Tank divisions ss. SS division emblems German elite SS armored divisions

Country: Third Reich.

Type: motorized division.

1939 - SS division of reserve troops (German SS-Division Verfügungstruppe),

1940 - Reich,

1942 - 2nd Motorized Division Das Reich (2.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich),

the final name was given in 1943.

Motto: “My honor is called“ loyalty ”” (German “Meine Ehre heißt Treue”).

Participation in World War II:

Invasion of France.
Battle of Smolensk (1941).
Battle for Moscow.
Battle of Rzhev.
Battle of Kursk.
Kharkov operation (1943).
resistance to the landing in Normandy.
Ardennes operation.

Insignia: sleeve cuff tape

Notable commanders: Paul Hausser, Wilhelm Bittrich, Matthias Kleinhesterkamp.

The SS Reserve Division (German SS-Verfügungsdivision) - was formed on October 10, 1938 by combining the "SS reserve troops" (German SS-Verfügungstruppen) with part of the SS "Death's Head" formations. The arm of the troops is motorized infantry (German Panzergrenadier).

The first commander is the SS Gruppenfuehrer Paul Hausser.

Connection history.

SS-Division "reserve army" (SS-Division Verfügungstruppe).

In the Polish campaign in September 1939, individual regiments of the division were included in the larger formations of the Wehrmacht. Paul Hausser with the Deutschland regiment, a propaganda and reconnaissance unit was attached to the headquarters of the Kempf Panzer Division. The German regiment became the reserve part of the 14th Army under the command of General List. The Shock Assault Battalion served with the Life Standard of von Reichenau's 10th Army. Regiment "Der Fuehrer" during the entire campaign was kept in a special reserve and did not take an active part in the battles.

In 1940, the division took part in campaigns in the West (Netherlands, France).

SS Division "Reich".

Reformed into the SS Reich division (in Russian-language sources also "Reich") on February 25, 1941. Participated in the capture of Yugoslavia in April 1941. On the evening of April 12, 1941, SS Hauptsturmführer Klingenberg, at the head of the Reich division's reconnaissance patrol, occupied the capital of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and officially (in the presence of a German diplomat) took the keys to the city from the Mayor of Belgrade.

Eastern front.

From 22.06.41 - was part of the 46th corps (motorized) of the 2nd Panzer Group (Guderian), Army Group Center:

Smolensk battle.

Since 1942, she fought in the Rzhev area.

The composition of the division in 1941-42:

• SS Regiment "Der Fuehrer".
• SS Regiment "Deutschland".
• 11th SS Infantry Regiment.
• Artillery Regiment:

1. Assault gun battery.
2. Anti-tank battalion.
3. Motorcycle battalion.
4. Reconnaissance battalion.
5. Sapper battalion.
6. Anti-aircraft machine gun battalion.
7. Communications battalion.

Motorized SS division "Reich".

Reformed from November 1942 in Normandy (Northern France).

From February 1943 on the southern sector of the Eastern Front (Third Battle of Kharkov).

April 20, 1943 USSR, after the third battle for Kharkov. Walter Kruger at the presentation of the Knight's Cross.

T-34 tanks from the Das Reich division.

Grenadiers and armored vehicles of the "Harmel" battle group in Kharkov in 1943.

Division units took part in punitive operations in the occupied territories.

In July 1943, as part of the 2nd SS Panzer Corps - in Battle of Kursk(participated in battles with the 5th Guards Tank Army of General Rotmistrov near Prokhorovka). In August 1943 - at the Mius Front. Then battles in Ukraine, from February 1944 - withdrawn to France.

In October 1943, it was renamed from a motorized division to a tank division (in fact, even before the renaming, it corresponded to the staff of a tank division).

Since July 1944 - in battles in Normandy. At the end of 1944, she participated in the Battle of the Ardennes, in February-March 1945, in battles in Hungary, in April 1945 she retreated to the Czech Republic, in May 1945 she surrendered to American troops in Austria.

The composition of the division in 1943-45:

• 2nd SS Panzer Regiment.
• SS Grenadier Regiment "Deutschland".
• SS Grenadier Regiment "Der Fuehrer".
• SS Grenadier Regiment "Langemark".
• Artillery regiment.

