# German cavalry in World War I

The history of the German Cavalry in World War I is one of an arm in decline.

## Pre-war

The peacetime Imperial German Army was organised as 25 Corps (Guards, I - XXI and I - III Bavarian) each of two divisions (1st and 2nd Guards, 1st - 42nd and 1st - 6th Bavarian). Each division included a cavalry brigade (of two regiments) numbered as their parent division with the following exceptions:
* The Guards Corps had four cavalry brigades organised as the Guards Cavalry Division, the only peacetime cavalry division in the Army
* The Leib Hussar Brigade was assigned to 36th Division and there was no 36th Cavalry Brigade
* Three corps had an extra cavalry brigade:
** 43rd Cavalry Brigade attached to 2nd Division of I Corps
** 44th Cavalry Brigade attached to 12th Division of VI Corps
** 45th Cavalry Brigade attached to 34th Division of XVI Corps
This gave a total of 55 brigades and 110 regiments.
Pre-war regimental assignments :
| Brigade | Peacetime Corps | Peacetime Division | Regiment | Regiment |
| 1st Guards Cavalry | Guards Corps | Guards Cavalry Division | Garde du Corps | Guards Cuirassiers |
| 2nd Guards Cavalry | Guards Corps | Guards Cavalry Division | 1st Guards Uhlans | 3rd Guards Uhlans |
| 3rd Guards Cavalry | Guards Corps | Guards Cavalry Division | 1st Guards Dragoons | 2nd Guards Dragoons |
| 4th Guards Cavalry | Guards Corps | Guards Cavalry Division | Guards Hussars | 2nd Guards Uhlans |
| 1st Cavalry | I Corps | 1st Division | 3rd Cuirassiers | 1st Dragoons |
| 2nd Cavalry | I Corps | 2nd Division | 12th Uhlans | 9th Jäger zu Pferde |
| 3rd Cavalry | II Corps | 3rd Division | 2nd Cuirassiers | 9th Uhlans |
| 4th Cavalry | II Corps | 4th Division | 3rd Grenadiers zu Pferde | 12th Dragoons |
| 5th Cavalry | III Corps | 5th Division | 2nd Dragoons | 3rd Uhlans |
| 6th Cavalry | III Corps | 6th Division | 6th Cuirassiers | 3rd Hussars |
| 7th Cavalry | IV Corps | 7th Division | 10th Hussars | 16th Uhlans |
| 8th Cavalry | IV Corps | 8th Division | 7th Cuirassiers | 12th Hussars |
| 9th Cavalry | V Corps | 9th Division | 4th Dragoons | 10th Uhlans |
| 10th Cavalry | V Corps | 10th Division | 1st Uhlans | 1st Jäger zu Pferde |
| 11th Cavalry | VI Corps | 11th Division | 1st Leib Cuirassiers | 8th Dragoons |
| 12th Cavalry | VI Corps | 12th Division | 4th Hussars | 6th Hussars |
| 13th Cavalry | VII Corps | 13th Division | 4th Cuirassiers | 8th Hussars |
| 14th Cavalry | VII Corps | 14th Division | 11th Hussars | 5th Uhlans |
| 15th Cavalry | VIII Corps | 15th Division | 8th Cuirassiers | 7th Hussars |
| 16th Cavalry | VIII Corps | 16th Division | 7th Jäger zu Pferde | 8th Jäger zu Pferde |
| 17th Cavalry | IX Corps | 17th Division | 17th Dragoons | 18th Dragoons |
| 18th Cavalry | IX Corps | 18th Division | 15th Hussars | 16th Hussars |
| 19th Cavalry | X Corps | 19th Division | 19th Dragoons | 13th Uhlans |
