2nd Cavalry Division (German Empire)

The 2nd Cavalry Division was a cavalry unit of the Imperial German Army. It was formed in 1871 and served through World War I.

Organization:

The division was typically composed of two cavalry brigades, a horse artillery regiment, and a pioneer detachment. The specific composition could vary slightly throughout its existence.

World War I:

At the outbreak of World War I, the 2nd Cavalry Division was deployed on the Eastern Front. It participated in the initial German advance into East Prussia, taking part in reconnaissance and screening operations. The division saw action in battles such as the Battle of Tannenberg and the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Throughout the war, it was primarily used for reconnaissance, flank security, and exploitation of breakthroughs when they occurred. As the war progressed and trench warfare became dominant, the role of cavalry diminished significantly. By late in the war, large cavalry formations were largely relegated to rear-area duties or deployed to less active fronts.

Disbandment:

The 2nd Cavalry Division was disbanded in 1919, following the armistice that ended World War I and the subsequent reorganization of the German military. The Treaty of Versailles severely restricted the size and composition of the German armed forces, rendering large cavalry formations obsolete in the new German Reichswehr.