Guards Cavalry Rifle Division
German military unit
The Guards Cavalry Rifle Division (German; Garde-Kavallerie-Schützen-Division) was a large unit of the Prussian Army formed in the spring of 1918. During the German revolution of 1918–1919, one of the largest volunteer units of the period of upheaval emerged from it, with a strength of up to 40,000 men.
From December 1918 onwards, the Division took a large part in suppressing revolutionary uprisings, and members of it murdered Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.
History
The Guards Cavalry Rifle Division was formed in March 1918 at the Zossen Military Training Area in Brandenburg, from the Guards Cavalry Division, which had come home from the Eastern Front, and from elements of other divisions. The Division's commander was Lieutenant General Heinrich von Hofmann, and its first general staff officer was Captain Waldemar Pabst. Major Willy Rohr and his 5th Assault Battalion were ordered to Maubeuge from the German spring offensive to train the division for the Western Front. As part of this training, a large-scale exercise was planned for the whole division. Among those observing this exercise were Emperor Charles I of Austria, Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, Paul von Hindenburg, and Erich Ludendorff of the Supreme Army Command; Generals Friedrich Sixt von Armin, Fritz von Loßberg, and Oskar von Hutier. To conclude the exercise, Hindenburg inspected the division on 23 May.
The division was posted to the Western Front in Champagne region at the end of May 1918.
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