| 20th Cavalry | X Corps | 20th Division | 16th Dragoons | 17th Hussars |
| 21st Cavalry | XVIII Corps | 21st Division | 6th Dragoons | 6th Uhlans |
| 22nd Cavalry | XI Corps | 22nd Division | 5th Dragoons | 14th Hussars |
| 23rd Cavalry | XII Corps | 23rd Division | Saxon Heavy Cavalry | 17th Uhlans |
| 24th Cavalry | XIX Corps | 24th Division | 19th Hussars | 18th Uhlans |
| 25th Cavalry | XVIII Corps | 25th Division | 23rd Guard Dragoons | 24th Leib Dragoons |
| 26th Cavalry | XIII Corps | 26th Division | 25th Dragoons | 26th Dragoons |
| 27th Cavalry | XIII Corps | 27th Division | 19th Uhlans | 20th Uhlans |
| 28th Cavalry | XIV Corps | 28th Division | 20th Leib Dragoons | 21st Dragoons |
| 29th Cavalry | XIV Corps | 29th Division | 22nd Dragoons | 5th Jäger zu Pferde |
| 30th Cavalry | XV Corps | 30th Division | 15th Dragoons | 9th Hussars |
| 31st Cavalry | XXI Corps | 31st Division | 7th Dragoons | 7th Uhlans |
| 32nd Cavalry | XII Corps | 32nd Division | 18th Hussars | 20th Hussars |
| 33rd Cavalry | XVI Corps | 33rd Division | 9th Dragoons | 13th Dragoons |
| 34th Cavalry | XVI Corps | 34th Division | 14th Uhlans | 12th Jäger zu Pferde |
| 35th Cavalry | XVII Corps | 35th Division | 5th Hussars | 4th Jäger zu Pferde |
| Leib Hussar | XVII Corps | 36th Division | 1st Leib Hussars | 2nd Leib Hussars |
| 37th Cavalry | XX Corps | 37th Division | 10th Dragoons | 11th Dragoons |
| 38th Cavalry | XI Corps | 38th Division | 2nd Jäger zu Pferde | 6th Jäger zu Pferde |
| 39th Cavalry | XV Corps | 39th Division | 14th Dragoons | 3rd Jäger zu Pferde |
| 40th Cavalry | XIX Corps | 40th Division | Saxon Carabiniers | 21st Uhlans |
| 41st Cavalry | XX Corps | 41st Division | 5th Cuirassiers | 4th Uhlans |
| 42nd Cavalry | XXI Corps | 42nd Division | 11th Uhlans | 15th Uhlans |
| 43rd Cavalry | I Corps | 2nd Division | 8th Uhlans | 10th Jäger zu Pferde |
| 44th Cavalry | VI Corps | 12th Division | 2nd Uhlans | 11th Jäger zu Pferde |
| 45th Cavalry | XVI Corps | 34th Division | 13th Hussars | 13th Jäger zu Pferde |
| 1st Bavarian Cavalry | I Bavarian Corps | 1st Bavarian Division | 1st Bavarian Heavy Cavalry | 2nd Bavarian Heavy Cavalry |
| 2nd Bavarian Cavalry | I Bavarian Corps | 2nd Bavarian Division | 4th Bavarian Chevaulégers | 8th Bavarian Chevaulégers |
| 3rd Bavarian Cavalry | II Bavarian Corps | 3rd Bavarian Division | 3rd Bavarian Chevaulégers | 5th Bavarian Chevaulégers |
| 4th Bavarian Cavalry | II Bavarian Corps | 4th Bavarian Division | 1st Bavarian Uhlans | 2nd Bavarian Uhlans |
| 5th Bavarian Cavalry | III Bavarian Corps | 5th Bavarian Division | 1st Bavarian Chevaulégers | 6th Bavarian Chevaulégers |
| 6th Bavarian Cavalry | III Bavarian Corps | 6th Bavarian Division | 2nd Bavarian Chevaulégers | 7th Bavarian Chevaulégers |
A complete list of the pre-war regiments, their peacetime corps assignments and garrisons is shown here.

