The 5th Cavalry Division (5. Kavallerie-Division) was a unit of the German

German Empire

The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...

 Army

German Army (German Empire)

The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...

 in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was dissolved in February 1918.

Combat chronicle

Initially assigned to I Cavalry Corps preceding 3rd Army on the Western Front until October 1914, then to the Eastern Front. From 14th July 1915 to 1st September 1915 designated as Cavalry Corps Hendebreck. From October 1916 dismounted. Dissolved on 27th February 1918.

A more detailed combat chronicle can be found at the German language version of this article.

Order of Battle on mobilisation

On formation, in August 1914, the component units of the division were:

• 9th Cavalry Brigade (from V Corps District)
  • 4th (1st Silesian) Dragoons "von Bredow"
  • 10th (Posen) Uhlans "Prince August of Württemberg"
• 11th Cavalry Brigade (from VI Corps District)
  • 1st (Silesian) Life Cuirassiers "Great Elector"
    1st (Silesian) Life Cuirassiers "Great Elector"
    The 1st Life Cuirassiers were a heavy cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was originally formed as Dragoon Guards in 1674 and reorganized as a cuirassiers unit in 1718. The regiment fought in the Silesian Wars and the War of the Sixth Coalition 1813-15, the Austro-Prussian...
    
    
  • 8th (2nd Silesian) Dragoons "King Frederick III"
• 12th Cavalry Brigade (from VI Corps District)
  • 4th (1st Silesian) Hussars "von Schill"
  • 6th (2nd Silesian) Hussars "Count Götzen"
• Horse Artillery Abteilung
  Abteilung
  Abteilung is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations...
  
   of the 5th (von Podbielski) (1st Lower Silesian) Field Artillery Regiment
• 1st Machine Gun Detachment
• Pioneer Detachment
• Signals Detachment
  • Heavy Wireless Station 3
  • Light Wireless Station 3
  • Light Wireless Station 4
• Cavalry Motorised Vehicle Column 5

See: Table of Organisation and Equipment

TOE, German Cavalry Division, August 1914

This is a brief outline of the Table of Organisation and Equipment of the 11 German Cavalry Divisions that were established at the outbreak of the first World War.-Table of Organisation and Equipment:*Division Staff**"weaker than an infantry division"...

Changes in organization

• 9th Cavalry Brigade became independent on 26th December 1916
• 11th Cavalry Brigade joined Guard Cavalry Division on 23rd March 1918
• 12th Cavalry Brigade became independent on 20th February 1918