55th Corps (German Empire)

55th Corps
(Generalkommando zbV 55)

Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
Active June 1916-1919
Country  German Empire
Branch Army
Engagements World War I
Disbanded 1919

The 55th Corps (German: Generalkommando zbV 55) was a corps formation of the German Army in World War I. It was formed as a temporary Bernhardi Corps (named for its commander) on 6 June 1916 before being established on 1 October 1916. It was still in existence at the end of the war.[1]

Chronicle

The 55th[2] Corps (z.b.V.)[3] was formed as a temporary Bernhardi Corps on 6 June 1916,[4] named for its commander General der Kavallerie Friedrich von Bernhardi.[5] On 1 October 1916, Bernhardi Corps was established as 55th Corps.

With the onset of trench warfare, the German Army recognised that it was no longer possible to maintain the traditional Corps unit, that is, one made up of two divisions. Whereas at some times (and in some places) a Corps of two divisions was sufficient, at other times 5 or 6 divisions were necessary. Therefore, under the Hindenburg regime (from summer 1916), new Corps headquarters were created without organic divisions.[6] These new Corps were designated General Commands for Special Use (German: Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung).

Bernhardi Corps was formed hastily in the summer of 1916 on the Austro-Hungarian front in the Volhynia region as a multi-national force defending against the Brusilov Offensive. German and Austrian troops were able to fend off the Russians in the area of the Styr and Stochid rivers. After two years on the Eastern Front, the Corps was transferred to the Western Front in February 1918 where was engaged at Armentières.[7]

By the end of the war, the Corps still serving on the Western Front as part of 6th Army, Heeresgruppe Kronprinz Rupprecht with the following composition:[8]

Commanders

The 55th Corps was commanded by General der Kavallerie Friedrich von Bernhardi throughout its existence.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cron 2002, pp. 88–89
  2. ↑ Note that Corps (z.b.V.) were designated with Arabic, not Roman, numerals.
  3. ↑ General Commands for Special Use Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung (Genkdo z.b.V.)
  4. ↑ Cron 2002, p. 88
  5. ↑ "Bernhardi biography on The Prussian Machine". Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Cron 2002, p. 87
  7. ↑  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Bernhardi, Friedrich von". Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York.
  8. ↑ Ellis & Cox 1993, p. 187
  9. ↑ The other third of 4th Ersatz Division was serving with the adjacent IV Corps, also in 6th Army.
  10. ↑ "The Prussian Machine, GenKdo". Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "German War History". Retrieved 29 October 2012.

Bibliography

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