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III Cavalry Corps (German Empire)

III Cavalry Corps
(Höheres Kavallerie-Kommando Nr 3)
Higher Cavalry Command No. 3
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
Active2 August 1914-1919
Disbanded1919
Country German Empire
BranchArmy
TypeCavalry
SizeApproximately 17,000 (on mobilisation)
EngagementsWorld War I
Insignia
AbbreviationHKK 3

The III Cavalry Corps (German: Höheres Kavallerie-Kommando 3 / HKK 3 literally: Higher Cavalry Command 3) was a formation of the German Army in World War I. The corps was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914 and disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.

III Cavalry Corps

Initially on the Western Front with 7th, 8th and Bavarian Cavalry Divisions preceding 6th Army.[1] Transferred to the East on 9 September 1914 and assigned to 9th Army with just 8th Cavalry Division.[2] Redesignated 20 November 1916 as 57th Corps (z.b.V.).[3][4]

57th Corps

57th Corps (z.b.V.)[5] was formed on 20 November 1916 by the redesignation of III Cavalry Corps.[6] 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.).

By the end of the war, the Corps was serving on the Western Front as part of Armee-Abteilung C with the following composition:[7]

Order of Battle on mobilisation

Initially, the Corps simply consisted of 3 Cavalry Divisions (with 2 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.[8]

On formation in August 1914, the Corps consisted of:[9]

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.[10]

Designations

The corps was continually redesignated depending upon its role from time to time.[11]

Designation From To
Senior Cavalry Command 3 2 August 1914 23 September 1914
Corps Frommel 24 September 1914 2 January 1915
Cavalry Corps Frommel 2 January 1915 14 May 1915
Army Group[12] Frommel May 1915 1 August 1915
Cavalry Corps Frommel 6 August 1915 7 September 1915
Corps Frommel 8 September 1915 18 November 1916
57th Corps (z.b.V.) 20 November 1916 End of the war

Commanders

III Cavalry Corps / 57th Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[13][14][15]

Commander From To
General der Kavallerie Rudolf Ritter von Frommel 2 August 1914 7 April 1918
Generalleutnant Bernhard von Hartz 7 April 1918 End of the war

See also

References

  1. ^ Cron 2002, pp. 300–301
  2. ^ Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 188
  3. ^ General Commands for Special Use Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung (Genkdo z.b.V.)
  4. ^ Cron 2002, p. 95
  5. ^ Note that Corps (z.b.V.) were designated with Arabic, not Roman, numerals.
  6. ^ Cron 2002, p. 89
  7. ^ Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 187
  8. ^ Cron 2002, p. 94
  9. ^ Cron 2002, pp. 300–301
  10. ^ Cron 2002, p. 116
  11. ^ Cron 2002, p. 94
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ The Prussian Machine, HKK Accessed: 20 May 2012
  14. ^ The Prussian Machine, GenKdo Archived 2012-06-30 at archive.today Accessed: 20 May 2012
  15. ^ 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.
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