## Mobilisation

On mobilisation, the pre-war cavalry brigades were withdrawn from their divisions (as detailed below). 33 brigades (66 regiments) were used to form the 11 cavalry divisions. The remaining 22 brigades (44 regiments) were broken up and their regiments were employed as divisional cavalry for the 50 active divisions. This necessitated 6 regiments being raised to a strength of 6 squadrons before being split into two half-regiments of 3 squadrons each. The regiments involved were:
* 3rd Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 5th & 6th Divisions of III Corps
* 10th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 7th & 8th Divisions of IV Corps
* 16th Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 13th & 14th Divisions of VII Corps
* 16th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 17th & 18th Divisions of IX Corps
* 17th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 19th & 20th Divisions of X Corps
* 6th Cuirassiers assigned as divisional cavalry to 22nd & 38th Divisions of XI Corps
The other active regiments had a strength of 4 squadrons.
33 Reserve Cavalry Regiments, 2 Landwehr Cavalry Regiments and an Ersatz Cavalry Regiment were also formed and assigned to field formations. Each of these had a strength of 3 squadrons. Finally, there were 38 Landwehr squadrons (assigned to the mixed Landwehr brigades) and 19 Ersatz detachments (assigned to the mixed Ersatz brigades).
Reserve, Landwehr and Ersatz Regiments raised on mobilisation :
| Regiment | Raised by | Divisional assignment | Corps assignment. |
| Reserve Guards Uhlans | Guards Corps | 3rd Guards Division | Guards Reserve Corps |
| Reserve Guards Dragoons | Guards Corps | 1st Guards Reserve Division | Guards Reserve Corps |
| 1st Reserve Uhlans | I Corps | 1st Reserve Division | I Reserve Corps |
| 1st Reserve Hussars | XVII Corps | 36th Reserve Division | I Reserve Corps |
| 2nd Reserve Dragoons | III Corps | 5th Reserve Division | III Reserve Corps |
| 3rd Reserve Uhlans | III Corps | 6th Reserve Division | III Reserve Corps |
| 1st Reserve Schwere Reiter | IV Corps | 7th Reserve Division | IV Reserve Corps |
| 1st Reserve Jager zu Pferde | XI Corps | 22nd Reserve Division | IV Reserve Corps |
| 3rd Reserve Dragoons | V Corps | 9th Reserve Division | V Reserve Corps |
| 6th Reserve Uhlans | V Corps | 10th Reserve Division | V Reserve Corps |
| 4th Reserve Hussars | VI Corps | 11th Reserve Division | VI Reserve Corps |
| 4th Reserve Uhlans | VI Corps | 12th Reserve Division | VI Reserve Corps |
| 5th Reserve Hussars | VII Corps | 13th Reserve Division | VII Reserve Corps |
| 8th Reserve Hussars | VII Corps | 14th Reserve Division | VII Reserve Corps |
| 5th Reserve Uhlans | X Corps | 15th Reserve Division | VIII Reserve Corps |
| 2nd Reserve Schwere Reiter | VIII Corps | 16th Reserve Division | VIII Reserve Corps |
| 6th Reserve Hussars | IX Corps | 17th Reserve Division | IX Reserve Corps |
| 7th Reserve Hussars | IX Corps | 18th Reserve Division | IX Reserve Corps |
| 2nd Reserve Uhlans | II Corps | 2nd Guards Reserve Division | X Reserve Corps |
| 6th Reserve Dragoons | X Corps | 19th Reserve Division | X Reserve Corps |
| Reserve Saxon Hussars | XII Corps | 23rd Reserve Division | XII Reserve Corps |
| Reserve Saxon Uhlans | XIX Corps | 24th Reserve Division | XII Reserve Corps |
| Reserve Wurttenberg Dragoons | XIII Corps | 26th Reserve Division | XIV Reserve Corps |
| 8th Reserve Dragoons | XIV Corps | 28th Reserve Division | XIV Reserve Corps |
| 7th Reserve Dragoons | XI Corps | 21st Reserve Division | XVIII Reserve Corps |
| 4th Reserve Dragoons | XVIII Corps | 25th Reserve Division | XVIII Reserve Corps |
| 1st Reserve Bavarian | I Bavarian Corps | 1st Bavarian Reserve Division | I Bavarian Reserve Corps |
| 5th Reserve Bavarian | III Bavarian Corps | 5th Bavarian Reserve Division | I Bavarian Reserve Corps |
| 5th Reserve Dragoons | II Corps | 3rd Reserve Division | Directly subordinated to 8th Army |
| 9th Reserve Hussars | III Corps | 30th Reserve Division | Fortress Strassburg |
| 2nd Reserve Hussars | IV Corps | 33rd Reserve Division | Fortress Metz |
| 3rd Reserve Schwere Reiter | XX Corps | 35th Reserve Division | Fortress Thorn |
| 1st Reserve Dragoons | XX Corps | n/a | Fortress Königsberg |
| 1st Landwehr Cavalry | V Corps | 3rd Landwehr Division | Landwehr Corps |
| 2nd Landwehr Cavalry | VI Corps | 4th Landwehr Division | Landwehr Corps |
| Ersatz Cavalry | VI Corps | 4th Landwehr Division | Landwehr Corps |

