Wynn, Stephen Die 2. SS-Panzerdivision "Das Reich"

Entstehung - Einsatz - Bilanz

The history of one of the Waffen-SS's most combat-ready and controversial divisionsobjectively analyzed and presented based on documented sources. A book that examines military capabilities, ideological leanings, and documented crimes with equal rigor. The 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" was among the most notorious major formations of the Waffen-SS. From its formation in the early years of the regime, through its deployments in Poland and France, the Balkans, and especially on the Eastern Front, to the costly battles in Normandy and within the Reich in 1944/45, it decisively shaped numerous theaters of war. Under commanders such as SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser and later SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Lammerding, the division developed into a formidable armored force. At the same time, its name is inextricably linked to grave war crimes, particularly the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre in June 1944. This book traces the division's military development, analyzes its leadership structures, combat performance, and ideological background, and places these events within the broader context of the Second World War. The author combines meticulous research with a sober, scholarly presentation. There is neither glorification nor blanket condemnation, but rather a historical contextualization.