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The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich (German: 2. SS-Panzerdivision "Das Reich" ) or SS Division Das Reich was an armored division of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II . Initially formed from regiments of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT), Das Reich initially served during the Battle of France in 1940 before seeing combat on the ...
All Waffen-SS divisions were ordered in a single series of numbers as formed, regardless of type. [1] Those with ethnic groups listed were at least nominally recruited from those groups. Many of the higher-numbered units were divisions in name only, being in reality only small battlegroups ( Kampfgruppen ).
The Verfügungs-Division was also renamed Reich (in 1942 Das Reich). [40] In addition, the Polizei division was brought under Waffen-SS administration. [41] The Leibstandarte was also expanded to a division for Operation Barbarossa. [42]
To keep its existence secret, the first German airborne division was named as if a Flieger ("flier") division in the series of Luftwaffe divisions that controlled air assets rather than ground troops-named 7th Flieger Division (often translated 7th Air Division - which see: 1st Parachute Division (Germany)) The division was later reorganized to ...
SS-Oberabschnitt ("SS-Main District"): This division level command was the main administrative district for the Allgemeine SS in the German Reich and the highest command level in the Allgemeine SS order of battle.
Insignia of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich. At the beginning of 1944, after suffering heavy losses on the Eastern Front, the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, under the command of SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding regrouped in Valence-d'Agen [1] to prepare to depart for the Western Front. They were to respond to the purported landing of ...
In addition, the SS-Das Reich was located in Southern France, the LSSAH was in Belgium refitting after fighting in the Soviet Union, and the newly formed panzer division SS-Hitlerjugend, consisting of 17- and 18-year-old Hitler Youth members supported by combat veterans and experienced NCOs, was stationed west of Paris. [228]
The only other Waffen-SS unit in France at this time was the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, in Montauban, north of Toulouse. They were ordered north to the landing beaches and on 9 June were responsible for the Tulle massacre, where 99 men were murdered.