Barracks (IR 13)

The troops of the Münster garrison also included the Infantry Regiment Herwarth von Bittenfeld (1st Westphalian) No. 13.

The Infantry Regiment Herwarth von Bittenfeld (1st Westphalian) No. 13 was created in the context of strengthening the new Prussian army during the Wars of Liberation and was formed from four newly established battalions, namely from the III Battalion of the 1st East Prussian Infantry Regiment, the 1st and 2nd East Prussian Reserve Musketeer Battalions and the 1st Lithuanian Reserve Fusilier Battalion. Over time the regiment bore various names: from 1815 13th Line Regiment, from 1816 13th Infantry Regiment (1st Westphalian), from 1860 1st Westphalian Infantry Regiment No. 13 and from 1889 Infantry Regiment Herwarth von Bittenfeld (1st Westphalian) No. 13.

The unit's peacetime garrison from 1877 onwards was only Münster; previously parts of the formation were alternately stationed in Soest, Wesel and Paderborn. For example, the staff and the I Battalion garrisoned in Münster from 1817 to 1851, while the II Battalion was in the fortress of Wesel. In the years 1851–1856 the regiment was even entirely concentrated in Wesel.

The Infantry Regiment Herwarth von Bittenfeld (1st Westphalian) No. 13 was initially distributed among various garrisons and was mostly billeted in civilian quarters there. In the years 1818–20 the companies stationed in Wesel were barracked. In 1820 two companies were also accommodated in the Minoriten Barracks in Münster, but the remaining companies remained in civilian quarters.

Because this form of accommodation also caused various inconveniences for the households affected, the city of Münster offered to pre‑finance the construction of a barracks. The funds provided were to be repaid in 12 instalments. This proposal was approved at the highest level on 01.03.1827 and the foundation stone for the construction of the Ägidii Barracks was laid on 24.04.1828. In the autumn of 1831 the buildings could be occupied by six companies. Initially the accommodation of all three battalions in the new barracks had been planned, but this comprehensive plan was not realized. The planner was Engineer‑Captain v. Bütow. The barracks were finally executed as a four‑storey rendered brick building and consisted of two building parts meeting at right angles with hipped roofs. The northern building part was 88.58 m long and ran along Johannisstraße. The eastern building part along Ägidiistraße was slightly angled outwards and consisted of two lateral wings, each with a length of 45.90 m. The rooms for 10 men each had a floor area of 9.73 m x 4.39 m. Initially the barracks were equipped with a modern air‑heating system, but this did not work satisfactorily, so iron stoves had to be used again.