
*1st Bavarian Cavalry Brigade
**
1st Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry "Prince Charles of Bavaria"
**
2nd Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry "Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria"
*5th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade
**
1st Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers "Emperor Nicholas of Russia"
**
6th Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers "Prince Albrecht of Prussia"
*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
5th Royal Bavarian Field Artillery "King Alfons XIII of Spain" Regiment
*1st Bavarian Cavalry Machine Gun Detachment
*Bavarian Cavalry Pioneer Detachment
*Bavarian Cavalry Cyclist Detachment
*30th Bavarian Ambulance Company
*Attached
**''Landsturm'' Infantry Battalion Glatz (VI/9)
See also
*
Bavarian Army
The Bavarian Army was the army of the Electorate (1682–1806) and then Kingdom (1806–1919) of Bavaria. It existed from 1682 as the standing army of Bavaria until the merger of the military sovereignty (''Wehrhoheit'') of Bavaria into that of ...
*
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 ...
Notes
References
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:B
Cavalry divisions of Germany in World War I
1914 establishments in Germany
1919 disestablishments in Germany
Military units and formations established in 1914
Military units and formations disestablished in 1919
Military units and formations of Bavaria