Lineage
- Die SS-Verfügungstruppe
- SS-Division Verfügungstruppe
- SS-Division Deutschland
- SS-Division Reich"(mot)
- Kampfgruppe SS-Division Reich
- SS-Division Das Reich
- SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich
- Kampfgruppe SS-Division Das Reich
- 2.SS-Panzer-Division Das Reich
Order of Battle
SS-Verfüngs-Division
I,II,III/ss.VT-Standarte Der Fuhrer
I,II,III/ss.VT-Standarte Deutschland
I,II,III/ss.VT-Standarte Germania
I,II,III/ss.VT-Artillerie-Standarte
IV,V/ss.VT-Artillerie-Standarte
ss.VT-Aufklarung-Abteilung
ss.VT-Panzerjäger Battalion (formed 10 June 1939)
ss.VT-Flak-Abteilung (formed 10 June 1939)
ss.VT-Pioneer-Abteilung
ss.VT-Nachrichten-Abteilung
ss.VT-Panzerabwehr-Abteilung
ss.VT-Flak-Abteilung
SS-Ersatz-Abteilung
SS-Regiment Germania, plus other divisional elements, detached on 1 Dec 1940 to form cadre for SS-Division Wiking; SS-Regiment 11, formerly SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 11 attached in its place; division designated SS-Divsion Reich (mot.), 28 Jan 1941
SS-Division Reich (mot.)
SS-Regiment Deutschland
SS-Regiment Der Führer
11.SS-Infanterie-Regiment
SS-Artillerie-Regiment Reich
SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung Reich
SS-Pioneer-Abteilung Reich
SS-Flak-Abteilung Reich
SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung
Reich Divisional Support Troops
June, 1941
SS-Regiment Der Fuhrer
SS-Regiment Deutschland
SS-Regiment 11
SS-Kradschutzen-Abteilung
SS-Artillerie-Regiment
SS-Aufklarung-Abteilung
SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung
SS-Flak-Abteilung
SS-Pioneer-Abteilung
SS-Sturmgeschutz-Batterie
General Composition 44-45
Stab der Division
SS-Standarte Germania (Removed from Division November, 1940)
3.SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland
4.SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Fuhrer"
SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Langemarck" (Removed Summer, 1943)
SS-Infanterie-Regiment 11 (Disbanded November, 1940)
2.SS-Panzer-Regiment
2.SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung
2.SS-Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung
2.SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment
2.SS-Flak-Abteilung
2.SS-Werfer-Abteilung
2.SS-Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung
2.SS-Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung
2.SS-Panzer-Pionier-Batallion
2.SS-Kradschutzen-Batallion
2.SS-Dina
2.SS-Feldlazarett
2.SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug
2.SS-Feldgendarmerie-Trupp
2.SS-Feldersatz-Battillon
I,II,III/ss.VT-Standarte Der Fuhrer
I,II,III/ss.VT-Standarte Deutschland
I,II,III/ss.VT-Standarte Germania
I,II,III/ss.VT-Artillerie-Standarte
IV,V/ss.VT-Artillerie-Standarte
ss.VT-Aufklarung-Abteilung
ss.VT-Panzerjäger Battalion (formed 10 June 1939)
ss.VT-Flak-Abteilung (formed 10 June 1939)
ss.VT-Pioneer-Abteilung
ss.VT-Nachrichten-Abteilung
ss.VT-Panzerabwehr-Abteilung
ss.VT-Flak-Abteilung
SS-Ersatz-Abteilung
SS-Regiment Germania, plus other divisional elements, detached on 1 Dec 1940 to form cadre for SS-Division Wiking; SS-Regiment 11, formerly SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 11 attached in its place; division designated SS-Divsion Reich (mot.), 28 Jan 1941
SS-Division Reich (mot.)
