Geschichte des
Infantrie-Regiments „von Winterfeldt“
(2. Oberschlesisches) Nr. 23

Mit Gott für Kaiser und Vaterland!

The history of the original Winterfeldt regiment is a varied and exciting one. The 23rd was a part of the 12th Division of the VI (Sixth) Army Corps throughout the war, and was involved in actions throughout the war on almost every front.

Presented on this site, are some translated chapters from the original history of Infanterieregiment 23: 

Summary of the History of Infantry Regiment von Winterfeldt (2nd Upper Silesian) Nr. 23 from the Founding to the war’s outbreak by Paul Fiedel. Special thanks and recognition to Glen Dresbeck for his work on this.

The 23rd changed during the war, as did almost all units of the Imperial German Army. The 23rd grew during the war with the addition of three trench mortar companies, three Machine Gun companies, gas officers, a stormtroop detachment, a field recruit depot, field telephones, and several times more medical staff than it entered the war with. In short, the 23rd entered the war organized and prepared for the wars of the 19th century, and ended it able to survive and win in the 20th century's wars of scientific butchery. 

The 12 Division acquired Searchlight batteries, medical units, supply units, veterinary hospitals, antiaircraft batteries, and more during the course of the war. The division also changed from a four-regiment "square" formation, standard at the beginning of the war, to a three regiment "triangular" formation that was to be standard by the end of the war. 

The 23rd served in the Battles of Rossignol, the Ardennes, the Somme, Karfreit (Capporetto), and the 1918 battles of the Kaiserschlacht. 

The current 23rd is working on a long term project translating and making available to people today the original unit history of the 23rd Regiment, published in Berlin, Germany in 1929. This book, long out of print and difficult to find, is a valuable aid to our impressions, as well as a great aid to education about the experience of the war from a Prussian perspective. Volunteer help translating it is always welcome! 

A Young Life Lost

The Death Notice of Jüngling Otto Denk, killed 29 November 1916. The card reads that he was an “Infanterist im 23 Inf.-Rgt., 1. Komp.”

While these cards are typially Bavarian, Silesia was strongly Catholic, and this may have been a Catholic tradition. The Bavarian Regiments are commonly listed with a designator to show that on the card: this one does not, so it’s unclear if it is referring to a Bavarian unit or the 23rd.

J.R. 23 Centennial medal, front

Two views of the centennial medal of the 23rd Regiment! This medal was awarded to members of the unit at the Winterfeldt Regiment Centennial, July 1913. On the Obverse (face) of the medal is the Prussian König (King) at the time of the founding of the unit, and the König and Kaiser (Wilhelm II was both) at the time of the Centennial. On the reverse of the medal is an inscription designating it to the Winterfeldt Regiment, 1813-1913. Click on the photos of the medal, to see a larger picture of each side!

J.R. 23 Centennial medal, rear