I Cavalry Corps (German Empire)

I Cavalry Corps
(*Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando Nr 1*)
Higher Cavalry Command No. 1
I Cavalry Corps; (Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando Nr 1); Higher Cavalry Command No. 1
	Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
Active	2 August 1914-3 March 1918
Disbanded	1919
Country	German Empire
Branch	Army
Type	Cavalry
Size	Approximately 13,000 (on mobilisation)
Engagements	World War I
Insignia
Abbreviation	HKK 1

The I Cavalry Corps (German: Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando 1 / HKK 1 literally: Higher Cavalry Command 1) was a formation of the German Army in World War I. It was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914 and disbanded in March 1918.

I Cavalry Corps

The Corps initially served on the Western Front with the Guards and 5th Cavalry Divisions and preceded the 3rd Army.^[1] By 15 September 1914, it was assigned to 2nd Army and comprised the Guards and 2nd Cavalry Divisions.^[2] Transferred to the East on 6 November 1914^[3] and attached to the 9th Army. By 8 February 1915, it consisted of the 6th and 9th Cavalry Divisions.^[4]

At various times, the Corps was named for its commander as Cavalry Corps Richthofen, Corps Richthofen and Army Group^[5] Richthofen.

It remained with 9th Army until 20 November 1916, when it was redesignated as 56th Corps (z.b.V.).^[6]^[7]

56th Corps

56th Corps (z.b.V.)^[8] was formed on 20 November 1916 by the redesignation of I Cavalry Corps.^[9] As the need for large mounted cavalry formations diminished as the war went on, the existing Cavalry Corps increasingly took on the characteristics of a normal Corps Command. This culminated in them being redesignated as "General Commands for Special Use" Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung (Genkdo z.b.V.). 56th Corps was disbanded on 5 March 1918.^[10]

Order of Battle on mobilisation

Initially, the Corps simply consisted of 2 Cavalry Divisions (with 3 Jäger battalions attached) without any Corps troops; in supply and administration matters, the Cavalry Divisions were entirely autonomous. The commander was only concerned with tactics and strategy, hence his title of Senior Cavalry Commander Höherer Kavallerie-Kommandeur.^[11]

On formation in August 1914, the Corps consisted of:^[12]

Guards Cavalry Division
5th Cavalry Division
11th Jäger Battalion
12th Jäger Battalion
13th Jäger Battalion

Each cavalry division consisted of 3 cavalry brigades (6 regiments each of 4 squadrons), a horse artillery Abteilung (3 four-gun batteries), a machine gun detachment (company size, 6 MGs), plus pioneers, signals and a motor vehicle column. A more detailed Table of Organisation and Equipment can be seen here. The Jäger battalions each consisted of 4 light infantry companies, 1 machine gun company (6 MGs), 1 cyclist company and a motorised vehicle column.^[13]

Commanders

I Cavalry Corps / 56th Corps had the following commanders during its existence:^[14]^[15]^[16]

Commander	From	To
General der Kavallerie Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen	2 August 1914	23 September 1916
General der Kavallerie Götz Freiherr von König	23 September 1916	5 March 1918

References

^ Cron 2002, p. 299
^ Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 176
^ Cron 2002, p. 94
^ Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 189
^ Armee-Gruppe in the sense of a part of an army formed for a specific task. Heeresgruppe is an Army Group in the sense of a number of armies under a single commander.
^ General Commands for Special Use Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung (Genkdo z.b.V.)
^ Cron 2002, p. 95
^ Note that Corps (z.b.V.) were designated with Arabic, not Roman, numerals.
^ Cron 2002, p. 89
^ German War History Accessed: 13 April 2012
^ Cron 2002, p. 94
^ Cron 2002, p. 299
^ Cron 2002, p. 116
^ The Prussian Machine, HKK Accessed: 20 May 2012
^ The Prussian Machine, GenKdo Archived 2012-06-30 at archive.today Accessed: 20 May 2012
^ German War History Accessed: 20 May 2012

Bibliography

Cron, Hermann (2002). Imperial German Army 1914-18: Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle [first published: 1937]. Helion & Co. ISBN 1-874622-70-1.
Ellis, John; Cox, Michael (1993). The World War I Databook. Aurum Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85410-766-6.

[1] Cron 2002, p. 299

[2] Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 176

[3] Cron 2002, p. 94

[4] Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 189

[5] Armee-Gruppe in the sense of a part of an army formed for a specific task. Heeresgruppe is an Army Group in the sense of a number of armies under a single commander.

[6] General Commands for Special Use Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung (Genkdo z.b.V.)

[7] Cron 2002, p. 95

[8] Note that Corps (z.b.V.) were designated with Arabic, not Roman, numerals.

[9] Cron 2002, p. 89

[10] German War History Accessed: 13 April 2012

[11] Cron 2002, p. 94

[12] Cron 2002, p. 299

[13] Cron 2002, p. 116

[14] The Prussian Machine, HKK Accessed: 20 May 2012

[15] The Prussian Machine, GenKdo Archived 2012-06-30 at archive.today Accessed: 20 May 2012

[16] German War History Accessed: 20 May 2012

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