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 . The division was headquartered in Dresden . The division was subordinated in peacetime to the XII ( 1st Royal Saxon ) Army Corps ( " XII . ( 1 . Königlich Sächsisches ) Armeekorps " ) . 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 . It became the 1st Infantry Division No . 23 on April 1 , 1867 and the 1st Division No . 23 on April 1 , 1887 . 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 of 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 . 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 . " 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 : 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 : 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 : 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 :