Unit Name: | XXXIX Reserve Corps XXXIX. Reserve-Korps |
Dates: | December 1914 - post November 1918 |
Type: | Corps |
Size: | Approximately 26,000 (on formation) |
Battles: | World War I |
Identification Symbol: | XXXIX RK |
Identification Symbol Label: | Abbreviation |
The XXXIX Reserve Corps (German: '''XXXIX. Reserve-Korps / XXXIX RK''') was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
XXXIX Reserve Corps was formed in December 1914. It was part of the second wave of new Corps formed in the early stages of World War I consisting of XXXVIII - XXXXI[1] Reserve Corps of 75th - 82nd Reserve Divisions (plus 8th Bavarian Reserve Division). The personnel was predominantly made up of German: kriegsfreiwillige (wartime volunteers) who did not wait to be called up. It was still in existence at the end of the war.
On formation in December 1914, XXXIX Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions. but was weaker than an Active Corps
In summary, XXXIX Reserve Corps mobilised with 18 infantry battalions, 2 cavalry detachments, 24 field artillery batteries (96 guns), 2 cyclist companies and 2 pioneer companies.
Corps | Division | Brigade | Units | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ROWSPAN=16 | XXXIX Reserve Corps | ROWSPAN=8 | 77th Reserve Division | ROWSPAN=3 | 77th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 255th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
256th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||||
257th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||||
ROWSPAN=2 | 77th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 59th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||||
60th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||||||
ROWSPAN=3 | 77th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||||
77th Reserve Cyclist Company | ||||||
77th Reserve Pioneer Company | ||||||
ROWSPAN=8 | 78th Reserve Division | ROWSPAN=3 | 78th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 258th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||
259th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||||
260th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||||
ROWSPAN=2 | 78th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 61st Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||||
62nd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||||||
ROWSPAN=3 | 78th Reserve Cavalry Detachment | |||||
78th Reserve Cyclist Company | ||||||
78th Reserve Pioneer Company | ||||||
In 1915, the German offensive in Courland was intended to be a diversion while the main effort was made further south by the German 11th Army and Austro-Hungarian 4th Army in the Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive.
Armee-Abteilung Lauenstein (Army Detachment Lauenstein) was formed by upgrading XXXIX Reserve Corps of 10th Army on 22 April 1915. It was named for its commander, Generalleutnant Otto von Lauenstein, who retained simultaneous command of XXXIX Reserve Corps. It was directly under the command of OB East.[3]
Due to its success, it was continuously reinforced until it was raised to the status of an army as the Army of the Niemen on 26 May 1915. Generalleutnant von Lauenstein remained as commander of XXXIX Reserve Corps.
XXXIX Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[4] [5]
From | Rank | Name | |
---|---|---|---|
24 December 1914 | Otto von Lauenstein | ||
7 July 1916 | Hermann von Staabs[6] | ||
3 December 1917 | |||
16 March 1918 | [7] | ||
23 May 1918 | Hermann von Staabs |