## Regiments

The 110 active regiments were assigned to the Field Army on mobilisation. Each regiment formed a depot squadron which remained in Germany and took 4 squadrons into the field. 6 regiments were brought up to a strength of 6 squadrons and split into two half regiments; they joined the two divisions of their Corps. 33 Reserve Regiments, 2 Landwehr Regiments and 1 Ersatz Regiment also joined the Field Army, but were only at a strength of 3 squadrons.
Establishment of each regiment :
| Squadrons | Officers | NCOs and other ranks | riding horses | draught horses | bridge wagons | telephone wagons | medical wagons | baggage wagons | supply wagons | fodder wagons |
| 4 | 36 | 688 | 709 | 60 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 51 | 1017 | 1057 | 76 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 3 | 27 | 511 | 532 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |

### Cavalry Divisions

In September 1916, the establishment of cavalry regiments within the Cavalry Divisions was reduced to 675 horses instead of 769. The Supreme Command did not stop there, but also took away the horses of entire regiments and used them as infantry. These regiments were redesignated as Cavalry Schützen Regiments (as detailed below). By the end of the war, just 22 Cavalry Regiments remained mounted, a fifth of the active regiments mobilised in 1914.

### Divisional Cavalry

A measure was put into force through the War Ministry at the beginning of August 1916 whereby every division and autonomous brigade in the Army of the West was to command just one squadron of cavalry. The measure also came into force immediately in the Army of the East. The Landwehr and Ersatz formations, together with the individual squadrons and Reserve Detachments set up during the war for the new divisions were dissolved.
For the cavalry regiments allocated as individual squadrons to the divisions, the regimental unit ceased to exist for all practical purposes. The Regimental Staffs were not dissolved, but were for the most part left with the divisions they happened to find themselves with, to be used for special purposes. 16 Regimental Commanders found new employment as horse inspectors; two Regimental Staffs were changed into Infantry Regiment Staffs; and three Regimental Staffs were changed into Jäger Regiment Staffs.
By the end of war, about 250 individual mounted squadrons remained, representing 61 active and 22 reserve cavalry regiments.

### Nomenclature

Although the various regiments were divided into a number of different categories (cuirassiers, dragoons, hussars, uhlans, etc.) all had the same role. Regiments bore a number within its category, a state (or province in the case of Prussian regiments) and usually an honour title. For example,
* 6th (Brandenburg) Cuirassiers "Emperor Nicholas I of Russia" was the 6th regiment of cuirassiers, from the Prussian Province of Brandenburg and named for Tsar Nicholas I of Russia
* 26th (2nd Württemberg) Dragoons "King" was the 26th regiment of dragoons, the 2nd one drawn from the Kingdom of Württemberg
* 21st (3rd Royal Saxon) Uhlans was the 21st regiment of uhlans (lancers) and the 3rd from the Kingdom of Saxony
Bavarian regiments were numbered in a separate sequence, so 1st Royal Bavarian Uhlans "Emperor William II, King of Prussia" was distinct from 1st (West Prussian) Uhlans "Emperor Alexander III of Russia"
Uniquely amongst cavalry regiments, the 7th Dragoon Regiment was awarded an honour title during the war (on 23 September 1917) and was thereafter
* 7th (Westphalian) Dragoons "Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold of Bavaria".

