| Ersatz Corps Ersatzkorps | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918) | |
| Active | 18 August 1914 – 18 September 1914 |
| Country |  German Empire |
| Type | Corps |
| Engagements | World War I |
The Ersatz Corps (German : Ersatzkorps) was a corps level command of the German Army that existed briefly at the beginning of World War I.
The Ersatz Corps was formed on 18 August 1914 [1] under the command of 6th Army to control the Ersatz divisions of that army (Guards, 4th, 8th, 10th and 19th), [2] hence the name of the Corps. General der Infanterie Ludwig von Falkenhausen was brought out of retirement to take command during its brief existence . [3]
Ersatz is German for "replacement". Ersatz divisions were formed on mobilisation from replacement units of active regiments. Each brigade replacement battalion (Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillone) was numbered after its parent infantry brigade, and was formed with two companies taken from each of the brigade's replacement battalions (of which there was one per infantry regiment). Cavalry Ersatz Abteilungen and Field Artillery ErsatzAbteilungen were likewise formed from active cavalry and field artillery regiments.
Armee-Abteilung Falkenhausen [4] was set up in the southern part of the Western Front in Alsace-Lorraine on 17 September 1914 from the parts of 6th Army that remained in Lorraine after the main body marched north to participate in the Race to the Sea. The Staff of the Ersatz Corps and its commander took command of the Armee-Abteilung and the Ersatz Corps ceased to exist. [5]
The Bavarian Ersatz Division was a Bavarian division of the Imperial German Army in World War I. It was formed in August 1914 and dissolved on 6 October 1918. It was initially a Bavarian formation but soon received several non-Bavarian units which served with the division until 1917.
The 8th Ersatz Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was a composite division, formed from 14 brigade replacement battalions (Brigade-Ersatz-Bataillone) from the Kingdom of Württemberg, the Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Rhine Province, the Province of Hesse-Nassau and the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine. It became more Württemberg as the war progressed; and, in February 1917, it was officially designated a Royal Württemberg division. It was redesignated the 243rd Infantry Division in April 1917.
The 4th Ersatz Division was a unit of the German Army, in World War I. The division was formed on 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 10th Ersatz 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 19th Ersatz 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 Landwehr Division was an infantry division of the Imperial German Army during World War I. It was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914 under the "Higher Landwehr Commander 3". The Landwehr was the third category of the German Army, after the regular Army and the reserves. Thus Landwehr divisions were made up of older soldiers who had passed from the reserves, and were intended primarily for occupation and security duties rather than heavy combat. While the division was a Landwehr formation, at the beginning of the war it also had an attached Ersatz infantry brigade, made up of cadres from various regimental replacement battalions. The division was primarily raised in the Prussian provinces of Posen, Lower Silesia, and West Prussia. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
The 83rd Infantry Division was a formation of the Imperial German Army in World War I. The division was formed in November 1914 as the "Division Posen 1", part of the Posen Corps, and became the 83rd Infantry Division in June 1915. It was initially formed from the garrison infantry regiments of Fortress Posen. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.
Armee-Abteilung Falkenhausen / Armee-Abteilung A was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It served on the left (southern) wing of the Western Front throughout its existence.
The XXXIX Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The XXXX Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The VII Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The X Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The XII Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The VIII Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The V Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The VI Reserve Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The XV Royal Bavarian Reserve Corps / XV Bavarian RK was a corps level command of the Royal Bavarian Army, part of the German Army, in World War I.
The Landwehr Corps was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
The XXI Army Corps / XXI AK was a corps level command of the German Army, before and during World War I.
The V Army Corps / V AK was a corps level command of the Prussian and then the Imperial German Armies from the 19th century to World War I.
