# XXXVIII Reserve Corps (German Empire)

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

## Formation

XXXVIII Reserve Corps was formed in December 1914. It was part of the second wave of new Corps formed in the early stages of World War I consisting of XXXVIII - XXXXI Reserve Corps of 75th - 82nd Reserve Divisions (plus 8th Bavarian Reserve Division). The personnel was predominantly made up of kriegsfreiwillige (wartime volunteers) who did not wait to be called up. From 28 March 1915 to 31 December 1917 it was known as Beskidenkorps (Beskids Corps). The Corps was still in existence at the end of the war in the 3rd Army, Heeresgruppe Deutscher Kronprinz on the Western Front.

### Structure on formation

On formation in December 1914, XXXVIII Reserve Corps consisted of two divisions. but was weaker than an Active Corps
* the divisions were organised as triangular rather than square divisions with three infantry regiments rather than four, but had a brigade of two field artillery regiments
* Reserve Infantry Regiments consisted of three battalions but lacked a machine gun company
* Reserve Cavalry Detachments were much smaller than the Reserve Cavalry Regiments formed on mobilisation
* Reserve Field Artillery Regiments consisted of two abteilungen (1 gun and 1 howitzer) of three batteries each, but each battery had just 4 guns (rather than 6 of the Active and the Reserve Regiments formed on mobilisation)
In summary, XXXVIII Reserve Corps mobilised with 18 infantry battalions, 2 cavalry detachments, 24 field artillery batteries (96 guns), 2 cyclist companies and 2 pioneer companies.
| Corps | Division | Brigade | Units |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division | 75th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 249th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division | 75th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 250th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division | 75th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division | 75th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 55th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division | 75th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 57th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division | | 75th Reserve Cavalry Detachment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division | | 75th Reserve Cyclist Company |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 75th Reserve Division | | 75th Reserve Pioneer Company |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 76th Reserve Division | 76th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 252nd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 76th Reserve Division | 76th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 253rd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 76th Reserve Division | 76th Reserve Infantry Brigade | 254th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 76th Reserve Division | 76th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 56th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 76th Reserve Division | 76th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade | 58th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 76th Reserve Division | | 76th Reserve Cavalry Detachment |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 76th Reserve Division | | 76th Reserve Cyclist Company |
| XXXVIII Reserve Corps | 76th Reserve Division | | 76th Reserve Pioneer Company |

## Commanders

XXXVIII Reserve Corps had the following commanders during its existence:
| From | Rank | Name |
| 24 December 1914 | General der Kavallerie | Georg von der Marwitz |
| 21 July 1915 | Generalleutnant | Max Hofmann |
| 23 September 1916 | General der Kavallerie | Manfred von Richthofen |
| 3 August 1918 | Generalleutnant | Arthur Freiherr von Lüttwitz |