1. A battalion of assault guns.
2. A battalion of rocket launchers.
3. Anti-tank battalion.
4. Anti-aircraft artillery battalion.
5. Reconnaissance battalion.
6. Sapper battalion.
7. Communications battalion.

Division tank (Pz Kpfw VI Ausf H "Tiger") near Kursk. June 1943. The tank's belonging to this unit, as well as the period of time, clearly follow from the characteristic tactical emblem applied to the frontal armor.

Commanders:

• Oberstgruppenführer Paul Hausser, 19 October 1939 - 14 October 1941.
• Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich, October 14, 1941 - December 31, 1941.
• Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp, ​​December 31, 1941 - April 19, 1942.
• Obergruppenführer Georg Keppler, 19 April 1942 - 10 February 1943.
• Brigadeführer Herbert-Ernst Wal, 10 February 1943 - 18 March 1943.
• Oberführer Kurt Brazak, 18 March 1943 - 29 March 1943
  Obergruppenführer Walter Kruger, March 29, 1943 - October 23, 1943.
• Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding, 23 October 1943 - 24 July 1944.
• Standartenführer Christian Tichsen, 24 July 1944 - 28 July 1944.
• Oberführer Otto Baum, 28 July 1944 - 23 October 1944.
• Gruppenführer Hans Lammerding, 23 October 1944 - 20 January 1945.
• Standartenführer Karl Kreutz, January 20, 1945 - January 29, 1945.
• Gruppenfuehrer Werner Ostendorf, January 20, 1945 - March 9, 1945.
• Standartenführer Rudolf Lehmann, March 9, 1945 - April 13, 1945.
• Standartenführer Karl Kreutz, April 13, 1945 - May 8, 1945.

Applications.

Document number 1.

SS Panzer-Grenadier Division Divisional Headquarters 01/07/43.

"Das Reich"

Order for the day

Soldiers of the SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Das Reich"!

The Fuehrer is calling us to the East. Together with other units of the Waffen SS and the army, he set us tasks that would require us to go over to either the attack or the defense. We will do it!

We are grateful to the Fuehrer for what he demands of us the most. He relies on us, and we will prove to him that we are his faithful followers. Let everyone in difficult times remember our motto, the SS motto: “SS man! Your honor is loyalty! "

The SS Panzer-Grenadier Division Das Reich must carry out an order in memory of our fallen comrades.

Document number 2.

Help from the head of the 7th department of the political department on the composition and state of enemy formations in the offensive zone of the Voronezh Front

Currently, we are confronted by the following enemy units.

Army Corps SS, consisting of the divisions "Reich", "Adolf Hitler", "Great Germany", "Death's Head".

The SS corps was redeployed from France on January 16, 1943. Of the four divisions of this corps, at first two divisions operated: "Great Germany" and "Adolf Hitler", then the "Reich" division appeared, replacing the defeated division "Great Germany", and in last days the action of the "Death's Head" division is noted.

Since December 1942, the SS Army Corps has been called the Panzer Grenadier Corps. According to the testimony of the prisoners of war, the name "Grenadier" was given to the best divisions in honor of the continuation of the traditions of the grenadiers of the time of Frederick the Great.

Each SS division has two motorized grenadier regiments, a tank and an artillery regiment. For example, the Reich division consists of the SS Deutschland tank grenadier regiment, the Führer motorized regiment, the Langemark motorized rifle regiment and the 2nd artillery regiment.

The commander of the SS Panzer Corps is Lieutenant General Gausser (Obergruppenführer).

The Reich division commander is Lieutenant General Keppler (Obergruppenführer).

The commander of the "Death's Head" division is Lieutenant General Aike.

The commander of the Adolf Hitler division is Lieutenant General Dietrich.

The commander of the "Great Germany" division is Colonel-General Kasnitz.

The commander of the Deutschland regiment is Colonel Carmel.

The commander of the Der Fuehrer regiment is Obersturmbannfuehrer Kumm.

The divisions are manned at most of the ages 1923-1924. birth. 75% are Germans from Germany, the rest are Germans from other countries. There are a small number of non-Germans (Czechs, Poles, Croats).

It is noteworthy that in the SS divisions there are many soldiers from Volksdeutsche, and not from Reichsdeutsche, that is, the majority are Germans from Slovakia, Croatia and other occupied countries. The parents of most of the soldiers interviewed are members of the National Socialist Party, and the soldiers themselves were brought up in the organizations of Hitler's youth and are fooled by nationalist propaganda.

