2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
German armored division / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich | |
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2. SS-Panzerdivision "Das Reich" | |
Active | 1939–1945 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Waffen-SS |
Type | Panzer |
Role | Armoured warfare |
Size | Division |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Paul Hausser Heinz Lammerding |
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 Eastern Front between 1941 and 1944. It was transferred to the Western Front in 1944, where it fought in the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Toward the end of the war, it was transferred back to the Eastern Front, where it participated in Operation Spring Awakening in Hungary.
Das Reich attained significant notoriety for its history of war crimes. The division committed multiple major and minor massacres, most notably in the form of the Tulle massacre and the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre on 9 and 10 June 1944.