The German Imperial Army in the World War - Structure, Organization and Uniforming of the Infantry - Reserve Infantry Regiments
Inventory of Reserve Infantry.
In 1914 the German infantry comprised 217 regiments.
In addition there were 18 Jäger/Schützen battalions.
On mobilization one active infantry regiment (Lehr Infantry Regiment) and 114 (Kraus: 113) reserve infantry regiments were raised.
Formation history.
The reserve regiments were formed by the active regiments (or by the district commands). Frequently the numbering of the reserve corresponded to that of the active regiment.
Reserve infantry regiments had occasionally already been formed before 1914.
The reserve regiments regularly comprised 3 battalions and mostly had machine-gun companies. However, there were already shortages in 1914.
According to Schack, for the 133 reserve infantry regiments there existed only 88 MG companies.
The number of Guard Reserve Regiments was small; they had problems bringing up their reservists (from across the entire Reich).
The active regiments (those already in existence before 1914) also supplied active soldiers to the reserve units.
The reserve infantry regiments were mostly commanded by lieutenant colonels and consisted of older age classes. Further reserve infantry regiments were formed in September and December 1914, in May 1915, and in August, October and November 1916.
These units, grouped into reserve corps, consisted of men with prior service and were not held back but were immediately deployed in the front area like the active formations. This increased the number of available formations, which surprised the opponents.
General notes on uniforming.
Reserve infantry regiments were outfitted in field gray. In the photos shown further below of soldiers in colorful uniforms these are likely members of the respective replacement battalion.
The reserve infantry wore the applied nickel-silver Landwehr cross on the helmet ornament.
Guard formations had the special Guard Landwehr eagle on the helmet.
The covers for the helmet displayed an R above the unit number — in red, later in green.
For Guard formations no marking was carried on the helmet cover.
The Landwehr cross was also on the cockade of the field cap.
The field coats of the reserve infantry regiments corresponded to those of the raising infantry regiment; however, according to Kraus only numbers were worn on the shoulder straps, no name tapes.
However, there was not always a match between the numbers of the raising regiment and the reserve infantry regiment.
Guard formations had piping on the collar and on the sleeve cuffs of the field coat, but other units also had piping, e.g., the Grenadier Reserve Regiment No. 100.
For the reserve infantry regiments with high numbering that were raised, new colors (for the facings) were specified.
The trousers, the greatcoats and the Litewka of the officers corresponded to the models of the other infantry regiments.
The blouse introduced later generally had white facings (on the shoulder straps).
There were occasional shortages in equipment.
Some Bavarian reserve infantry regiments had oilcloth caps with gray covers, which were soon replaced by helmets.
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