As shown by a survey of prisoners of war, the soldiers of these divisions for the most part represent a fairly raw contingent. This replenishment, poured into the division in 1942, during their reorganization after the winter battles in Russia. The officers are exclusively Germans.

The SS divisions were to finish training personnel in March. In early January, the entire corps was suddenly transferred to the Eastern Front. There was a rumor that the corps was tasked with providing assistance to the encircled Stalingrad group. We arrived at Stalino, and it was impossible to go any longer.

The reforming of the SS corps took place in France. The soldiers of the SS divisions arrived with confidence that Germany would win and that they would stop the Russian advance. The stories of soldiers demoralized by heavy fighting and a hasty retreat had a depressing effect on the mood of those approaching the front.

First, two SS divisions were thrown to the front: "Reich" and "Great Germany", then "Adolf Hitler", and recently the appearance of the "Dead's Head" division at the front has been noted. The divisions suffered heavy losses. During the retreat to Kharkov, "Reich" lost, for example, 53 tanks out of 80. At first, they were tasked with delaying the advance of the Red Army along the Volchanok, Kupyansk line, but under the onslaught of our troops they retreated to Kharkov, and then beyond Kharkov.

Retreating, SS units performed incredible atrocities against the civilian population: they killed men, old people and children, blew up and destroyed all industrial buildings and residential buildings in cities, burned entire villages. In Kharkov, they destroyed all large public buildings and industrial enterprises.

Head of the 7th Department of Political Administration

Voronezh Front Lieutenant Colonel Kirsanov.

TsAMO. Form 203. Op. 2777. D. 1, L. 59-64.

Document number 3.

Brief description of enemy divisions operating in front of the Voronezh front, as of May 15, 1943

Panzer division SS "Reich". The division includes the 1st and 2nd motorized regiments, a tank regiment and an artillery regiment. Motor-regiments - a three-battalion composition, an artillery regiment - a four-divisional composition.

The division commander is Gruppenfuehrer Kepler. The commander of the MP "Fuehrer" is Obersturmfuehrer Kumm. The commander of the MP "Deutschland" is Obersturmbannführer Harmil. The division was formed in 1939 from independent cadre regiments, took part in the war with Poland, and fought with great audacity. It was transferred to the Eastern Front in early July 1941. She acted in the Smolensk direction, fighting in the area of ​​Orsha and Yelnya. Later it advanced on the Volokolamsk, Rzhev and Sychevsk directions. In these battles, she lost almost all of her personnel. In March 1942 she was taken to Germany for replenishment and reorganization, after replenishment she was transferred to France. The personnel was almost completely renewed (no more than 20% of the old cadre soldiers remained). The division was replenished mainly with volunteers from members of the Hitler Youth League, drawn from various parts of Germany. The age structure is 19-22 years old. The term of study is 9 months.

In January 1943, the division was transferred a second time to the Eastern Front. The "Fuehrer" regiment with an artillery division and a tank company plunged into echelons on January 8, 1943 and followed along the railway. to Stalino, where he arrived on January 21, from Stalino, parts of the regiment departed by march to Voroshilovgrad. 01/25/43 took up defenses east of Voroshilovgrad. In defensive battles near Voroshilovgrad, according to the testimony of the prisoners, he had heavy losses, many frostbitten. In the first half of February 1943, he was transferred to the Kharkov direction, where on February 8 he became part of his division. Regiment "Deutschland", motorcycle regiment, division headquarters and other special units of the division were unloaded in the Kiev region in the period 18-27.01.43 and were transferred to the region of Kharkov, Volchansk, where in early February advanced units entered into battle with our advancing troops. After unsuccessful oncoming battles, units of the "Reich" division from 7.02.43 began to withdraw from the Seversky Donets river line in the direction of Kharkov, Merefa, Krasnograd. By 20.02.43 the division withdrew to Krasnograd, from where it launched a counteroffensive against Pavlograd and captured Pavlograd on February 25. By March 20, the division reached the Seversky Donets River in the Starosaltovsk direction, after which the 11th TD was replaced and transferred to the Belgorod area. During the fighting (January - March), the division lost up to 2,000 people killed and over 2,000 people frostbitten. The numerical strength and combat strength of the division as of 05/15/43 is: people - 7000, guns - 50, anti-tank guns - 62, mortars - 40, machine guns - 260, tanks - 80. The political and moral state of the personnel of the division is high, the majority believe in victory for Germany.

