First World War & Second World War

DIE KAISERLICHE GARDE 1914-18,cont

In July 1914 the regular Garde Corps consisted of the 1.Garde-Infantrie and the 2. Garde-Infantrie Divisions,the Garde-Kavallerie-Division(the only peacetime cavalry division in Germany),and the Infanterie-Lehr-Bataillon (Infantry Instruction/Demonstration Battalion).

Included in these formations were diversified units like the Regiment der Garde du Corps,the Garde-Jager-Bataillon,the Garde-Schutzen-Bataillon(Rifles/Sharpshooters),Garde-Maschinengewehr –Abteilung 1. and 2.(Machine-gun battalions),the 1 to 4 Garde–Feldartillerie-Regiments(Field artillery),the Garde-Fussartillerie-Regiment(Foot artillery),the Garde-Pionier-Bataillon,and the Garde-Train-Abteilung(supply train).

On mobilisation the Garde Reserve Corps of the 1.Garde-Reserve and the 2. Garde-Reserve Divisions came into being, but with both divisions serving separately under different Corps command.

The 3. Garde-Infantrie-Division was also formed in August 1914,from surplus peacetime regiments,and with the conversion of the Lehr-Bataillion to a full regiment, the Lehr-Infantrie-Regiment.



The Garde-Fussartillerie-Regiment was further split in two, with the 1. Garde-Fussartillerie-Regiment and 2. Garde-Fussartillerie-Regiment.

The latter included in its ranks many members of the Lehr-Regiment der Fussartillerie Schiessschule, stationed at the Artillery School at Juterborg, near Berlin,since 1912.


The Garde-Pionier-Bataillon was also split into two, with two battalions now in existence. Garde reservists were the key to bringing all formations, including the peacetime regular, all up to numbers and also in the subsequent expansion of those selected units for a wartime role.

The Garde-Ersatz Division, formed from ‘supplementary’, Ersatz reservists also came into being.


Garde Reserve Cavalry Regiments were further deployed,some broken down as Cavalry squadrons to serve in other non-Guard and Reserve divisions.

An estimated 120,000 Guardsmen,including 10,000 cavalry,regulars and reservists,were available for the Field Army in August 1914.

Infantry were distinguished in the field by their tall stature,the litzen on their Feldgrau uniforms (bars of lace worn beneath their cuff buttons and the corners of the collars), and by generally not having regimental numbers on their Pickelhauben covers.

The Garde were ready for war.




The Garde deployed to the West as follows in August 1914.

Garde Corps(General von Plettenberg)
Attached to 2 Army with the following formations:
1.Garde–Infantrie-Division
2.Garde-Infantrie-Division

HKK 1(1 Cavalry Corps)(General von Richthofen)
Preceding 3 Army:
Garde Cavalry Division
5. Cavalry Division

Garde Reserve Corps(General von Gallwitz)
Also with the 2 Army:
3.Garde-Infantrie-Division
1.Garde-Reserve-Division

X Reserve Corps(General von Kirchbach)
2 Army:
2.Garde-Reserve-Division
19. Reserve-Division

Mobile Ersatz
Deployed with the other 4 Ersatz Divisions to Lorraine,under the control of 6 Army:
Garde Ersatz Division

HKK 2(2 Cavalry Corps)(General von der Marwitz)
Preceding 1 and 2 Armies
The Garde-Jager-Bataillon and the Garde-Schutzen-Bataillon were attached to the
2. Cavalry Division


The Garde Fuss-Artillery Regiments(Heavy Artillery) were deployed as follows:

1.Garde-Fussartillerie-Regiment
Staff with 1 Army
1/1 Garde Fuss Artillery Regt-Garde Corps
II/1 Garde Fuss Artillery Regt-IX Reserve Corps(Danish border)
III/1 Garde Fuss Artillery Regt-III Corps

2.Garde-Fussartillerie-Regiment
With the Garde Reserve Corps


Depot troops and three garrison battalions remained in Berlin. The later three battalions were brought together to form Garrison Regiment Berlin in June 1917.

Acting as the Kaiser’s escort and bodyguard was the Leib-Gendarmerie-Regiment, a select, small size unit of two platoons(zugs), many being line cavalry NCOs.




Copyright 2008 by Peter H of Australia, Moderator, Axis History Forum