## Brigades

33 pre-war brigades were used to form the 11 cavalry divisions. The remaining 22 brigades were broken up (only the 39th Cavalry Brigade was reconstituted) and their regiments were used to form the divisional cavalry for the 50 pre-war infantry divisions. Other than these, only a handful of other Cavalry Brigades were formed:
* Provisional Guards Cavalry Brigade operated in the East from 5 January 1915 to 12 November 1916
* Siebenbürg Cavalry Brigade formed for the Romanian Campaign out of the remnants of the dissolved 3rd Cavalry Division, later renamed 7th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade
* 4th Landwehr Cavalry Brigade as the 4th Landwehr Division was the only division to mobilise with two cavalry regiments
All other Cavalry Brigades named for their commanders were temporary formations and merely consisted of reinforced cavalry regiments, for example Cavalry Brigade Kaufmann under the Staff of 6th Uhlans.
By the end of the war, just 10 cavalry brigades remained as mounted formations:
* 2nd Cavalry Brigade with 1st Cavalry Division
* 17th Cavalry Brigade autonomous in the East
* 22nd Cavalry Brigade with 2nd Cavalry Division
* 23rd Cavalry Brigade autonomous in the East
* 25th Cavalry Brigade with 2nd Cavalry Division
* Leib Hussar Brigade autonomous in the East
* 1st Bavarian Cavalry Brigade with Bavarian Cavalry Division
* 4th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade autonomous in the East
* 5th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade with Bavarian Cavalry Division
* 7th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade autonomous in the Caucasus
The rest had been dissolved, converted to Cavalry Schützen Commands, or formed mixed units in Russia and Ukraine.
War service of Cavalry Brigades :
| Brigade | War service |
| 1st Guards Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to Guards Cavalry Division; 9 April 1917 became independent. |
| 2nd Guards Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to Guards Cavalry Division; 6 June 1916 became independent. |
| 3rd Guards Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to Guards Cavalry Division; 18 October 1916 became independent. |
| 4th Guards Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; Life Guards Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 1st Guards Division and 2nd Guards Uhlans to 2nd Guards Division. |
| Provisional Guards Cavalry | Formed by 2nd Cavalry Division on 5 January 1915; 15 January 1915 became independent; 12 November 1916 dissolved. |
| 1st Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division; 3 October 1916 became independent; 13 October to 1 November 1916 Brigade Staff joined 3rd Cavalry Division; 2 November 1916 renamed Siebenbürg Cavalry Brigade. |
| 2nd Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division and remained with the division throughout. |
| 3rd Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 4th Cavalry Division; 30 November 1914 became independent; 17 October 1916 joined 6th Cavalry Division; 6 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 3. |
| 4th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 3rd Grenadiers zu Pferde assigned as divisional cavalry to 3rd Division and 12th Dragoons to 4th Division. |
| 5th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 2nd Cavalry Division; 8 August 1916 became independent; 19 October 1916 joined 6th Cavalry Division; 11 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 5. |
| 6th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 6th Cuirassiers assigned as divisional cavalry to 22nd & 38th Divisions and 3rd Hussars to 5th & 6th Divisions. |
| 7th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 10th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 7th & 8th Divisions and 16th Uhlans to 13th & 14th Divisions. |
| 8th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 2nd Cavalry Division; 25 July 1916 joined 1st Cavalry Division; 18 October 1916 joined 6th Cavalry Division; 6 October 1917 became independent. |
| 9th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 5th Cavalry Division; 26 December 1916 became independent. |
| 10th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 1st Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 9th Division and 1st Jäger zu Pferde to 10th Division. |
| 11th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 5th Cavalry Division; 23 March 1918 joined Guards Cavalry Division; 8 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 11. |
| 12th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 5th Cavalry Division; 20 February 1918 became independent. |
| 13th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 9th Cavalry Division; 8 February 1916, Brigade Staff renamed Cavalry Inspector for the Warsaw General Government; 13 December 1916 joined the Staff of the Quartermaster-General as Representative for Equine Affairs. |
| 14th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 9th Cavalry Division; 23 February 1918 joined Guards Cavalry Division; 8 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 14. |
| 15th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 8th Cuirassiers assigned as divisional cavalry to 15th Division and 7th Hussars to 16th Division. |
| 16th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 3rd Cavalry Division; 1 September 1916 became independent. |
| 17th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 4th Cavalry Division; 1 February 1917 became independent. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war (in the East). |
| 18th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 4th Cavalry Division; 12 December 1916 joined 1st Cavalry Division; 15 October 1918 absorbed into XXXXI Reserve Corps. |
| 19th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 9th Cavalry Division; 8 April 1917 joined Guards Cavalry Division; 12 February 1918 became independent. |
| 20th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 16th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 17th & 18th Divisions and 17th Hussars to 19th & 20th Divisions. |
