Publisher Description

Fully illustrated history of 2nd SS-Panzer 'Das Reich' Division, from formation to surrender in 1945. The Das Reich Division was the most infamous units of the Waffen-SS. Hitler's Schutzstaffel (SS) units were originally paramilitary formations raised to protect the members of the Nazi party, and the Waffen-SS (the armed SS) was founded in 1934 as the SS-Verfugungstruppe. In 1939 the SS-Verfugungstruppe was placed under the operational command of the OKH. During the invasion of Poland the unit fought as a mobile infantry regiment. There were doubts about the unit's effectiveness, but Hitler ordered it be allowed to expand and form its own divisions, but under the command of the army. In 1940 the SS-Verfugungs-Division participated in the invasion of the Netherlands and France. After the Battle of France the SS-VT was officially renamed the Waffen-SS, and in 1941, the Verfugungs-Division was renamed Reich, later Das Reich. In 1941 Das Reich took part in the invasion of Yugoslavia, where its men accepted the surrender of Belgrade. In Barbarossa, Das Reich fought with Army Group Center, in the spearhead of Operation Typhoon and taking part in the battle of Moscow, by which time it had lost 60 percent of its combat strength. It was pulled off the front in mid-1942 and sent to refit as a panzer-grenadier division. Returning to the Eastern Front, Das Reich took part in the fighting around Kharkov and Kursk. Late in the year it was designated a panzer division. In 1944, the unit was stationed in southern France when the Allies landed in Normandy. The following days saw the division commit atrocities, hanging 100 local men in the town of Tulles in reprisal for German losses, and massacring 642 French civilians in Oradour-sur-Glane, allegedly in retaliation for partisan activity in the area. Later in the Normandy fighting, Das Reich was encircled in the Roncey pocket by US 2nd Armored Division, losing most of their armored equipment. Das Reich surrendered in May 1945. 100 illustrations

Author Biography

Yves Buffetaut is a French historian, owner of Ysec Editions and Editor of two military magazines, Tranchees, about WW1 and Batailles, on WW2. He has written more than 100 books on both

Table of Contents

The Creation of the Division and its Baptism by Fire The Campaigns in France and the Balkans Operation Barbarossa and its Aftermath The 1943 Russian Campaign: Kharkov, Kursk, Back to Kiev Normandy and the Ardennes, Endgame in Hungary

Review

This series does exactly what it says on the cover - lavishly illustrated, stuffed with photos and biographies what else could you ask for? Certainly my first recourse from now on when looking at the SS panzer divisions. give yourself a treat and buy a copy asap if tanks are your thing. * Army Rumour Service *
I happen to really like what Histoire & Collections and other publishers across the Channel have been doing and welcome the opportunity to see their books in English, especially when they cover French subjects. * War History Online *
... a first-rate book, which readers will return to many times over and always find something new. * Gun Mart *
In one book the reader will get the full history of this famous German division. Moreover, those photos contain rare material and might come handy for a modeling hobby as well. * DetailScaleView *
These twin books by the same author are high-quality…with excellent photographs and an endowment of full-colour pictures of typical equipment. * Miniature Wargames - Chris Jarvis *
The text of each chapter tells the historical story of sequential events while the heart of the book is held by the large number of archive photos which do indeed illustrate the story. Interspersed with all this are separate factual notes giving profiles of various commanders, maps and some fine colour profiles of various tanks and trucks which modellers in particular will enjoy. * Military Model Scene *
Quite an excellent publication squeezing a lot into its 128 pages. Recommended. * Scale Military Modelling International Magazine *
And here is another fascinating piece of military history from the opposite point of view...this doesn't purport to be an illustrated history of the Reich, but it damn well is! * Books Monthly *
If you're interested in German Armoured Operations, and in particular the 2nd SS Panzer Regiment then this will be a good read. * Britmodeller.com *

Review Quote

"The text of each chapter tells the historical story of sequential events while the heart of the book is held by the large number of archive photos which do indeed illustrate the story. Interspersed with all this are separate factual notes giving profiles of various commanders, maps and some fine colour profiles of various tanks and trucks which modellers in particular will enjoy."

Details