2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich

class="fn org" colspan="2" style="background-color: #B0C4DE; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" | 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich 2. SS-Panzer-Division „Das Reich“
colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; line-height: 1.5em;" | File:Image-File Wolfsangel 2.png Truppenkennzeichen (unit or troop insignia), tbe Wolfsangel
Active	1939–1945
Country	National Socialist Germany
Branch	File:Flag of tbe Schutzstaffel.png Waffen-SS
Type	Panzer
Role	Armoured warfare
Size	Division
Engagements	World War II Battle of France 1940 Operation Barbarossa Operation Typhoon Battle of Kursk Operation Overlord Battle of tbe Bulge Operation Spring Awakening
colspan="2" style="background-color: #B0C4DE; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" | Commanders
Notable commanders	Paul Hausser Heinz Lammerding

The SS Division "Das Reich" was one of tbe 38/39 divisions fielded by tbe Waffen-SS during World War II. It is one of tbe most well-known and researched of all tbe SS divisions. Das Reich was composed of some of tbe best, most well-trained and battle-hardened troops in tbe world at tbe time.

It served from tbe invasion of France and took part in several major battles on tbe Eastern Front, before it was pulled back to France and took part in tbe fighting in Normandy, tbe Battle of tbe Bulge and tbe last, desperate fighting in Hungary and Austria. The symbol for tbe Das Reich division was tbe wolf's hook or Wolfsangel rune.

Name evolution

File:Panzergrenadiere 2. SS-Division Das Reich.png

File:Members of tbe 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich display a captured Soviet flag in tbe opening months of Operation Barbarossa..png

File:SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division „Das Reich“.png

1,000 enemy tanks destroyed in 35 combat days

• SS-Verfügungsdivision (VT-Division), 10 October 1939 (three Standarten)
• SS-Division „Reich“ (mot.), 21 December 1940 (other sources state 25 February 1941)
• SS-Division „Das Reich“, May 1942
• SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division „Das Reich“, 9 November 1942
• 2. SS-Panzer-Division „Das Reich“, 22 October 1943

History

For tbe 1939 Poland campaign, three SS regiments ("Deutschland", "Der Führer", and "Germania") were grouped into a division of tbe SS-Verfügungstruppe ("Special-Purpose Troops"). After Poland, one regiment ("Germania") was sent to form another division (SS-Division Wiking), and a new third regiment was created (SS Regiment 11); this became tbe 2nd SS Division Das Reich. Das Reich first took part in tbe Campaigns in tbe West against tbe Low Countries and France in 1940, and did so as tbe SS-VT-Division. It first saw action in tbe main drive for tbe Dutch central front and Rotterdam. After Rotterdam had been seized tbe Division, along with other divisions, intercepted a French force and pushed them back to tbe area of Zeeland and Antwerp. Next, it was used to mop-up small pockets of resistance in tbe areas already captured by tbe Germans. The Division was then transferred to France and helped breach a stiffly defended canal line, and then participated in tbe drive on Paris. At tbe end of tbe Campaign, it had advanced all tbe way to tbe Spanish Frontier.

Originally, tbe SS-V.T.-Division was composed of three of tbe original four SS-Standarten. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LAH) was tbe other SS-Standarte, and it was developed on its own. The other three SS-Standarten were Deutschland, Germania and Der Führer. After tbe Western Campaign was over, tbe SS-V.T.-Division was reorganized. The SS-Standarten Germania was transferred out of tbe Division and along with tbe SS-Standarten Nordland and Westland, formed tbe backbone of a different SS-Division, Germania, which was soon to become tbe Wiking Division. For tbe loss of Germania, tbe SS-V.T.-Division was given a SS-Totenkopfstandarte designated as SS-Infanterie Regiment 11. Soon after, tbe Division changed its title from V.T. to Deutschland, and soon after that, to Das Reich.

War in tbe East

During tbe period after tbe fall of France, tbe Division was stationed in France preparing for tbe invasion of England. The Division was moved to Romania to take part in tbe Battle of Yugoslavia and Greece in March of 1941. In April, 1941, Reich took part in tbe successful capture of Belgrade, tbe Capital of Yugoslavia.

