2. Waffen SS Panzer Division
Das Reich

Das Reich had its beginnings as an SS Infantry Regiment which fought under Army Command in Poland. In May 1940. the regiment was part of a division sized SS unit SS - Verfugungstruppe which took part in the invasion of The Netherlands and fought in the Dunkirk Perimeter. In early 1941, the organization of the 2nd SS Division was formed and dubbed "Reich". In April 1941, Reich invaded Yugoslavia, and accepted the surrender of Belgrade. Reich Joined the Soviet Union invasion as part of Army Group Center, fighting at Yelnya, and later, leading the drive on Moscow.

After suffering heavy losses in these battles as well as the retreat from Moscow against the resurgent Soviet Winter Offensive, Reich was pulled out of the line in the Spring of 1942 for refit in France. This refit included the addition of a panzer battalion and armored Infantry. The Division returned to the Kharkov area in January 1943 as 2nd SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Das Reich". Das Reich took part in 2nd Battle of Kharkov which cut off and destroyed a large Soviet force which had broken the German lines and retaken that city. Both sides then rested and awaited Summer to resume offensive operations. For Das Reich, this meant the Kursk Offensive for which it received a number of new vehicles greatly increasing its firepower and mobility. Assigned to II SS Panzer Korps with 2 other SS Panzer Divisions, Das Reich was part of the most powerful armored formation yet seen in WWII. This was the vanguard of the attack in the Southern pincer and achieved the deepest penetration at Prokhorovka. The II SS Panzer Korps encountered a large force of Soviet tanks and a wild melee of armor took place, blunting the German advance. Before the Germans could regroup and resume the attack, the operation was cancelled and Das Reich was withdrawn. In October 1943, Das Reich was renamed 2. SS Panzer Division to reflect its restructuring prior to the Kursk Offensive.

By April 1944, Das Reich was encamped at Montauban, France, a centralize location which would allow them to react to allied landings in Southern France as well as the Atlantic or Channel Coasts. Reported tank strength was: 37-Pzkw IV, 55-Pzkw V, and 30 StuG III. On June 7th, Das Reich was ordered to move to Normandy in response to Allied landings on 6 June. It was soon discovered that the rail cars for transporting the armored vehicles had been disabled by French saboteurs and it was on June 8 that the 1,400 vehicles moved out by roads North toward Normandy. During this road march, French resistance ambushes killed a number of Germans resulting in retaliatory executions of over 100 civilians. The road march created delays, mechanical break downs, and unnecessary fuel consumption, weakening the Division substantially. As the road march approached the coast, they came under constant air attack causing further losses and delays as movement was only possible at night. The division arrived in Normandy between June 15-30 in small groups. These units remained dispersed until July 10. Das Reich spent July fighting British forces in the Caen sector of Normandy. After the US breakthrough at St Lo Hitler ordered a counterattack at Mortain to cut off the breakthrough and reverse the situation. Das Reich took part in this attack, Operation Luttich, which initially surprised the US Army and made some gains taking Mortain and cutting the supply routes through St Lo but the American response was swift, powerful, and effective. Das Reich was surrounded at Roncey and most of those who escaped did so without heavy weapons or vehicles.

work in progress.


sources: wikipedia, The 2nd SS Panzer Divison Das Reich by Yves Buffetaut.