Das Reich: Waffen-SS Armoured Elite

Spearhead Series; This series looks at the cutting edge of war, and deals exclusively with units capable of operating independently in the forefront of battle. Each volume in the series examines the chosen unit's origins and history, its organisation and order of battle, its battle history theatre by theatre, its insignia and markings. Also covered are biographies of the most important commanders of each unit. Each title ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness - as seen by the unit Itself, by its opponents and in the light of more recent historical research. The books also include a detailed reference section with a critical biography, a listing of relevant museums and web sites, plus information about re-enactment groups and memorials. Das Reich; Raised in Holland in 1939, Das Reich became one of the deadliest of Hitler's tank divisions, fighting with distinction in many of the war's major battles. After taking part in the Blitzkrieg in the West, Das Reich moved east and took part in operations in the Balkans and Operation 'Barbarossa', Hitler's invasion of Russia. It stayed on the eastern Iront until October 1943, taking part in some of the biggest tank battles in history, such as those of Kharkov and Kursk. By the time it was sent to southern France, to refit, the divisional strength was down to around 2,500. Some 450 miles from the coast of northern France, Das Reich was expected, by both German and British analysts, to take three days to reach any trouble spot. In fact, when the invasion came, the move of 15,000 men and 209 tanks to Normandy took much longer. Hampered by the resistance, including Maquis, SAS and American Jedburghs, and Allied fighter-bombers, the march would be remembered for the outrageous reprisals at Oradour and Tuile. And when it reached Normally, Das Reich's mixture of veterans and recruits was all but destroyed by the time the Falaise gap was closed. It would spend the last days of the war refitting and then fighting in Hungary and Austria, where it surrendered to American forces.

Mike Sharpe & Brian L. Davis
Softcover 96 pages 2003