It was formed as a temporary Bernhardi Corps (named for its commander) on 6 June 1916 before being established on 1 October 1916.

With the onset of trench warfare, the German Army recognised that it was no longer possible to maintain the traditional Corps unit, that is, one made up of two divisions.

[6] These new Corps were designated General Commands for Special Use (German: Generalkommandos zur besonderen Verwendung).

Bernhardi Corps was formed hastily in the summer of 1916 on the Austro-Hungarian front in the Volhynia region as a multi-national force defending against the Brusilov Offensive.

German and Austrian troops were able to fend off the Russians in the area of the Styr and Stochid rivers.