| 21st Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 6th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 25th Division and 6th Uhlans to 21st Division. |
| 22nd Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 3rd Cavalry Division; 13 August 1916 joined 2nd Cavalry Division. |
| 23rd Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 8th Cavalry Division; 1 February 1917 joined 1st Cavalry Division; 22 October 1917 became independent. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war (in the East). |
| 24th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 19th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 40th Division and 18th Uhlans to 24th Division. |
| 25th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 3rd Cavalry Division; 23 September 1916 joined 2nd Cavalry Division. |
| 26th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 7th Cavalry Division; 6 October 1917 became independent. |
| 27th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 19th Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 27th Division and 20th Uhlans to 26th Division. |
| 28th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 6th Cavalry Division; 1 February 1917 joined 4th Cavalry Division; 17 May 1918 joined 7th Cavalry Division; 27 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 28. |
| 29th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 22nd Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 29th Division and 5th Jäger zu Pferde to 28th Division. |
| 30th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 7th Cavalry Division; 27 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 30. |
| 31st Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 7th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 42nd Division and 7th Uhlans to 31st Division. |
| 32nd Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 18th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 23rd Division and 20th Hussars to 32nd Division. |
| 33rd Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 6th Cavalry Division; 14 September 1916 became independent. |
| 34th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 14th Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 34th Division and 12th Jäger zu Pferde to 33rd Division. |
| 35th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 5th Hussars assigned as divisional cavalry to 36th Division and 4th Jäger zu Pferde to 35th Division. |
| Leib Hussar | On mobilisation, assigned to 2nd Cavalry Division; became independent on 20 August 1916. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war (in the East). |
| 37th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 10th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 37th Division and 11th Dragoons to 41st Division. |
| 38th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 8th Cavalry Division; 20 April 1918 joined Guards Cavalry Division; 8 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 38. |
| 39th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 14th Dragoons assigned as divisional cavalry to 39th Division and 3rd Jäger zu Pferde to 30th Division; 28 September 1914 reconstituted and joined 4th Cavalry Division; 1 February 1917 transferred to 8th Cavalry Division; 6 April 1918 rejoined 4th Cavalry Division. |
| 40th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 8th Cavalry Division; 10 April 1918 dissolved. |
| 41st Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division; 17 October 1916 joined 7th Cavalry Division; 27 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 41. |
| 42nd Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 7th Cavalry Division; 14 September 1916 became independent. |
| 43rd Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 8th Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 1st Division and 10th Jäger zu Pferde to 2nd Division. |
| 44th Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 2nd Uhlans assigned as divisional cavalry to 12th Division and 11th Jäger zu Pferde to 11th Division. |
| 45th Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to 6th Cavalry Division; 14 October 1916 became independent; 1 February 1917 joined 4th Cavalry Division; 1 May 1918 rejoined 6th Cavalry Division; 6 May 1918 renamed Cavalry Schützen Command 45. |
| 1st Bavarian Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to Bavarian Cavalry Division and remained with the division throughout. |
| 2nd Bavarian Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 4th Bavarian Chevaulégers assigned as divisional cavalry to 2nd Bavarian Division and 8th Bavarian Chevaulégers to 1st Bavarian Division. |
| 3rd Bavarian Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 3rd Bavarian Chevaulégers assigned as divisional cavalry to 3rd Bavarian Division and 5th Bavarian Chevaulégers to 4th Bavarian Division. |
| 4th Bavarian Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to Bavarian Cavalry Division; 3 July 1917 became independent. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war (in the East). |
| 5th Bavarian Cavalry | On mobilisation, assigned to Bavarian Cavalry Division and remained with the division throughout. |
| 6th Bavarian Cavalry | Brigade dissolved on mobilisation; 2nd Bavarian Chevaulégers assigned as divisional cavalry to 6th Bavarian Division and 7th Bavarian Chevaulégers to 5th Bavarian Division. |
| 7th Bavarian Cavalry | 1 June 1917 renamed from Siebenbürg Cavalry Brigade; joined 2nd Cavalry Division at some point; 18 February 1918 became independent. Remained as a mounted unit to the end of the war (in the Caucasus). |
| Siebenbürg Cavalry | 2 November 1916 Staff renamed from 1st Cavalry Brigade, remained attached to 3rd Cavalry Division to 31 May 1917; 1 June 1917 became independent and renamed 7th Bavarian Cavalry Brigade. |
| 4th Landwehr Cavalry | Established at the end of September 1914 with the 4th Landwehr Division; 1 October 1916 dissolved. Brigade Staff became the Staff of 215th Infantry Brigade. |

