II Cavalry Corps (German Empire)

II Cavalry Corps
(Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando Nr 2)
Higher Cavalry Command No. 2

Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)

Active| 2 August 1914-23 January 1915
Disbanded| 23 January 1915
Country|  German Empire
Branch| Army
Type| Cavalry
Size| Approximately 22,000 (on mobilisation)
Engagements| First World War
Insignia
Abbreviation| HKK 2

Military unit

The II Cavalry Corps (German: Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando 2 / HKK 2 literally: Higher Cavalry Command 2) was a formation of the German Army in the First World War. The corps was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914 and dissolved 23 January 1915 as the onset of trench warfare in the west negated the requirement for large cavalry formations. It was commanded throughout its existence by General der Kavallerie Georg von der Marwitz.

## Combat chronicle[edit]

Initially on the Western Front with the 2nd, 4th and 9th Cavalry Divisions preceding the 1st and 2nd Armies.[1] Withdrawn to Belgium at the end of November 1914; dissolved 23 January 1915.[2]

## Order of Battle on mobilisation[edit]

The Corps consisted of three cavalry divisions (with seven Jäger battalions attached) without corps troops; in supply and administration matters, the cavalry divisions were autonomous. The commander was only concerned with tactics and strategy, hence his title of Senior Cavalry Commander Höherer Kavallerie-Kommandeur.[3]

On formation in August 1914, the corps consisted of:[4]

* 2nd Cavalry Division
* 4th Cavalry Division
* 9th Cavalry Division
* Guards Jäger Battalion
* Guards Schützen Battalion
* 3rd Jäger Battalion
* 4th Jäger Battalion
* 7th Jäger Battalion
* 9th Jäger Battalion
* 10th Jäger Battalion

Each cavalry division consisted of three cavalry brigades (six regiments each of four squadrons), a horse artillery detachment (Abteilung) with three four-gun batteries, a machine gun detachment (company sized, six machine-guns), 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 four light infantry companies, a machine gun company (six machine-guns), a cyclist company and a motorised vehicle column.[5]

## Commanders[edit]

II Cavalry Corps was commanded throughout its existence by General der Kavallerie Georg von der Marwitz.[6]

## See also[edit]

* Germany portal

* German Army (German Empire)
* German Army order of battle (1914)
* German cavalry in World War I
* TOE, German Cavalry Division, August 1914

## References[edit]

1. ^ Cron 2002, pp. 299–300
2. ^ Cron 2002, pp. 94
3. ^ Cron 2002, p. 94
4. ^ Cron 2002, pp. 299–300
5. ^ Cron 2002, p. 116
6. ^ The Prussian Machine, HKK Accessed: 20 May 2012

## Bibliography[edit]

* Cron, Hermann (2002) [1937]. Imperial German Army 1914–18: Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle [Geschichte des deutschen Heeres im Weltkriege 1914–1918, pub. K. Siegismund, Berlin] (trans. repr. ed.). Helion & Co. ISBN 1-874622-70-1.

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Army level commands of the Imperial German Army in World War I

Numbered Armies|

* 1st
* 2nd
* 3rd
* 4th
* 5th
* 6th
* 7th
* 8th
* 9th
* 10th
* 11th
* 12th
* 14th
* 17th
* 18th
* 19th

1st|

| II Corps|

* 3rd Division
* 4th Division

|

VII Reserve Corps|

* 1st Division
* 50th Reserve Division
* 8th Bavarian Reserve Division
* 17th Division
* parts of Guards Cavalry Division

VI Reserve Corps|

* 80th Reserve Division
* Guards Cavalry Division (less elements)

XXIV Reserve Corps|

* 51st Reserve Division
* 7th Division

II Cavalry Corps|

* 2nd Cavalry Division
* 4th Cavalry Division
* 9th Cavalry Division

IX Corps|

* 17th Division
* 18th Division

IX Corps|

* 5th Reserve Division
* 6th Reserve Division

2nd|

| 54th Corps|

* 21st Reserve Division
* 22nd Division
* 4th Division
* 113th Infantry Division
* 239th Division
* 12th Reserve Division
* Jäger Division
* 185th Infantry Division

|

IV Reserve Corps|

* 14th Division
* 58th Infantry Division
* 18th Reserve Division
* 30th Division
* 44th Reserve Division

51st Corps|

* 2nd Cyclist Brigade
* 243rd Infantry Division
* 121st Infantry Division
* 54th Infantry Division
* 1st Guards Reserve Division
* 22nd Reserve Division

I Cavalry Corps / 56th Corps (z.b.V.)|

* Guards Cavalry Division
* 5th Cavalry Division
* 2nd Cavalry Division

II Cavalry Corps|

* 2nd Cavalry Division
* 4th Cavalry Division
* 9th Cavalry Division

Armee-Abteilung|

* A (Falkenhausen)
* B (Gaede)
* C (Strantz)
* D (Scholtz)
* Gronau
* Lauenstein
* Woyrsch

Named Armies|

* Bug
* Niemen
* North
* South
* High Command of Coastal Defence

* List of Divisions
* List of Corps

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