CONCLUSION: the "Reich" division has losses of up to 30%, is currently replenished to its full strength, the training of soldiers is high, the offensive spirit is not undermined, it is a combat-ready formation.

Document number 4.

Army order

On July 18, 2nd SS Panzer Corps leaves the control of 4th Panzer Army. In the second half of March, the corps, with its three Panzer-Grenadier divisions, as part of the army, halted the great Russian winter offensive at its climax and strengthened the German front. In the most difficult conditions, the SS corps fought shoulder to shoulder with army units and endured the main burden of the struggle in the great spring battle. With incomparable fighting spirit, the corps threw back the Russian shock armies and turned, with the recapture of Kharkov and Belgorod, a threatening catastrophe into a glorious victory. After weeks of recovery, which were filled with tough academic work, the corps came into operation again on 5 July. Well-fortified enemy positions were stormed with a strong offensive spirit, against which, in the toughest tank battles, counterattacks launched by Russian tank corps crashed.

I affirm that the 2nd SS Panzer Corps has demonstrated loyalty, firmness and exemplary courage during the entire period of subordination of the 4th Panzer Army, and I endure him my gratitude and my highest recognition. If now the command assigns new, difficult tasks to the corps, then I am sure that the corps will also successfully cope with them, with loyalty to the Fuehrer, on the day of Germany's victory.

Literature.

Penaud, Guy - "La" Das Reich "2e SS Panzer Division" (Parcours de la division en France - 560 pages), Editions de La Lauze / Périgueux - ISBN 2-912032-76-8

Akunov V. SS Division "Reich". History of the Second SS Panzer Division. 1939-1945 - Moscow: Yauza, 2006 .-- 416 p. - 4,000 copies. - ISBN 5-87849-197-4

Ponomarenko R. SS Division "Reich". March to the East 1941-1942. - Moscow: Yauza-Press, 2009 .-- 288 p. - (SS troops in battle. You need to know the enemy!). - 5,000 copies. - ISBN 978-59955-0043-8

Ponomarenko R.O. 1943. SS Reich Division on the Eastern Front. - Moscow: Yauza-Press, 2010 .-- 512 p. - (Trench truth of the Wehrmacht). - 3000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-9955-0086-5

Mattson G.L. The history of the second SS Panzer Division "Das Reich". 1939-1945 = SS-DAS REICH. The history of the second SS division 1939-45. - Moscow: AST: AST MOSCOW: Transitkniga, 2006 .-- 189, p. - 5,000 copies. - ISBN 5-17-036614-0 (LLC Publishing House AST), 5-9713-2419-5 (LLC Publishing House AST MOSCOW "), 5-9578-4101-3 (LLC" Tranzitkniga ")

Note: material used

And so, today we will talk about how the combat path of the SS division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" ended. This connection has always been on a special account with the rulers of the Third Reich, and was distinguished by fanaticism, contempt for death and loss. But even they couldn't stop the blows Soviet armies, and were eventually broken.

We will start from the end of 1944, when not only Soviet troops reached the borders of the Reich ( East Prussia), and the Allies proper. Hitler planned to strike at the Anglo-American forces in order to force them to negotiate, and for this a large-scale offensive was organized in the Ardennes region on December 16, 1944.

The main task of defeating the enemy was assigned to the SS tank units, which included the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandart". Despite the fact that the German troops were able to break through the Allied front, they did not succeed in reaching the operational space, due to lack of fuel and difficult terrain.

By December 26, the Americans, having created a multiple superiority both in manpower and in tanks, went on the offensive. The German offensive had lasted ten days before that moment, and ended in complete failure. But the 1st SS Panzer Division is sent for the next military operation, which was planned in Hungary. The 1st SS Panzer Division lost about 50% of its tanks and self-propelled guns, but they were able to restore it in just a month, because it was this unit that had priority in obtaining military equipment.

