OKH issued orders to create a Heavy Artillery Battalion (Karl) on 4 May 1943 using the vehicles and equipment of "Heavy Artillery Battery 628". This became the first battery of the new battalion while the other battery was raised from scratch on 15 May as was the battalion headquarters. Each battery had two "Karl-Geräte" plus one in reserve. 18th Army of Army Group North had plans to use one "Karl-Gerät" against the Oranienbaum Bridgehead west of Leningrad during the summer of 1943, but the battalion was ordered to return the "Karl-Geräte" to Leipzig on 8 August. Just like the 833rd the battalion was ordered to reform with eight 21 cm Mörser 18 howitzers on 29 August 1943 with effect by 10 September. A "Unit for Karl-Geräte (Kommando für Karl-Geräte)" was formed on that same date as caretakers for the weapons. This was redesignated "Unit for Special-Equipment of Heavy Artillery Battalion (motorized) (Kommando für Sonder-Gerät des schwere Artillerie-Abteilung (mot.)) 628" on 2 June 1944.