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

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!