SS-Regiment Deutschland
SS-Regiment Der Führer
11.SS-Infanterie-Regiment
SS-Artillerie-Regiment Reich
SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung Reich
SS-Pioneer-Abteilung Reich
SS-Flak-Abteilung Reich
SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung
Reich Divisional Support Troops
June, 1941
SS-Regiment Der Fuhrer
SS-Regiment Deutschland
SS-Regiment 11
SS-Kradschutzen-Abteilung
SS-Artillerie-Regiment
SS-Aufklarung-Abteilung
SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung
SS-Flak-Abteilung
SS-Pioneer-Abteilung
SS-Sturmgeschutz-Batterie
General Composition 44-45
Stab der Division
SS-Standarte Germania (Removed from Division November, 1940)
3.SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Deutschland
4.SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Fuhrer"
SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Langemarck" (Removed Summer, 1943)
SS-Infanterie-Regiment 11 (Disbanded November, 1940)
2.SS-Panzer-Regiment
2.SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung
2.SS-Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung
2.SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment
2.SS-Flak-Abteilung
2.SS-Werfer-Abteilung
2.SS-Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung
2.SS-Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung
2.SS-Panzer-Pionier-Batallion
2.SS-Kradschutzen-Batallion
2.SS-Dina
2.SS-Feldlazarett
2.SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug
2.SS-Feldgendarmerie-Trupp
2.SS-Feldersatz-Battillon
Commanders
Oberstgruppenführer Paul Hausser, 10.19.39 - 10.14.41
Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich, 10.14.41- 12.31.41
Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp, 12.31.41 - 4.19.42
Obergruppenführer George Keppler, 4.19.42 - 2.10.43
Brigadeführer Hebert-Ernst Vahl, 2.10.43 - 3.18.43
Oberführer Kurt Brasack, 3.18.43 - 3.29.43
Obergruppenführer Walter Krüger, 3.29.43 - 10.23.43
Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding, 10.23.43 - 7.24.44
Standartenführer Christian Tychsen, 7.24.44 - 7.28.44
Brigadeführer Otto Baum, 7.28.44 - 10.23.44
Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding, 10.23.44 - 1.20.45
Standartenführer Karl Kreutz, 1.20.45 - 1.29.45
Gruppenführer Werner Ostnedorff, 1.20.45 - 3.09.45
Standartenführer Rudolf Lehmann, 3.09.45 - 4.13.45
Standartenführer Karl Kreutz, 4.13.45 - 5.08.45
Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich, 10.14.41- 12.31.41
Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp, 12.31.41 - 4.19.42
Obergruppenführer George Keppler, 4.19.42 - 2.10.43
Brigadeführer Hebert-Ernst Vahl, 2.10.43 - 3.18.43
Oberführer Kurt Brasack, 3.18.43 - 3.29.43
Obergruppenführer Walter Krüger, 3.29.43 - 10.23.43
Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding, 10.23.43 - 7.24.44
Standartenführer Christian Tychsen, 7.24.44 - 7.28.44
Brigadeführer Otto Baum, 7.28.44 - 10.23.44
Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding, 10.23.44 - 1.20.45
Standartenführer Karl Kreutz, 1.20.45 - 1.29.45
Gruppenführer Werner Ostnedorff, 1.20.45 - 3.09.45
Standartenführer Rudolf Lehmann, 3.09.45 - 4.13.45
Standartenführer Karl Kreutz, 4.13.45 - 5.08.45
Operations
Equipment
Uniforms:
History
The 2.SS first took part in the Campaigns in the West against the Low Countries and France in 1940, and did so as the SS-V.T.-Division. It first saw action in the main drive for Rotterdam. After Rotterdam the Division, along with other Divisions, intercepted a French Force and pushed them back to the area of Zeeland. Next, it was used to mop-up small pockets of resistance in the areas already captured by the Germans. The Division was then transferred to France and helped breach a stiffly defended canal line, and then participated in the drive on Paris. At the end of the Campaign, it had advanced all the way to the Spanish Frontier.
