XIV Corps (German Empire)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=XIV Army Corps ("XIV. Armeekorps")
dates=1871-1919
country=Prussia/Germany
branch=Army
size=Approx. 40,000
garrison=Karlsruhe
battles=Franco-Prussian War,World War I

The XIV Army Corps ("XIV. Armeekorps") was a corps of the Imperial German Army. It was, effectively, also the army of the Grand Duchy of Baden, which had been integrated in 1871 into the Prussian Army command structure, as had the armies of most German states. Both divisions and the bulk of the corps' support units were from the grand duchy. The corps was established 1870 after the Siege of Strasbourg. [Günter Wegner, "Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815-1939." (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993), Bd. 1, p. 75.]

On mobilization in 1914, the corps was subordinated to the 7th Army and fought in the Battle of the Frontiers. In September, it was transferred to the 6th Army. From November 1916 to March 1917, the corps took command of Group Hardaumont of the 5th Army. In March 1917, it was transferred to the 3rd Army (which was renamed the 1st Army in April) and took command of Group Prosnes. In May, it was transferred to the 4th Army's control and took command of Group Dixmude. During this period it fought in the Battle of Passchendaele. In November 1917, it formed Group Wytschaete, which it commanded until December 1917, after which it took over Group Busigny in the 6th Army. It remained in command of this group into 1918. [ [http://www.1914-18.info/erster-weltkrieg.php?u=559 XIV. Armeekorps (Chronik 1914/1918)] ]

Pre-World War I organization

The organization of the corps on July 3, 1913 was as follows: [Wegner, p. 76.]

* 28th Division
* 29th Division
* Landwehr Inspection Karlsruhe
* 14th Baden Foot Artillery Regiment
* 14th Baden Pioneer Battalion
* 4th Telegraph Battalion
* 14th Baden Trains Battalion
* 4th Airship Battalion

Organization on mobilization in 1914

On mobilization, the corps assigned pioneers (combat engineers) and trains (supply units) to its subordinate divisions, and received other support units from army assets. The organization of the corps on August 17, 1914, shortly after mobilization for World War I, was as follows: [Wegner, p. 76.]

* 28th Infantry Division
* 29th Infantry Division
* II. Battalion/14th Baden Foot Artillery Regiment
* 20th Aviation Detachment (Flieger-Abteilung Nr. 20)
* 14th Corps Bridge Train
* 14th Telephone Detachment
* Searchlight Platoon/14th Baden Pioneer Battalion
* Corps munitions columns and trains

References

* [http://www.1914-18.info/erster-weltkrieg.php?u=559 XIV. Armeekorps (Chronik 1914/1918)]
* Claus von Bredow, bearb., "Historische Rang- und Stammliste des deuschen Heeres" (1905)
* Günter Wegner, "Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815-1939." (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993), Bd. 1

Notes