II Corps (German Empire)

II Army Corps II. Armee-Korps
Flag of the Staff of a Generalkommando (1871–1918)
Active	3 April 1820 (1820-04-03)–10 January 1915 (1915-01-10)
Country	Prussia /  German Empire
Type	Corps
Size	Approximately 44,000 (on mobilisation in 1914)
Garrison/HQ	Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland)
Engagements	Austro-Prussian War Battle of Königgrätz Franco-Prussian War Battle of Gravelotte Battle of Villiers Siege of Metz Siege of Paris World War I Battle of the Frontiers Battle of Mons First Battle of the Marne Race to the Sea First Battle of Ypres

Austro-Prussian War

Franco-Prussian War

World War I

The II Army Corps / II AK (German: II. Armee-Korps) was a corps level command of the Prussian and then the Imperial German Armies from the 19th Century to World War I.

It was established on 3 April 1820 with headquarters initially in Berlin. From 1837, the headquarters moved to Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland), back to Berlin in 1863, before finally settling in Stettin from 1870. The Corps catchment area included the Province of Pomerania, the district (Regierungsbezirk) of Bromberg from the Province of Posen and the Province of West Prussia. Later, the West Prussian districts were transferred to the new XVII Corps District.

In peacetime, the Corps was assigned to the VIII Army Inspectorate, which became the 1st Army at the start of the First World War. The Corps headquarters was upgraded to form the headquarters of the South Army on 10 January 1915.

The Corps was reformed post-war, before being finally disbanded in 1919.

The II Corps formed part of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia's 1st Army and fought in the Austro-Prussian War against Austria in 1866, including the Battle of Königgrätz.