8th Cavalry Division (8. Kavallerie-Division) | |
---|---|
Active | 2 August 1914 – 9 April 1918 |
Disbanded | 9 April 1918 |
Country | German Empire |
Branch | Army |
Type | Cavalry |
Size | Approximately 5,000 (on mobilisation) |
Engagements | World War I |
The 8th Cavalry Division (8. Kavallerie-Division) was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was dissolved in April 1918. The majority of the division was drawn from the Kingdom of Saxony.
It was initially assigned to III Cavalry Corps, which preceded the 6th Army on the Western Front. On 30 August 1914, it was transferred to the Eastern Front, where it arrived too late for the Battle of Tannenberg but in time for the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. [1] It was dismounted in 1917 and dissolved on 9 April 1918. [2]
A more detailed combat chronicle can be found at the German-language version of this article.
On formation, in August 1914, the component units of the division were: [3]
The Guards Cavalry Division (Garde-Kavallerie-Division) was a unit of the Prussian Army that was stationed in Berlin. The division was a part of the Guards Corps (Gardekorps).
The 2nd Division was a unit of the Prussian/German Army. It was formed in Danzig in March 1816 as a Troop Brigade (Truppen-Brigade). It became the 2nd Division on September 5, 1818. In 1890, the headquarters of the division was relocated to Königsberg, then the capital of East Prussia. In 1899, the headquarters was moved to Insterburg, further inland and closer to the border with the Russian Empire. From the latter's formation in 1820, the division was subordinated in peacetime to the I Army Corps. The 2nd Division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The XX Army Corps / XX AK was a corps level command of the German Army before and during World War I.
The XII Army Corps / XII AK was a Saxon corps level command of the Saxon and German Armies before and during World War I.
The XIX Army Corps / XIX AK was a Saxon corps level command of the German Army, before and during World War I.
The I Army Corps / I AK was a corps level command of the Prussian and then the Imperial German Armies from the 19th Century to World War I.
The 1st Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The 2nd Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The 3rd Cavalry Division was a unit of the Prussian Army, part of German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in November 1916.
The 5th Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was dissolved in February 1918.
The 9th Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was dissolved in March 1918.
The Bavarian Cavalry Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army, part of the German Army, in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919, during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The division was raised and recruited in Bavaria.
The 7th Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The 6th Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army that fought on Eastern and Western Fronts during World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914 and was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The 4th Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The history of the German Cavalry in World War I is one of an arm in decline.
The North Army was an army level command of the German Army that existed briefly at the outbreak of World War I.
The XVII Army Corps / XVII AK was a corps level command of the German Army before and during World War I.
The XI Army Corps / XI AK was a corps level command of the Prussian and German Armies before and during World War I.
The VII Army Corps / VII AK was a corps level command of the Prussian and then the Imperial German Armies from the 19th Century to World War I.