23rd Division (German Empire)

The 23rd Division (23. Division), also known as the 1st Division No. 23 (1. Division Nr. 23) was a unit of the Saxon and then Imperial German Army.^[1] The division was headquartered in Dresden.^[2] The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XII (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps (XII. (1. Königlich Sächsisches) Armeekorps).^[3]

23rd Division (23. Division)
Active	1867-1919
Country	Saxony/Germany
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry (in peacetime included cavalry)
Size	Approx. 15,000
Part of	XII. (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps (XII. (1. Königl. Sächs.) Armeekorps)
Garrison/HQ	Dresden
Engagements	Franco-Prussian War: Gravelotte, Beaumont, Sedan, Paris World War I: Great Retreat, 1st Marne, Somme, German spring offensive, 2nd Somme, 2nd Marne

The 1st Division No. 23 was officially formed on April 1, 1867. However, this was as part of the convention which integrated the division with the Prussian-led army of the North German Confederation. The division already existed as part of the autonomous Saxon Army. It was originally formed in 1849 as the 1st Division and from July 1, 1850, the 1st Infantry Division.^[4] It became the 1st Infantry Division No. 23 on April 1, 1867, and the 1st Division No. 23 on April 1, 1887.^[5] On mobilization for World War I in August 1914 it again became the 1st Infantry Division No. 23, although it was for convenience referred to outside Saxony as the 23rd Infantry Division or the 23rd (1st Royal Saxon) Infantry Division. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I.

The division was recruited in eastern Saxony, especially around Dresden.

Combat chronicle

Saxony fought as an ally of Austria in the Austro-Prussian War. The Saxon Army Corps, including the 1st and 2nd Saxon Divisions, fought in several of the war's battles, including the decisive Battle of Königgrätz. In the Franco-Prussian War, Saxony was allied with Prussia. The 23rd Infantry Division fought in the battles of Gravelotte and Beaumont, and in the major Battle of Sedan. It then participated in the Siege of Paris.^[6]

During World War I, the division fought on the Western Front, seeing action in the Allied Great Retreat which culminated in the First Battle of the Marne. In 1916, it fought in the Battle of the Somme. In 1918, it participated in the German spring offensive, including the Second Battle of the Somme and the Second Battle of the Marne. The division was rated as very good in 1917, but third class by 1918; however, Allied intelligence noted that "its use... would seem to warrant a higher rating."^[7][8]

Order of battle in the Franco-Prussian War

The organization of the 23rd Infantry Division in 1870 at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War was as follows:^[9]

• 1. Infanterie-Brigade Nr. 45 (45. Infanterie-Brigade)
  • 1. (Leib-)Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 100
  • 2. Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 101
• 2. Infanterie-Brigade Nr. 46 (46. Infanterie-Brigade)
  • Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 102
  • Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 103
  • Schützen-Regiment Nr. 108

Pre-World War I organization

German divisions underwent various organizational changes after the Franco-Prussian War. The organization of the 23rd Division in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, was as follows:^[10]

• 1. Infanterie-Brigade Nr. 45 (45. Infanterie-Brigade)
  • 1. (Leib-)Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 100
  • 2. Grenadier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen Nr. 101
• 2. Infanterie-Brigade Nr. 46 (46. Infanterie-Brigade)
  • Schützen (Füsilier)-Regiment Prinz Georg Nr. 108
  • 16. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 182
• 1. Kavallerie-Brigade Nr. 23 (23. Kavallerie-Brigade)
  • Garde-Reiter-Regiment
  • 1. Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Franz Joseph von Österreich, König von Ungarn Nr. 17
• 1. Feldartillerie-Brigade Nr. 23 (23. Feldartillerie-Brigade)
  • 1.Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 12
  • 4.Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 48
• Landwehr-Inspektion Dresden