Originally, the SS-V.T.-Division was composed of three of the original four SS-Standarten. LAH was the other SS-Standarten, and it was developed on its own. The other three SS-Standarten were Deutschland, Germania and Der Fuhrer. After the Western Campaign was over, the SS-V.T.-Division was reorganized. The SS-Standarten Germania was transfered out of the Division and along with the SS-Standarten, Nordland and Westland, formed the backbone of a different SS-Division, Germania, which was soon to become the Wiking Division. For the loss of Germania, the SS-V.T.-Division was given a SS-Totenkopfstandarte designated as SS-Infanterie Regiment 11. Soon after, the Division changed its title from V.T. to Deutschland, and soon after that, to Reich.
During the period after the fall of France, the Division was stationed in France preparing for the invasion of England. The Division, now called Reich, was moved to Romania to take part in the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece in March of 1941. In April, 1941, Reich took part in the successful capture of Belgrade, the Capital of Yugoslavia. After the capture of Belgrade, the Division was moved to Poland to take part in the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union.
During the invasion of the Soviet Union, Reich fought with Army Group Center, taking part in the Battle of Yalnya near Smolensk, and then in the spearhead to capture Moscow. Reich came within a few miles of the Soviet Capital in November, 1941, reaching a sort of "High Water Mark" of the German advance in the Soviet Union. With the Soviet Capital within sight of the Division, weather, massive losses and a major Soviet Winter Counter-Offensive pushed the Division back. After a period of very bloody losses for the Division, Reich was pulled out of the fighting and sent to France to refit as a Panzer-Grenadier Division. Part of the Division was left in the East, and they were titled Kampfgroup Ostendorf. Ostendork was sent to join Reich on June, 1942.
In November, 1942, portions of the Division took part in an attempt to prevent the scuttling of the French Fleet at Toulon. Soon after, the Division was retitled again, this time to SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Das Reich".
Early in 1943, Das Reich was transferred back to the Eastern Front where it helped reclaim the crumbling central front around Kharkov. After helping recapture the city of Kharkov, Das Reich along with many other Divisions was thrown into a massive assault into the Kursk Salient, a huge bulge in the Soviet Front line around the area of Kursk. Das Reich pushed upwards of 40 miles into the southern sector of the bulge, but was pulled out of the battle along with the other SS-Division when the offensive was called off. After a period of brief encounters, Das Reich was refit once again, this time as SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". In doing so, it left a portion the Division in the East titled Kampfgroup Das Reich, and officially know as Kampfgroup Lammerding. The rest of the Division was transferred to the West to refit, and while doing so also took part in anti-partisan operations in France.
In Winter, 1943/1944, another massive Soviet Winter Counter Offensive managed to encircle German units in the center of the front. The Kamfgroup that Das Reich left behind was one of the units encircled by the Soviet Offensive, and an assault by II. SS-Panzer-Korps managed to rescue the trapped elements of Das Reich. The Kampfgroup was then transferred to France to join the rest of the Division already station there. The remaining small portion of Das Reich left in the East was renamed Kampfgroup Weidinger and was involved in the retreats through Proskurow abd Tarnopol.
After the D-Day invasion in Normany, France, Das Reich was committed to stop the Allied advance, and took part in the many attempts to stop the Allies near Caen and St. Lo. The Division recaptured Mortain, but was forced to retreat when it became apparent the Allies were going to encircle the Division along with a large number of other German units in the Falises Pocket. Thanks to the efforts of Das Reich along with the 9th SS-Panzer Division, a large number of German were able to escape the pocket and retreat to the east.
Pulled back across the Seine River and then to behind the West Wall fortifications in France, the 2nd SS Panzer Division then took part in the operations to punch through the Ardennes Forest in December, 1944. Coming within sight of the River Meus, the Division was halted, and then slowly smashed by fierce Allied counter-attacks. Pulled out of the offensive, Das Reich was transferred into Germany to again refit, and then to take part in the last German offensive of the war in Hungary to attempt to break the siege around Budapest. This offensive also ground to a halt, and Das Reich spent the rest of the war more-or-less fighting in parts from Dresden, to Prague to Vienna. In the end, most of the Division managed to escape to the West to surrender to the Americans.History
Originally, the SS-V.T.-Division was composed of three of the original four SS-Standarten. LAH was the other SS-Standarten, and it was developed on its own. The other three SS-Standarten were Deutschland, Germania and Der Fuhrer. After the Western Campaign was over, the SS-V.T.-Division was reorganized. The SS-Standarten Germania was transfered out of the Division and along with the SS-Standarten, Nordland and Westland, formed the backbone of a different SS-Division, Germania, which was soon to become the Wiking Division. For the loss of Germania, the SS-V.T.-Division was given a SS-Totenkopfstandarte designated as SS-Infanterie Regiment 11. Soon after, the Division changed its title from V.T. to Deutschland, and soon after that, to Reich.