## Divisions

The German Army constituted 11 cavalry divisions at the outbreak of war - the existing Guards Cavalry Division and 10 more formed on mobilisation. Each consisted of 3 cavalry brigades (6 regiments each of 4 squadrons), a horse artillery Abteilung (3 four-gun batteries), a machine gun detachment (company size, 6 MGs), plus pioneers, signals and a motor vehicle column. A more detailed Table of Organisation and Equipment can be seen here.
Apart from the opening actions of the war, the use of these divisions as proper cavalry was only possible in the offensive in Courland and on Vilna in 1915, for a short time in Romania, and in 1918 in support of Ukraine. Most of the time they were used as infantry.
The increasing shortage of horses led to the 4th, 5th and 9th Cavalry Divisions being dismounted in October 1916. The 3rd Cavalry Division was dissolved in November 1916 and the 6th and 7th Cavalry Divisions were also dismounted in November 1917. The Guards Cavalry Division followed in March 1918.
The dismounted divisions were converted to Cavalry Schützen Divisions. Here, the cavalry brigades were renamed Cavalry Schützen Commands and performed a similar role to that of an infantry regiment command. Likewise, the cavalry regiments became Cavalry Schützen Regiments and allotted the role of an infantry battalion and their squadrons acted as infantry companies. However, these units were much weaker than normal infantry formations (for example, a Schützen squadron had a strength of just 4 officers and 109 NCOs and other ranks, considerably less than that of an infantry company). However, the 5th, 8th and 9th Cavalry Divisions were dissolved before conversion to Schützen.
By the end of the war, there were only 3 Cavalry Divisions in the East (1st, 2nd and Bavarian with just 5 brigades between them) and 4 Schützen Divisions in the West (Guards, 4th, 6th and 7th though the 4th was more akin to a Landwehr Division).
War service of Cavalry Divisions :
| Division | Formed | Combat Chronicle | Fate |
| Guards Cavalry | pre-war | On the Western Front until December 1914, then frontier guard duties against the Netherlands until 30 June 1915, then to Russia. From 16 March 1918 to 9 April 1918 dismounted, re-formation and training on the Zossen troop training ground. Thereafter, Guards Cavalry Schützen Division on the Western Front. In Artois to May 1918, then Champagne / Aisne. | Schützen Division disbanded post-war |
| 1st Cavalry | on mobilisation | Remained in the East throughout the war. 6 January 1915 to 22 August 1917, Coastal Defence duties in northern Courland. To Ukraine in March 1918 (until 29 January 1919). From 16 January 1918 it contained just one brigade of 3 regiments. | disbanded post-war |
| 2nd Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front. From 12 November 1914 transferred to Russia until 25 November 1916; in Romania until December 1916; then back to the West. Frontier Guard on the Dutch border from 26 February 1917 to 10 September 1917; then again to Russia and finally in Ukraine from March 1918. | disbanded post-war |
| 3rd Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front until December 1914, then occupation duties in Belgium. From 6 April 1915 transferred to Russia and dissolved there on 1 September 1916. Reformed on 9 September 1916 in Hungary and after that in Transylvania. | dissolved November 1916 |
| 4th Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front until November 1914. Transferred to Russia until March 1918. Returned to the Western Front, in Alsace until the end of the war. Dismounted in October 1916 and restructured to form 4th Cavalry Schützen Division. | Schützen Division disbanded post-war |
| 5th Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front until October 1914, then to the Eastern Front. From 14 July 1915 to 1 September 1915 designated as Cavalry Corps Hendebreck. From October 1916 dismounted. | dissolved 27 February 1918 |
| 6th Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front until October 1914, transferred to Russia until October 1916, and to Romania until February 1917. Returned to the Western Front and in Alsace until July 1918, Flanders until August 1918, Artois to October 1918 and back to Flanders until the end of the war. Dismounted on 5 May 1918 and restructured to form 6th Cavalry Schützen Division. | Schützen Division disbanded post-war |
| 7th Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front until October 1915, occupation duties in Belgium until October 1916 and to Romania until January 1917. Returned to the Western Front and in Alsace until May 1918, Flanders until August 1918, Artois to October 1918 and back to Flanders until the end of the war. Dismounted on 14 May 1918 and restructured to form 7th Cavalry Schützen Division. | Schützen Division disbanded post-war |
| 8th Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front until 30 August 1914, then to the Eastern Front. Arrived too late for the Battle of Tannenberg but in time for the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Dismounted in 1917. | dissolved 9 April 1918 |
| 9th Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front until 27 November 1914, then to Russia. Dismounted in October 1916. | dissolved 3 March 1918 |
| Bavarian Cavalry | on mobilisation | On the Western Front until November 1914. Occupation duties in Belgium until January 1915. Training in Germany until April 1915 before transferring to Russia until November 1917; in Romania until April 1918; then finally in Ukraine/Crimea. | disbanded post-war |

