"DAS REICH" PLAQUE

2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich (Ger. 2. SS-Panzerdivision "Das Reich" ) was formed in 1934 as SS-Division Verfügungstruppe to adopt its final name after using different names (e.g. SS-Division Reich or SS-Division Deutschland). The division began its combat route with the Western campaign in the summer of 1940. She also fought in the Balkans in 1941. In the same year she also participated in the Barbarossa and Typhoon operations, fighting, inter alia, at Jelnia and Moscow. The division also took part in the Battle of Kharkiv (February-March 1943) and in the Battle of the Kursk in July 1943. After this battle, she was transferred to France to make up for losses - both in people and equipment. She remained in this country until 1944 and in June of that year took part in the battles with the Allies in Normandy. In the course of operations in Normandy, she suffered heavy losses. After regenerating your strength, The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich took part in the offensive in the Ardennes at the end of 1944. From the beginning of 1945, it fought in Hungary, where it remained until the end of March. The unit was almost completely destroyed by the Red Army, and its remnants broke through to the west and surrendered to American troops. The soldiers of the division committed war crimes and crimes against the civilian population - especially the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre in June 1944.