During the period after the fall of France, the Division was stationed in France preparing for the invasion of England. The Division, now called Reich, was moved to Romania to take part in the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece in March of 1941. In April, 1941, Reich took part in the successful capture of Belgrade, the Capital of Yugoslavia. After the capture of Belgrade, the Division was moved to Poland to take part in the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union.
During the invasion of the Soviet Union, Reich fought with Army Group Center, taking part in the Battle of Yalnya near Smolensk, and then in the spearhead to capture Moscow. Reich came within a few miles of the Soviet Capital in November, 1941, reaching a sort of "High Water Mark" of the German advance in the Soviet Union. With the Soviet Capital within sight of the Division, weather, massive losses and a major Soviet Winter Counter-Offensive pushed the Division back. After a period of very bloody losses for the Division, Reich was pulled out of the fighting and sent to France to refit as a Panzer-Grenadier Division. Part of the Division was left in the East, and they were titled Kampfgroup Ostendorf. Ostendork was sent to join Reich on June, 1942.
In November, 1942, portions of the Division took part in an attempt to prevent the scuttling of the French Fleet at Toulon. Soon after, the Division was retitled again, this time to SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Das Reich".
Early in 1943, Das Reich was transferred back to the Eastern Front where it helped reclaim the crumbling central front around Kharkov. After helping recapture the city of Kharkov, Das Reich along with many other Divisions was thrown into a massive assault into the Kursk Salient, a huge bulge in the Soviet Front line around the area of Kursk. Das Reich pushed upwards of 40 miles into the southern sector of the bulge, but was pulled out of the battle along with the other SS-Division when the offensive was called off. After a period of brief encounters, Das Reich was refit once again, this time as SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". In doing so, it left a portion the Division in the East titled Kampfgroup Das Reich, and officially know as Kampfgroup Lammerding. The rest of the Division was transferred to the West to refit, and while doing so also took part in anti-partisan operations in France.
In Winter, 1943/1944, another massive Soviet Winter Counter Offensive managed to encircle German units in the center of the front. The Kamfgroup that Das Reich left behind was one of the units encircled by the Soviet Offensive, and an assault by II. SS-Panzer-Korps managed to rescue the trapped elements of Das Reich. The Kampfgroup was then transferred to France to join the rest of the Division already station there. The remaining small portion of Das Reich left in the East was renamed Kampfgroup Weidinger and was involved in the retreats through Proskurow abd Tarnopol.
After the D-Day invasion in Normany, France, Das Reich was committed to stop the Allied advance, and took part in the many attempts to stop the Allies near Caen and St. Lo. The Division recaptured Mortain, but was forced to retreat when it became apparent the Allies were going to encircle the Division along with a large number of other German units in the Falises Pocket. Thanks to the efforts of Das Reich along with the 9th SS-Panzer Division, a large number of German were able to escape the pocket and retreat to the east.
Pulled back across the Seine River and then to behind the West Wall fortifications in France, the 2nd SS Panzer Division then took part in the operations to punch through the Ardennes Forest in December, 1944. Coming within sight of the River Meus, the Division was halted, and then slowly smashed by fierce Allied counter-attacks. Pulled out of the offensive, Das Reich was transferred into Germany to again refit, and then to take part in the last German offensive of the war in Hungary to attempt to break the siege around Budapest. This offensive also ground to a halt, and Das Reich spent the rest of the war more-or-less fighting in parts from Dresden, to Prague to Vienna. In the end, most of the Division managed to escape to the West to surrender to the Americans.History