Order of battle on mobilization

On mobilization in August 1914 at the beginning of World War I, most divisional cavalry, including brigade headquarters, was withdrawn to form cavalry divisions or split up among divisions as reconnaissance units. Divisions received engineer companies and other support units from their higher headquarters. The division was again redesignated an infantry division. Its initial wartime organization was as follows:^[11]

• 1. Infanterie-Brigade Nr. 45 (45. Infanterie-Brigade)
  • 1. (Leib-)Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 100
  • 2. Grenadier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen Nr. 101
• 2. Infanterie-Brigade Nr. 46 (46. Infanterie-Brigade)
  • Schützen (Füsilier)-Regiment Prinz Georg Nr. 108
  • 16. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 182
• 3. Husaren-Regiment Nr. 20
• 1. Feldartillerie-Brigade Nr. 23 (23. Feldartillerie-Brigade)
  • 1.Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 12
  • 4.Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 48
• 1. Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 12

Late World War I organization

Divisions underwent many changes during the war, with regiments moving from division to division, and some being destroyed and rebuilt. During the war, most divisions became triangular - one infantry brigade with three infantry regiments rather than two infantry brigades of two regiments (a "square division"). An artillery commander replaced the artillery brigade headquarters, the cavalry was further reduced, the engineer contingent was increased, and a divisional signals command was created. The 23rd Infantry Division's order of battle on February 17, 1918, was as follows:^[11]

• 1. Infanterie-Brigade Nr. 45 (45. Infanterie-Brigade)
  • 1. (Leib-)Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 100
  • 2. Grenadier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen Nr. 101
  • Schützen (Füsilier)-Regiment Prinz Georg Nr. 108
  • Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilung Nr. 52
• 1.Eskadron/3. Husaren-Regiment Nr. 20
• Artillerie-Kommandeur 23
  • 1. Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 12
  • 1.Bataillon/2. Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 19
• Stab 1.Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 12:
  • 3.Kompanie/1. Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 12
  • 6.Kompanie/1. Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 12
  • Minenwerfer-Kompanie Nr. 23
• Divisions-Nachrichten-Kommandeur 23

References

• 23. Infanterie-Division (Chronik 1914/1918) - Der erste Weltkrieg
• Claus von Bredow, bearb., Historische Rang- und Stammliste des deutschen Heeres (1905)
• Hermann Cron et al., Ruhmeshalle unserer alten Armee (Berlin, 1935)
• Hermann Cron, Geschichte des deutschen Heeres im Weltkriege 1914-1918 (Berlin, 1937)
• Günter Wegner, Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815-1939. (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993), Bd. 1
• Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War (1914–1918), compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces, at General Headquarters, Chaumont, France 1919 (1920)

Notes

1. From 1867, the Saxon Army was integrated into the Prussian Army's organizational structure (hence the dual numbering) in what was effectively the German Army. During the period of German unification (1866-1871), Saxony, along with the other states of the German Empire, entered into conventions with Prussia regarding their armies and only the Bavarian Army remained fully autonomous.
2. Günter Wegner, Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815-1939. (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993), Bd. 1, p.120; Claus von Bredow, bearb., Historische Rang- und Stammliste des deuschen Heeres (1905), p.1386.
3. Bredow, p. 1385.
4. Wegner, p. 738.
5. Bredow, p.1386
6. Hermann Cron et al., Ruhmeshalle unserer alten Armee (Berlin, 1935); Wegner, p.1386.
7. 23. Infanterie-Division (Chronik 1914/1918)
8. Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army which Participated in the War (1914-1918), compiled from records of Intelligence section of the General Staff, American Expeditionary Forces, at General Headquarters, Chaumont, France 1919 (1920), pp. 333-336.
9. A. Niemann, Der französische Feldzug 1870-1871 (Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts, Hildburghausen, 1871), p. 44.
10. Rangliste der Königlich Sächsischen Armee für das Jahr 1914 (1914), pp.10-11
11. Cron et al., Ruhmeshalle