Landwehr Corps

The ''Landwehr'' Corps (german: Landwehrkorps) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.

Formation

The ''Landwehr'' Corps was formed on the outbreak of war in August 1914 as part of the mobilisation of the Army. It was initially commanded by ''General der Infanterie'' Remus von Woyrsch, who had been recalled from retirement. It was still in existence at the end of the war.

Structure on formation

On formation, in August 1914, the ''Landwehr'' Corps consisted of two divisions, which were made up of 3rd line units. The Senior ''Landwehr'' Commander 3 was formed with units drawn from V Corps District ( Province of Posen and Lower Silesia) and Senior ''Landwehr'' Commander 4 was formed with units drawn from VI Corps District (Province of Silesia, particularly Upper Silesia). It mobilised with 34 infantry battalions (considerably above the norm), just four machine gun platoons (eight machine guns), nine cavalry squadrons, four field artillery batteries (24 guns) and two pioneer companies.

Combat chronicle

On mobilisation, the ''Landwehr'' Corps was assigned to the 8th Army on the Eastern Front. Whilst the 8th Army was concentrated in East Prussia, the ''Landwehr'' Corps was detached to Upper Silesia. On 4 September 1914, it came under the command of 1st Austro-Hungarian Army. Due to losses suffered by the 4th ''Landwehr'' Division in the Battle of Tarnawka (7–9 September 1914), the 11th and 51st ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiments were reduced to a single battalion each; the 22nd and 23rd ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiments were reduced to two battalions each.

On 14 September 1914, the Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalions of the 21st ''Ersatz'' Infantry Brigade were dissolved and their manpower used to replace combat losses in the following battalions:
:21st Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into II Battalion, 51st ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
:22nd Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into II Battalion, 11th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
:23rd Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into II Battalion, 51st ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
:24th Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into II Battalion, 11th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
:78th Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into II Battalion, 78th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment

On 25 September 1914, the Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalions of the 17th ''Ersatz'' Infantry Brigade were likewise dissolved:
:17th Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into III Battalion, 23rd ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
:18th Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into III Battalion, 51st ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
:19th Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into III Battalion, 22nd ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
:20th Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into III Battalion, 22nd ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment
:77th Brigade ''Ersatz'' Battalion absorbed into III Battalion, 11th ''Landwehr'' Infantry Regiment

The ''Landwehr'' Corps joined the 9th Army on 24 September 1914.

Commanders

The ''Landwehr'' Corps had the following commanders during its existence:

From 3 November 1914, von Woyrsch was assigned to concurrently command Armee-Abteilung Woyrsch. A deputy, ''Generalleutnant'' Götz Freiherr von König, took command of the ''Landwehr'' Corps on 3 December 1914.

See also

*German Army order of battle (1914)
* Imperial-Royal Landwehr

References

Bibliography

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Corps of Germany in World War I
Military units and formations established in 1914
Military units and formations disestablished in 1918