The First Army was reformed from the 2nd Army units north of the Somme river.
The new army consisted of the following units:
Group Aisne (Guard Corps)
1st Guards Division
2nd Guards Division
Group Brimont (X Reserve Corps)
2nd Guards Reserve Division
19th Reserve Division
Group Reims (VII Reserve Corps)
13th Reserve Infantry Division
14th Reserve Infantry Division
Group Prosnes (III Army Corps)
5th Infantry Division
6th Infantry Division
The 1st Army was reformed on 19th July 1916 from units of the 2nd Army, the origional 1st Army was disbanded on 17th September 1915. It took on the right wing of the 2nd Army and the 2nd Army commander General Fritz von Below.
By October 1918 the Army had an order of battle of:
VI Reserve Corps
Guards Cavalry Division
VII Reserve Corps
1st Infantry Division
17th Infantry Division
50th Reserve Division
8th Bavarian Reserve Division
XXIV Corps
7th Infantry Division
51st Reserve Division
War Service
The 1st Army was formed for the second time as a consequence of the British Army offensive on the Somme. By 19th July 1916 the Army had been re-organised and all units north of the Somme became the new 1st Army.
The 1st Army remained on the Somme and withdrew as part of the retraction of the German line between 9th February 1917 and the 15th March 1917.
The 1st Army was inserted between the 3rd and 7th Armies on the Aisne front in April 1917, as part of Army Group Crown Prince.
It consisted of four corps:
Group Aisne (Guards Corps)
Group Brimont (X Reserve Corps)
Group Reims (VII Reserve Corps)
Group Prosnes (III Corps)
It took part in the Kaisers Battle in May 1918, and the retreat that followed.
It was still on French soil at the end of November 1918.
