1st Cavalry Division (German Empire)
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The 1st Cavalry Division (''1. 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 disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.


Combat chronicle

Initially, it was the sole cavalry division on the Eastern Front, where it was assigned to the 8th Army. It remained in the East throughout the war. From 6 January 1915 to 22 August 1917, the division was involved in coastal defence duties in northern Courland. It was transferred to the Ukraine in March 1918, where it remained until 29 January 1919. From 16 January 1918, it contained just one brigade of 3 regiments.


Battle Calendar

The Division was formed as Part of the Mobilization at the Beginning of the First World War and was used exclusively on the Eastern Front. Here it remained as a German Police Force after the Peace of Brest-Litovsk. It was first used in Livonia and Estonia and then came to Ukraine, where it remained until 16 March 1919. 1914 – 17 August – Battle of Stallupönen 19 to 20 August – Battle of Gumbinnen 23–31 August – Battle of Tannenberg 5–15 September – Battle of the Masurian Lakes 25 to 30 September – Battle of the Njemen 1 October to 5 November – position Fights at Grajewo-Wizajny 6–8 November – Battle of Göritten 13–16 November – Battle of the Romintener Heath From 15 November – jockeying for position for The Field position at Lötzen and at the Angerapp 1915 – Until 7 February – jockeying for position for the Field Position Lötzen-Angerapp. 8–22 February – Winter Battle in Masuren 23 February to 6 March – Battles at the Bobr 7–16 March – Battles in the Border position Sereje-Simno-Luzhwinov and Mariampol 9–12 March – Battles at Sejny 25–30 March – Battles at Krasnopol and Krasne 31 March to 20 July – Position Battles between Augustov, Mariampol and Pilwiszki 21 July to 7 August – battles at the Jesia and at Wejwery 8–18 August – Siege of Kowno 19 August to 8 September – Njemen battle 9 September– Szyrwinty 9 to 24 September – Battle of Vilnius 24 September to 19 October – Battles at the Mjadsjolka and Dryswjata From 6 November – Coastal Protection in Northern Courland 1916 – Coastal Protection Northern Courland 1917 – Until 22 August – Coastal Protection North Kurland 23 January to 3 February – Winter Battle on the Aa 1–5 September – Battle of Riga 6 September to 28 October – Position Battles north of the Düna From 29 October – Crew service at Budget Inspection 10 1918 – Until 10 March – Crew service at Budget Inspection 10 11 March to 2 May – Occupation of Livonia and Estonia as a German Police force 3 May to 21 June – Fighting in Ukraine 22 June to 15 November – Occupation of Ukraine From 16 November – Eviction of Ukraine 1919 – Until 16 March – Evacuation of the Ukraine


Order of Battle on mobilisation

On formation, in August 1914, the component units of the division were: *1st Cavalry Brigade (from
I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to: France * 1st Army Corps (France) * I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French A ...
District) ** 3rd (East Prussian) Cuirassiers "Count Wrangel" ** 1st (Lithuanian) Dragoons "Prince Albrecht of Prussia" *2nd Cavalry Brigade (from
I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to: France * 1st Army Corps (France) * I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French A ...
District) ** 12th (Lithuanian) Uhlans ** 9th Jäger zu Pferde *41st Cavalry Brigade (from XX Corps District) **
5th (West Prussian) Cuirassiers "Duke Frederick Eugene of Württemberg" The 5th (West Prussian) Cuirassiers “Duke Frederick Eugene of Württemberg” were a heavy cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed in 1717. The regiment fought in the Silesian Wars, the War of the Sixth Coalition, th ...
**
4th (1st Pomeranian) Uhlans "von Schmidt" Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music), a musical interval * ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...
*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 1st (1st Lithuanian) Field Artillery "Prince August of Prussia" Regiment *5th Machine Gun Detachment *Pioneer Detachment *Signals Detachment **Heavy Wireless Station 17 **Light Wireless Station 7 **Light Wireless Station 14 *Cavalry Motorised Vehicle Column 1 See: Table of Organisation and Equipment


Late World War I organization

In the course of the War, the Division saw a number of changes to its assigned Brigades. *1st Cavalry Brigade became independent on 3 October 1916. *41st Cavalry Brigade was transferred to 7th Cavalry Division on 17 October 1916. *8th Cavalry Brigade joined from 2nd Cavalry Division on 25 July 1916 before moving on to the 6th Cavalry Division on 18 October 1916. *18th Cavalry Brigade joined from 4th Cavalry Division on 12 December 1916 before moving on to XXXXI Reserve Corps on 15 January 1918. *23rd Cavalry Brigade joined from 8th Cavalry Division on 1 February 1917 before becoming independent on 22 October 1917. Allied Intelligence did not rate the Division's fighting value. Its late war organisation was: *2nd Cavalry Brigade ** 3rd (East Prussian) Cuirassiers "Count Wrangel" ** 1st (Lithuanian) Dragoons "Prince Albrecht of Prussia" ** 12th (Lithuanian) 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
1st (Prince August of Prussia) (1st Lithuanian) Field Artillery First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and reco ...
Regiment *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 35th (1st West Prussian) Field Artillery Regiment1917 was changed into a field artillery abteilung; *1st Pioneer Detachment *347th Searchlight Section *70th Ambulance Company *66th Vet. Hospital *142nd Vet. Hospital *152nd Cyclist Company *153rd Cyclist Company *159th Cyclist Company


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

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:1 Cavalry divisions of Germany in World War I Military units and formations established in 1914 Military units and formations disestablished in 1919