2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich

2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
2. SS-Panzerdivision "Das Reich"
Unit insignia, the Wolfsangel
Active	1939–1945
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Waffen-SS
Type	Panzer
Role	Armoured warfare
Size	Division
Engagements	World War II Battle of France 1940 Operation Barbarossa Operation Typhoon Battle of Kursk Operation Overlord Battle of the Bulge Operation Spring Awakening
Commanders
Notable commanders	Paul Hausser Heinz Lammerding

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.

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.