## Corps

On mobilisation, the German Army formed 4 Cavalry Corps for the Western Front (just a single Cavalry Division was operating in the East). Initially, each simply consisted of 2 or 3 Cavalry Divisions without any Corps troops; in supply and administration matters, the Cavalry Divisions were entirely autonomous. The Cavalry Corps were entitled Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando (HKK - Higher Cavalry Command) and the commander was only concerned with tactics and strategy, hence his title of Senior Cavalry Commander Höherer Kavallerie-Kommandeur.
By the beginning of 1915, with the solidifying of the trench system, they could no longer find employment on the Western Front. II and IV Cavalry Corps were dissolved and I and III Cavalry Corps were transferred to the East. With less use as pure Cavalry formations, each underwent a series of redesignations according to their particular role from time to time. Two new Corps were formed in June 1915 (V and VI Cavalry Corps) as a gap opened between the Army of the Niemen and 10th Army during the Courland offensive. With the conclusion of the offensive, all four Cavalry Commanders were assigned sectors of the front and thus took on the functions similar to a normal Corps and were reorganised in a similar fashion. Therefore, for the Romanian Campaign, none of the existing Cavalry Corps were brought in, instead a new temporary Cavalry Corps was set up in Transylvannia (Cavalry Corps "Schmettow").
Finally, all the Cavalry Corps were redesignated as General Commands for Special Use Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung (Genkdo z.b.V.) and were indistinguishable from other Corps (56th-59th and 65th Corps (z.b.V.)).
War service of Cavalry Corps :
| Corps | Formed | Combat Chronicle | Fate |
| I Cavalry Corps | on mobilisation | On Western Front with Guards and 5th Cavalry Divisions preceding 3rd Army. Transferred to the East on 6 November 1914. Variously named for the commander as Cavalry Corps Richthofen, Corps Richthofen and Army Group Richthofen. Redesignated 20 November 1916. | renamed 56th Corps (z.b.V.) |
| II Cavalry Corps | on mobilisation | On Western Front with 2nd, 4th and 9th Cavalry Divisions preceding 1st and 2nd Armies. Withdrawn to Belgium at the end of November 1914. | dissolved 23 January 1915 |
| III Cavalry Corps | on mobilisation | On Western Front with 7th, 8th and Bavarian Cavalry Divisions preceding 6th Army. Transferred to the East on 9 September 1914. Variously named for the commander as Corps Frommel, Cavalry Corps Frommel and Army Group Frommel. Redesignated 20 November 1916. | renamed 57th Corps (z.b.V.) |
| IV Cavalry Corps | on mobilisation | On Western Front with 3rd and 6th Cavalry Divisions preceding 4th and 5th Armies. Transferred to the East on 14 November 1914. | dissolved January 1915 |
| V Cavalry Corps | 3 June 1915 | During the Courland Offensive a wide gap opened between the Army of the Niemen and 10th Army. Set up by the Army of the Niemen as temporary Cavalry Corps Schmettow, commanded by Generalleutnant Egon Graf von Schmettow. Established 18 August 1915. Redesignated 20 November 1916. | renamed 58th Corps (z.b.V.) |
| VI Cavalry Corps | June 1915 | During the Courland Offensive a wide gap opened between the Army of the Niemen and 10th Army. Set up by the 10th Army as a temporary Cavalry Corps. Established 18 August 1915. Redesignated 20 November 1916. | renamed 59th Corps (z.b.V.) |
| Cavalry Corps "Schmettow" | | Temporary formation set up for the invasion of Romania under the command of Generalleutnant Eberhard Graf von Schmettow. Redesignated 11 January 1917. | renamed 65th Corps (z.b.V.) |

## End of the War

By the end of the war
* all the Cavalry Corps had been redesignated as General Commands for Special Use (Genkdo z.b.V.) and were indistinguishable from other Corps
* of 11 Cavalry Divisions, just 3 remained in the East (and 4 Schützen Divisions in the West)
* just 10 Cavalry Brigades remained as mounted formations
* 22 Cavalry Regiments remained mounted, just a fifth of the active regiments mobilised in 1914
* a further 27 active regiments and 5 war-formed regiments continued to serve as Cavalry Schützen Regiments
* about 250 individual squadrons remained mounted as divisional cavalry; they represented 61 active and 22 war-formed regiments
As the war ended, the regiments marched back to Germany and dissolved as the troops reached their home towns. A number of regiments were perpetuated as squadrons of the post-war Reichswehr.