And so, as part of the 6th SS Panzer Army, the 1st Panzer Division had to throw back Soviet troops back to Budapest, which the Red Army took in stubborn battles. The 1st SS Panzer Division was to seize the bridgehead for the offensive. The battles were fought against units of the 24th Guards Rifle Corps, and despite the fact that the Russians were successfully pressed, there was no need to talk about any surprise of the strike.

Units of the 3rd Ukrainian Front were able to prepare for the German attack, and 67 anti-tank guns were deployed for 1 kilometer. Nevertheless, the Germans had nothing to lose, and on March 6 (some sources indicate March 7), the last major offensive of the Wehrmacht began. For three days the 1st Panzer SS fought against Soviet soldiers, and at the cost of huge losses, it broke through two defensive lines, and the 30th Soviet Rifle Corps was in fact defeated. Nevertheless, the command of the 3rd Ukrainian Front in time transferred additional forces, which included Soviet heavy self-propelled guns - German tank destroyers.

On March 15, units of the 1st SS Panzer Division made a maximum-scale breach of 30 kilometers, but they failed to break the last echelon of the Soviet defense, they were not strong enough.

As a result, 10% of the personnel (18,000 people) and 80% of military equipment were lost. It is difficult to say exactly how much the Germans lost tanks and self-propelled guns, historian Alexei Isaev calls the minimum figure of 250 pieces of equipment.

However, the defeat for the division came only after the failed offensive. When Soviet troops launched an offensive against the 6th SS Panzer Army. The attack was carried out without any operational pause, and units of the 1st SS Panzer Division managed to be split into several independent groups at once, which had to be destroyed.

But, due to the fact that the remnants of the 1st Panzer Division were lucky to fight in the mountainous terrain of Eastern Austria, and this made it possible to restrain the Soviet offensive for the time being. However, by the beginning of May, only 55% of the manpower of the 1st SS Panzer Division remained. If we take into account the fact that after the defeat in March, 10% of manpower was lost, then we can safely say that the German unit was defeated, and the retreat to the demarcation line saved it from complete destruction. There, the remnants of the soldiers of the once strongest SS tank unit laid down their weapons.

On June 24, 1945, on Red Square during the Victory Parade, among the abandoned banners of SS units, the first was the flag pole of the 1st SS Panzer Division.

Formations of the SS (Waffen SS) had an interesting difference from the formations of the Wehrmacht, and probably from all other formations of the warring parties.

Almost all of these divisions had their own emblems (tactical, or identification, signs), which were by no means worn by the ranks of these divisions as sleeve patches (rare exceptions did not change the overall picture), but were applied with white, black or yellow oil paint on divisional military equipment and vehicles; buildings in which the ranks of the respective divisions were quartered; corresponding pointers in the locations of the parts; aircraft (if any), etc. These identification (tactical) signs, or emblems ("erkennungszeichen", German: Erkennungszeichen) of SS divisions are almost always inscribed in heraldic shields (which had a "Varangian" or "Norman", form or tarch form) / 1 / - in many cases differed from the lapel signs of the ranks of the respective divisions.

I present to your attention short description and the emblems of all Waffen SS divisions.

1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandart SS Adolf Hitler".

The name of the division means "SS Regiment of Adolf Hitler's Personal Protection". The emblem (tactical, or identification, sign) of the division was a shield-tarch with the image of a master key (and not a key, as they often write and think incorrectly). The choice of such an unusual emblem is explained very simply. The surname of the division commander Joseph ("Sepp") Dietrich was "speaking" (or, in heraldic language, "vowel"). In German, "dietrich" means "master key". After Dietrich's Sepp was awarded with Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the division emblem was framed with 2 oak leaves or a semicircular oak wreath.

2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich".

The name of the division - "Reich" ("Das Reich") translated into Russian means "Empire", "Power". The emblem of the division was the "wolfsangel" ("wolf hook") inscribed in the tarch shield - an old German amulet symbol that scared away wolves and werewolves (in German: "werewolves", in Greek: "lycanthropes", in Icelandic: " ulfkhedinov ", in Norwegian:" varulvov "or" wargs ", in Slavic:" ghouls "," wolkolaks "," wolkudlaks "or" wolkodlaks "), located horizontally.

