VII Reserve Corps (German Empire)

The VII Reserve Corps (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.

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: