IX Reserve Corps (German Empire)

The IX Reserve Corps (German: IX. Reserve-Korps / IX RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.

IX Reserve Corps IX. Reserve-Korps
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
Active	2 August 1914 - post November 1918
Country	German Empire
Type	Corps
Size	Approximately 38,000 (on formation)
Engagements	World War I Battle of the Frontiers
Insignia
Abbreviation	IX RK

Formation

IX Reserve Corps was formed on the outbreak of the war in August 1914^[1] as part of the mobilisation of the Army. It was initially commanded by General der Infanterie Max von Boehn, brought out of retirement.^[2] It was still in existence at the end of the war^[3] in the 5th Army, Heeresgruppe Gallwitz on the Western Front.^[4]

Structure on formation

On formation in August 1914, IX Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions, made up of reserve units. In general, Reserve Corps and Reserve Divisions were weaker than their active counterparts

Reserve Infantry Regiments did not always have three battalions nor necessarily contain a machine gun company^[5]

Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation^[6]

Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons^[7]

Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each^[8]

Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains ^[9]

The IX Reserve Corps was exceptional as it formed the major part of the North Army so was provided with more Corps Troops than other Reserve Corps: a Foot Artillery Battalion, a Pioneer Regiment and a Field Airship Detachment.

In summary, IX Reserve Corps mobilised with 25 infantry battalions, 5 machine gun companies (30 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns), 4 heavy batteries (16 guns), a Field Airship Detachment and 7 pioneer companies. 17th Reserve Division was slightly stronger than the norm as it included an active infantry brigade.

Corps	Division	Brigade	Units
IX Reserve Corps[10]	17th Reserve Division	81st Infantry Brigade	162nd Infantry Regiment
			163rd Infantry Regiment
		33rd Reserve Infantry Brigade	75th Reserve Infantry Regiment
			76th Reserve Infantry Regiment[11]
			6th Reserve Hussar Regiment
			17th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
			4th Company, 9th Pioneer Battalion
			17th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train
			9th Reserve Medical Company
	18th Reserve Division	34th Reserve Infantry Brigade	31st Reserve Infantry Regiment
			90th Reserve Infantry Regiment[12]
		35th Reserve Infantry Brigade	84th Reserve Infantry Regiment[13]
			86th Reserve Infantry Regiment
			9th Reserve Jäger Battalion
			7th Reserve Hussar Regiment
			18th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
			1st Reserve Company, 9th Pioneer Battalion
			2nd Reserve Company, 9th Pioneer Battalion
			13th Reserve Medical Company
	Corps Troops		II Battalion, 2nd Guards Foot Artillery Regiment[14][15]
			31st Pioneer Regiment[16][17]
			9th Reserve Telephone Detachment
			5th Field Airship Detachment
			Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the III Reserve Corps

Combat chronicle

On mobilisation, IX Reserve Corps was assigned to the North Army, which was held back in Schleswig to defend the German North Sea Coast in case of British landings. It was soon transferred to the Western Front, joining 1st Army in late August.

Commanders

IX Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:^[18][19]

From	Rank	Name
2 August 1914	General der Infanterie	Max von Boehn
2 February 1917	Generalleutnant	Viktor Kühne
12 March 1917	Generalleutnant	Karl Dieffenbach

See also

• Germany portal

• German Army order of battle (1914)
• German Army order of battle, Western Front (1918)