# VII Reserve Corps (German Empire)

The VII Reserve Corps (German: VII. Reserve-Korps / VII RK) was a corps level command of the German Army in World War I.

## Formation

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. It was still in existence at the end of the war in the 1st Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.

### Structure on formation

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
    Reserve Jäger Battalions did not have a machine gun company on formation
    Reserve Cavalry Regiments consisted of just three squadrons
    Reserve Field Artillery Regiments usually consisted of two abteilungen of three batteries each
    Corps Troops generally consisted of a Telephone Detachment and four sections of munition columns and trains
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 |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | 25th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 13th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | 25th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 56th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | 28th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 39th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | 28th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 57th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | 28th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 7th Reserve Jäger Battalion |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | | 5th Reserve Hussar Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | | 13th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | | 4th Company, 7th Pioneer Battalion |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | | 13th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train |
| VII Reserve Corps | 13th Reserve Division | | 7th Reserve Medical Company |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | 28th Infantry Brigade | 39th Füsilier Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | 28th Infantry Brigade | 159th Infantry Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | 27th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 16th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | 27th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 53rd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | | 8th Reserve Hussar Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | | 14th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | | 1st Reserve Company, 7th Pioneer Battalion |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | | 2nd Reserve Company, 7th Pioneer Battalion |
| VII Reserve Corps | 14th Reserve Division | | 21st Reserve Medical Company |
| VII Reserve Corps | Corps Troops | | 7th Reserve Telephone Detachment |
| VII Reserve Corps | Corps Troops | | Munition Trains and Columns corresponding to the III Reserve Corps |

## Combat chronicle

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.

## Commanders

VII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:
| From | Rank | Name |
| 2 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Hans von Zwehl |
| 17 December 1916 | General der Infanterie | Franz Freiherr von Soden |
| 27 August 1917 | Generalleutnant | Otto von Garnier |
| 3 December 1917 | Generalleutnant | Richard Wellmann |
| 15 June 1918 | Generalleutnant | Arthur von Lindequist |