On tbe morning of April 12th, 1941, SS Hauptsturmführer Fritz Klingenberg and members of his motorcycle assault company approached Belgrade from Pancevo along tbe bank of tbe Danube river. Forcing a crossing, Klingenberg crossed tbe river and approached tbe city, proceeding into downtown Belgrade with only six men. Soon after entering tbe city, Klingenberg encountered a group of twenty Yugoslavian soldiers and without firing a shot tbe Yugoslavs surrendered. Receiving some reinforcements tbe Das Reich detachment held tbe city against counterattacks, and unfurled a large swastika and raised it over tbe embassy to declare tbe capture of tbe city. Two hours later, tbe mayor of Belgrade arrived at tbe embassy and surrendered tbe city to Klingenberg. It was not until tbe next day that a sizable German force arrived to secure tbe city. For capturing Belgrade, SS Haupsturmführer Fritz Klingenberg was awarded tbe Knight's Cross of tbe Iron Cross.

After tbe capture of Belgrade, tbe Division was moved to Poland to take part in tbe upcoming invasion of tbe Soviet Union. During tbe invasion of tbe Soviet Union, Das Reich fought with Army Group Center, taking part in tbe Battle of Yelnya near Smolensk, and then in tbe spearhead to capture Moscow. Reich came within a few miles of tbe Soviet Capital in November 1941, reaching tbe "High Water Mark" of tbe German advance in tbe Soviet Union. With tbe Soviet capital within sight of tbe Division, weather, massive losses and a major Soviet Winter Counter-Offensive pushed tbe Division back.

Back to tbe Eastern Front, 1943

Early in 1943, Das Reich was transferred back to tbe Eastern Front where it helped reclaim tbe crumbling central front around Kharkov. After helping recapturing Kharkov, Das Reich, along with many other divisions, was thrown into a massive assault into tbe Kursk Salient, a huge bulge in tbe German Front line around tbe area of Kursk and Byelgorod. Das Reich pushed upwards of 40 miles (approximately 64 kilometers) into tbe southern sector of tbe bulge, but was pulled out of tbe battle along with tbe other SS-Division when tbe offensive was called off. After a period of brief fighting, Das Reich was refit once again, this time as SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". In doing so, it left a portion tbe Division in tbe East titled "Kampfgruppe Das Reich", also known as Kampfgruppe Lammerding. The rest of tbe Division was transferred to tbe West to refit, and while doing so, took part in anti-partisan operations in France.

In tbe Winter of 1943/1944, another massive Soviet winter counter offensive managed to encircle German units in tbe center of tbe front. Kamfgruppe Das Reich was one of tbe units encircled by tbe Soviet offensive, and an assault by II. SS Panzerkorps managed to rescue tbe trapped elements of Das Reich. In February 1944 tbe Kampfgruppe was transferred to France to join tbe rest of tbe Division already stationed there. The remaining small portion of Das Reich left in tbe East were renamed Kampfgruppe Weidinger and was involved in tbe retreats through Proskurov and Tarnopol. Most of Das Reich was stationed in tbe southern French town of Montauban north of Toulouse gaining new equipment and freshly trained troops.

The Battle of Normandy and Fighting in tbe West, 1944

After tbe D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, Das Reich was committed to stop tbe Allied advance, and took part in tbe attempts to stop tbe Allies near Caen and St. Lo alongside tbe 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend and tbe elite German Panzer Lehr Division. The Division recaptured Mortain, but was forced to retreat when it became apparent tbe Allies were going to encircle tbe Division along with a large number of other German units in tbe Falaise pocket. Thanks to tbe efforts of Das Reich along with tbe 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, a large number of German forces were able to escape tbe pocket and retreat to tbe east.

