| Unit Name: | VI Reserve Corps VI. Reserve-Korps |
| Dates: | 2 August 1914 - post November 1918 |
| Branch: | Imperial German Army |
| Type: | Corps |
| Size: | Approximately 38,000 (on formation) |
| Battles: | World War I |
| Identification Symbol: | VI RK |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Abbreviation |
The VI Reserve Corps (German: '''VI. Reserve-Korps / VI RK''') was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.
VI 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 Konrad von Goßler, brought out of 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, VI 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, VI Reserve Corps mobilised with 23 infantry battalions, 8 machine gun companies (48 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies. 11th Reserve Division was slightly stronger than the norm as it included an active infantry brigade.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROWSPAN=21 | VI Reserve Corps | ROWSPAN=9 | 11th Reserve Division | ROWSPAN=2 | 23rd Infantry Brigade | 22nd Infantry Regiment |
| 156th Infantry Regiment | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=2 | 21st Reserve Infantry Brigade | 10th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||
| 11th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=5 | 4th Reserve Hussar Regiment | |||||
| 11th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||||||
| 4th Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion | ||||||
| 11th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train | ||||||
| 6th Reserve Medical Company | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=10 | 12th Reserve Division | ROWSPAN=3 | 22nd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment[7] | ||
| 38th Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||||
| 6th Reserve Jäger Battalion | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=2 | 23rd Reserve Infantry Brigade | 22nd Reserve Infantry Regiment | ||||
| 51st Reserve Infantry Regiment[8] | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=5 | 4th Reserve Uhlan Regiment | |||||
| 12th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||||||
| 1st Reserve Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion | ||||||
| 2nd Reserve Company, 6th Pioneer Battalion | ||||||
| 20th Reserve Medical Company | ||||||
| ROWSPAN=2 | Corps Troops | ROWSPAN=2 | 6th Reserve Telephone Detachment | |||
| Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the III Reserve Corps |
On mobilisation, VI Reserve Corps was assigned to the 5th Army forming part of the centre of the forces for the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914.
VI Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:[9] [10]
| From | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 August 1914 | Konrad von Goßler[11] | |
| 10 February 1917 | Kurt von dem Borne[12] | |
| 18 April 1918 | General der Infanterie |