"Wolfsangels" (slightly different in shape) served as identification marks and some other formations of the armed forces of the Third Reich - the 4th SS Police Division, as well as the motorized infantry (panzer-grenadier, tank-grenadier) divisions "Feldgerrngalle", 209th and 256 1st Infantry Divisions and 19th Panzer Division of the German Wehrmacht. In addition, the "wolf hook" (without a vertical center line) originally served as the identification mark of the 11th SS Motorized Infantry Division "Nordland" until it was replaced by the "sun wheel" (a swastika with curved ends) inscribed in a circle.

3rd SS Panzer Division "Death's Head" ("Totenkopf").

The division got its name from the SS emblem - "dead (Adam's) head" (skull with bones) - a symbol of loyalty to the leader until death. The same emblem, inscribed in the tarch shield, also served as the division's identification mark.

4th SS Motorized Infantry Division "Police" ("Police"), aka "(4th) SS Police Division".

This division received this name because it was formed from the ranks of the German police. The division's emblem was a "wolf hook" - "Wolfsangel" in an upright position, inscribed in a heraldic shield-tarch.

5th SS Panzer Division "Viking".

The name of this division is explained by the fact that, along with the Germans, it was recruited from the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden), as well as Belgium, the Netherlands, Latvia and Estonia. In addition, Swiss, Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish volunteers served in the ranks of the Viking division. The division's emblem was a "kosovidny cross" ("sun wheel"), that is, a swastika with arched crossbeams, on a heraldic shield-tarche.

6th SS Mountain (Mountain Rifle) Division "Nord" ("North").

The name of this division is explained by the fact that it was recruited mainly from natives of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Latvia). The emblem of the division was the ancient Germanic rune "Hagall" (reminiscent of the Russian letter "Ж") inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch. The hagall (hagalaz) rune was considered a symbol of unshakable faith.

7th SS Volunteer Mountain (Mountain Rifle) Division "Prince Eugene (Eugen)".

This division, recruited mainly from ethnic Germans who lived in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Vojvodina, Banat and Romania, was named after the famous commander of the "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation" of the second half of the 17th and early 18th centuries. Prince Eugene (in German: Eugen) of Savoy, famous for his victories over the Ottoman Turks and, in particular, for the Roman-German emperor conquered Belgrade (1717). Yevgeny Savoysky also became famous in the War of the Spanish Succession for his victories over the French and earned himself no less fame as a patron of the arts. The emblem of the division was the ancient German rune "odal" ("otilia", "etel") inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch with curved lower ends.

A similar rune "odal", according to some sources, served as the identification mark of the 23rd volunteer mountain (mountain rifle) SS Kama division (Croatian # 2).

The odal rune of a somewhat simplified form (without bent lower ends) was used as an identification mark of the 14th Panzer Division of the German Wehrmacht.

It should be noted that the version of the odal rune (with bent lower ends) used as the identification mark of the SS division "Prince Eugene (Eugen)" was used by some foreign and domestic runologists (for example, Anton Platov in his major research "The Magical Arts of Ancient Europe", "Sofia", ID "Helios", M., 2002, pp. 289 and 376) tend to be viewed as a separate, "irregular" rune "erda" ("earth rune").

According to their interpretation, the rune of the earth and the earthly goddess, which bears the same name in the Germanic languages ​​- "erda", symbolizes, on the one hand, the earth itself and its holiness, and on the other, the native land, homeland, clan (this is why " the rune of the earth "became the emblem of the Main Directorate of Race and Settlements of the SS). This circumstance makes the Erda rune related to its simplified version (without bent lower ends) - the "classic" odal rune. The main meaning of the odal rune is inheritance, heritage (both spiritual and material), clan, family, homeland, home, property, traditions, kinship (in spirit and blood). All this made the "odal" rune a talisman-rune that protects the family, property, and the well-being of the clan.

Nevertheless, apparently, in the Third Reich in general, and in the SS - in particular, no distinction was made between the runes "Odal" and "Erda" with swept lower ends, used as the emblem of the Dutch SS division "Landstorm Nederland" - the name "Odal-Rune" was used).