Pulled back across tbe Seine River and then behind tbe West Wall fortifications in Germany, tbe 2nd SS Panzer Division took part in tbe operations to punch through tbe Ardennes Forest to reclaim tbe port of Antwerp on 16 December 1944. Coming within 23 miles of tbe River Meuse, tbe Division was halted at Manhay on 25 December, and then slowly smashed by fierce Allied counter-attacks. Das Reich panzer commander Ernst Barkmann became famous for tbe creation of Barkmann's Corner, where he destroyed numerous American tanks in small skirmishes.

1945

Pulled out of tbe offensive, Das Reich was transferred into Germany to refit again, and to take part in tbe last German offensive of tbe war in Hungary in an attempt to break tbe siege around Budapest. This offensive also ground to a halt, and Das Reich spent tbe rest of tbe war more-or-less performing a fighting retreat from Dresden, to Prague and finally to Vienna. In tbe end, most of tbe Division managed to escape to tbe West to surrender to tbe Americans in May 1945.

Order of battle

1941 – 1942

• SS Infantry Regiment Deutschland
• SS Infantry Regiment Der Führer
• 11th SS Infantry Regiment
• 2nd SS Artillery Regiment
• 2nd SS Sturmgeschütz Battery
• 2nd SS Motorcycle Battalion
• 2nd SS Reconnaissance Battalion
• 2nd SS Panzerjäger (anti-tank) Battalion
• 2nd SS Pionier Battalion
• 2nd SS Signal Battalion
• 2nd SS Rocket Battalion
• 2nd SS Supply Battalion
• 2nd SS Medical Battalion
• 2nd SS Reserve Battalion

1944 – 1945

• 2nd SS Panzer Regiment
• 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Deutschland
• 4th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Der Führer
• 2nd SS Panzer Artillery Regiment
• 2nd SS Motorcycle Battalion
• 2nd SS Sturmgeschütz Battalion
• 2nd SS Reconnaissance Battalion
• 2nd SS Panzerjäger Battalion
• 2nd SS Flak Battalion
• 2nd SS Pionier Battalion
• 2nd SS Signal Battalion
• 2nd SS Rocket Launcher Battalion
• 2nd SS Supply Battalion
• 2nd SS Maintenance Battalion
• 2nd SS Medical Battalion

Persons

File:Kommandeure der 2. SS-Panzer-Division „Das Reich“.png

Commanders

• SS-Sturmbannführer Wilhelm Kment, Prior to 1935
• SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser, 19 October 1939 – 14 October 1941
• SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Bittrich, 14 October 1941 – 31 December 1941
• SS-Brigadeführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp, 31 December 1941 – 19 April 1942
• SS-Gruppenführer Georg Keppler, 19 April 1942 – 10 February 1943
• SS-Brigadeführer Herbert-Ernst Vahl, 10 February 1943 – 18 March 1943
• SS-Standartenführer Kurt Brasack, 18 March 1943 – 29 March 1943
• SS-Gruppenführer Walter Krüger, 29 March 1943 – 23 October 1943
• SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Lammerding, 23 October 1943 – 24 July 1944
• SS-Obersturmbannführer Christian Tychsen, 24 July 1944 – 28 July 1944
• SS-Oberführer Otto Baum, 28 July 1944 – 23 October 1944
• SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Lammerding, 23 October 1944 – 20 January 1945
• SS-Standartenführer Karl Kreutz, 20 January 1945 – 4 February 1945
• SS-Gruppenführer Werner Ostendorff, 4 February 1945 – 9 March 1945
• SS-Standartenführer Rudolf Lehmann, 9 March 1945 – 13 April 1945
• SS-Standartenführer Karl Kreutz, 13 April 1945 – 8 May 1945

Knight's Cross holders (selection)

• Karl-Heinz Boska
• Siegfried Brosow
• Hans Eckert
• Wolfgang Gast
• Wilhelm Grieme
• Hans Hauser
• Vinzenz Kaiser
• Helmut Kämpfe
• Dieter Kesten
• Fritz Klingenberg
• Karl Kloskowski
• Josef Lainer
• Fritz Langanke
• Adolf Lex
• Friedrich Holzer
• Albin Freiherr von Reitzenstein
• Sylvester Stadler
• Hans Weiß
• Heinz Werner