# III Reserve Corps (German Empire)

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

## Formation

III 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 Beseler, recalled from retirement. It was still in existence at the end of the war.

### Structure on formation

On formation in August 1914, III 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, III Reserve Corps mobilised with 25 infantry battalions, 7 machine gun companies (42 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 pioneer companies.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | 9th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 8th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | 9th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 48th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | 10th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 12th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | 10th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 52nd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | 10th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 3rd Reserve Jäger Battalion |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | | 2nd Reserve Dragoon Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | | 5th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | | 4th Company, 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | | 5th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train |
| III Reserve Corps | 5th Reserve Division | | 3rd Reserve Medical Company |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | 11th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 20th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | 11th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 24th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | 12th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 26th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | 12th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 35th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | | 3rd Reserve Uhlan Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | | 6th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | | 1st Reserve Company, 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | | 2nd Reserve Company, 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | | 6th Reserve Divisional Pontoon Train |
| III Reserve Corps | 6th Reserve Division | | 16th Reserve Medical Company |
| III Reserve Corps | Corps Troops | | 3rd Reserve Telephone Detachment |
| III Reserve Corps | Corps Troops | | 5th & 6th Reserve Munition Column Sections |
| III Reserve Corps | Corps Troops | | 5th & 6th Reserve Train Sections |
| III Reserve Corps | Corps Troops | | 2 Reserve Bakery Columns |

## Combat chronicle

On mobilisation, III Reserve Corps was assigned to the 1st Army on the right wing of the forces that invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914. It was detached from 1st Army to take part in the Siege of Antwerp thereby missing the 1st Army's early battles (Mons, Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne, Arras). With the conclusion of the siege on 10 October 1914, it was assigned to 4th Army and took part in the First Battle of Ypres.

## Commanders

III Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:
| From | Rank | Name |
| 2 August 1914 | General der Infanterie | Hans von Beseler |
| 26 August 1915 | General der Infanterie | Adolph von Carlowitz |
| 8 August 1917 | Generalleutnant | Alfred von Böckmann |
| 5 September 1917 | Generalleutnant | Anatol Graf von Bredow |