8th SS Cavalry Division "Florian Geyer"

This division was named in honor of the imperial knight Florian Geyer, who during the Peasant War in Germany (1524-1526) led one of the detachments of German peasants ("Black Detachment", in German: "Schwarzer Gaufen"), who rebelled against the princes (large feudal lords who opposed the unification of Germany under the emperor's scepter). Since Florian Geyer wore black armor and his "Black Squad" fought under a black banner, the SS viewed him as their predecessor (especially since he opposed not only the princes, but also for the unification of the German state). Florian Geyer (immortalized in the eponymous drama by the classic of German literature Gerhart Hauptmann) heroically died in battle with the superior forces of the German princes in 1525 in the Taubertal valley. His image entered German folklore (especially song), enjoying no less popularity than, say, Stepan Razin - in Russian song folklore. The emblem of the division was inscribed in a heraldic shield-tarch, a straight naked sword with a point upward, crossing the shield from right to left diagonally, and a horse's head.

9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen"

This division was named after the dynasty of the Swabian dukes (since 1079) and the medieval Roman-German emperors-Kaisers (1138-1254) - the Hohenstaufens (Staufens). Under them, the medieval German power ("Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation"), founded by Charlemagne (in 800 AD) and renewed by Otto (n) I the Great, reached the peak of its power, subjugating Italy to its influence, Sicily, the Holy Land and Poland. The Hohenstaufens tried, relying on the economically highly developed Northern Italy as a base, to centralize their power over Germany and restore the Roman Empire - "at least" - the Western (within the borders of Charlemagne's empire), ideally, the entire Roman Empire, including the Eastern Roman (Byzantine), which, however, did not succeed. Most famous representatives The Hohenstaufen dynasty is considered to be the Kaiser-crusaders Frederick I Barbarossa (who died during the Third Crusade) and his grand-nephew Frederick II (Emperor of Rome, King of Germany, Sicilian and Jerusalem), as well as Konradin, who was defeated in the fight against Pope Carol and Duke of Anne for Italy and beheaded by the French in 1268. The emblem of the division was inscribed in a heraldic shield-tarch, located vertically, with a straight naked sword, point upward, superimposed on the capital Latin letter "H" ("Hohenstaufen").

10th SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg"

This SS division was named after the German Renaissance commander Georg (Jorg) von Frundsberg, nicknamed the "Father of the Landsknechts" (1473-1528), under whose command the troops of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation and King of Spain Charles I of Habsburg conquered Italy and in 1514 year took Rome, forcing the Pope to recognize the primacy of the Empire. They say that the fierce Georg Frundsberg always carried with him a golden noose, which he intended to strangle the Pope if he fell into his hands alive. The famous German writer, laureate Nobel Prize Gunther Grass. The emblem of this SS division was the capital Gothic letter "F" ("Frundsberg") inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch, superimposed on an oak leaf located diagonally from right to left.

11th SS Motorized Infantry Division "Nordland" ("North Country")

The name of the division is explained by the fact that it was recruited mainly from volunteers who were natives of Northern European countries (Denmark, Norway. Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Latvia and Estonia). The emblem of this SS division was originally a "wolf hook" without a central vertical line, and later - a heraldic shield-tarch with the image of a "sun wheel" inscribed in a circle.

The "sun wheel" inscribed in a circle also served as the emblem of the 4th Jaeger Division of the German Wehrmacht.

12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" ("Hitler Youth")

This division was recruited mainly from the ranks of the youth organization of the Third Reich "Hitler Youth" ("Hitler Youth"). The tactical sign of this "youth" SS division was the ancient German "solar" rune "sig" ("sovulo", "sovelu") inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch - a symbol of victory and the emblem of Hitler's youth organizations "Jungfolk" and "Hitler Youth", from among members of which were recruited volunteers of the division, imposed on the master key ("alignment with Dietrich").

13th mountain (mountain rifle) division of the Waffen SS "Khanjar"

Often referred to in military literature as "Handshar" or "Yatagan", which consisted of Croatian, Bosnian and Herzegovinian Muslims (Bosniaks). "Khanjar" is a traditional Muslim edged weapon with a curved blade (akin to the Russian words "konchar" and "dagger", also meaning bladed edged weapons). The division's emblem was a khanjar sword inscribed in a heraldic shield-tarch, directed from left to right upward diagonally. According to the surviving data, the division also had another identification mark, which was an image of a hand with a khanjar superimposed on a double "SS" rune "sig" ("sovulo").

