| Unit Name: | VII Reserve Corps VII. Reserve-Korps |
| Dates: | 2 August 1914 - post November 1918 |
| Type: | Corps |
| Size: | Approximately 38,000 (on formation) |
| Battles: | World War I |
| Identification Symbol: | VII RK |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Abbreviation |
The VII Reserve Corps (de|'''VII. Reserve-Korps / VII RK''') was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
VII Reserve Corps was formed on the outbreak of the war in August 1914 as part of the mobilisation of the Army. It was initially commanded by General der Infanterie Hans von Zwehl, recalled from retirement.[1] It was still in existence at the end of the war in the 1st Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.
On formation in August 1914, VII 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[2]
Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation[3]
Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons[4]
Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each[5]
Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains [6]
In summary, VII Reserve Corps mobilised with 24 infantry battalions, 8 machine gun companies (48 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies. 14th Reserve Division was slightly stronger than the norm as it included an active infantry brigade.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROWSPAN=21 | VII Reserve Corps | ROWSPAN=10 | 13th Reserve Division | ROWSPAN=2 | 25th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 13th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| 56th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=3 | 28th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 39th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||
| 57th Reserve Infantry Regiment[7] | ||||||
| 7th Reserve Jäger Battalion | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=5 | 5th Reserve Hussar Regiment | |||||
| 13th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||||||
| 4th Company, 7th Pioneer Battalion | ||||||
| 13th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | ||||||
| 7th Reserve Medical Company | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=9 | 14th Reserve Division | ROWSPAN=2 | 28th Infantry Brigade | 39th Füsilier Regiment | ||
| 159th Infantry Regiment | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=2 | 27th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 16th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||
| 53rd Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=5 | 8th Reserve Hussar Regiment | |||||
| 14th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||||||
| 1st Reserve Company, 7th Pioneer Battalion | ||||||
| 2nd Reserve Company, 7th Pioneer Battalion | ||||||
| 21st Reserve Medical Company | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=2 | Corps Troops | ROWSPAN=2 | 7th Reserve Telephone Detachment | |||
| Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the III Reserve Corps |
On mobilisation, VII Reserve Corps was assigned to the 2nd Army forming part of the right wing of the forces that invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914.
VII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[8] [9]
| From | Rank | Name | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 August 1914 | Hans von Zwehl | ||
| 17 December 1916 | General der Infanterie | Franz Freiherr von Soden | |
| 27 August 1917 | Otto von Garnier | ||
| 3 December 1917 | Generalleutnant | Richard Wellmann | |
| 15 June 1918 | Generalleutnant | Arthur von Lindequist |