The 8th Cavalry Division (8. 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 April 1918. The majority of the Division was drawn from the Kingdom of Saxony.

Combat chronicle

Initially assigned to III Cavalry Corps preceding 6th Army on the Western Front until 30th August 1914, then to the Eastern Front. Arrived too late for the Battle of Tannenberg

Battle of Tannenberg (1914)

The Battle of Tannenberg was an engagement between the Russian Empire and the German Empire in the first days of World War I. It was fought by the Russian First and Second Armies against the German Eighth Army between 23 August and 30 August 1914. The battle resulted in the almost complete...

 but in time for the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Dismounted in 1917 and dissolved on 9th April 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:

• 23rd Cavalry Brigade (from XII Army Corps
  XII (1st Royal Saxon) Corps
  The XII Army Corps was a Saxon corps of the Imperial German Army. It was formed on April 1, 1867 and was headquartered in Dresden, Saxony....
  
   District)
  • 1st Royal Saxon Guards Heavy Cavalry
    1st Royal Saxon Guards Heavy Cavalry
    The 1st Royal Saxon Guards Heavy Cavalry was a heavy cavalry of the Royal Saxon Army. Established in 1680 as a cuirassiers unit, the regiment fought in the Battle of Vienna , the Nine Years' War, the War of the Spanish Succession, the Silesian Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, the Austro-Prussian War,...
    
    
  • 17th (1st Royal Saxon) Uhlans "Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary"
• 38th Cavalry Brigade (from XI Corps District)
  • 2nd Jäger zu Pferde
    2nd Mounted Rifles
    The 2nd Mounted Rifles were a light cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed 1 October, 1905 in Langensalza were it belonged to the XI Army Corps....
    
    
  • 6th Jäger zu Pferde
    6th Mounted Rifles
    The 6th Mounted Rifles were a light cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed 1 October, 1910 in Erfurt....
    
    
• 40th Cavalry Brigade (from XIX Army Corps
  XIX (2nd Royal Saxon) Corps
  The XIX Army Corps was a Saxon corps of the Imperial German Army. It was formed on April 1, 1899 and was headquartered in Leipzig, Saxony...
  
   District)
  • Carabiniers (2nd Royal Saxon Heavy Cavalry)
  • 21st (3rd Royal Saxon) Uhlans
• Horse Artillery Abteilung
  Abteilung
  Abteilung is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations...
  
   of the 12th (1st Royal Saxon) Field Artillery Regiment
• 8th Machine Gun Detachment
• Pioneer Detachment
• Signals Detachment
  • Heavy Wireless Station 25
  • Light Wireless Station 16
  • Light Wireless Station 20
• Cavalry Motorised Vehicle Column 8

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

• 23rd Cavalry Brigade joined 1st Cavalry Division
  1st Cavalry Division (German Empire)
  The 1st Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.-Combat chronicle:Initially, it was the sole cavalry...
  
   on 1st February 1917.
• 38th Cavalry Brigade joined Guard Cavalry Division on 20th April 1918.
• 40th Cavalry Brigade dissolved on 10th April 1918.
• 39th Cavalry Brigade joined from 4th Cavalry Division
  4th Cavalry Division (German Empire)
  The 4th Cavalry Division was a unit of the German Army in World War I. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914...
  
  on 1st February 1917. Rejoined 4th Cavalry Division on 6th April 1918.