14th Grenadier (infantry) division of the Waffen SS (Galician No. 1, since 1945 - Ukrainian No. 1); she is the SS division (Sichev Riflemen) "Galicia"

The emblem of the division was the old coat of arms of the city of Lvov, the capital of Galicia - a lion walking on its hind legs, surrounded by 3 three-toothed crowns, inscribed in the "Varangian" ("Norman") shield.

15th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS (Latvian No. 1)

The division's emblem was originally a "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield with the image of the Roman numeral "I" over a stylized printed capital Latin letter "L" ("Latvia"). Subsequently, the division acquired another tactical sign - 3 stars against the background of the rising sun. 3 stars meant 3 Latvian provinces - Vidzeme, Kurzeme and Latgale (a similar image adorned the cockade of the military personnel of the pre-war army of the Republic of Latvia).

16th SS Motorized Infantry Division "SS Reichsfuehrer"

This SS division was named after SS Reichsfuehrer Heinrich Himmler. The emblem of the division was a bundle of 3 oak leaves inscribed in a heraldic shield-tarch with 2 acorns at a handle framed with a laurel wreath, inscribed in a shield-tarch.

17th SS Motorized Division "Götz von Berlichingen"

This SS division was named after the hero of the Peasant War in Germany (1524-1526), ​​the imperial knight Georg (Götz, Götz) von Berlichingen (1480-1562), the fighter against the separatism of the German princes for the unity of Germany, the leader of the detachment of insurgent peasants and the hero of the drama Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "Goetz von Berlichingen with an iron hand" (knight Goetz, who lost his arm in one of the battles, ordered to make an iron prosthesis for himself, which he owned no worse than others - a hand made of flesh and blood). The emblem of the division was the iron hand of Goetz von Berlichingen, clenched into a fist (crossing the shield-tarch from right to left and diagonally from bottom to top).

18th SS Volunteer Motorized Infantry Division "Horst Wessel"

This division was named in honor of one of the "martyrs of the Hitlerite movement" - the commander of the Berlin stormtroopers Horst Wessel, who composed the song "Banners Up"! (which became the anthem of the NSDAP and the "second anthem" of the Third Reich) and killed by communist militants. The division's emblem was a straight, naked sword, point upward, crossing the shield-tarch diagonally from right to left. According to the surviving data, the Horst Wessel division also had another emblem, which was stylized as runes letters SA (SA = Sturmabteilungen, ie "assault squads"; "martyr of the Movement" Horst Wessel, after whom the division was named, was one of the leaders of the Berlin storm troopers), inscribed in a circle.

19th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS (Latvian No. 2)

At the time of formation, the division's emblem was a "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield with the image of the Roman numeral "II" over a stylized printed capital Latin letter "L" ("Latvia"). Subsequently, the division acquired another tactical sign - an upright right-sided swastika on the "Varangian" shield. The swastika - "fiery cross" ("ugunskrusts") or "the cross (of the god of thunder) Perkon" ("perkonkrusts") has been a traditional element of Latvian folk ornament from time immemorial.

20th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS (Estonian No. 1)

The division's emblem was a "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield depicting a straight drawn sword with its tip upward, crossing the shield from right to left diagonally and superimposed on the capital Latin letter "E" ("E", that is, "Estonia"). According to some reports, this emblem was sometimes depicted on the helmets of the Estonian SS volunteers.

21st mountain (mountain rifle) division of the Waffen SS "Skanderbeg" (Albanian number 1)

This division, recruited mainly from the Albanians, was named after the national hero of the Albanian people, Prince George Alexander Kastriot (nicknamed by the Turks "Iskander Beg" or, for short, "Skanderbeg"). While Skanderbeg (1403-1468) was alive, the Ottoman Turks, who had repeatedly suffered defeats from him, could not subjugate Albania to their power. The emblem of the division was the ancient coat of arms of Albania - a two-headed eagle, inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch (the ancient Albanian rulers claimed kinship with the Basileus emperors of Byzantium). According to the surviving information, the division also had another tactical sign - a stylized image of a "Skanderbeg helmet" with goat horns, superimposed on 2 horizontal stripes.

22nd SS Volunteer Cavalry Division "Maria Theresia" (and not "Maria Teresa", as they often write and think incorrectly!)

This division, recruited mainly from ethnic Germans living in Hungary and from Hungarians, was named after the Empress of the "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation" and Austria, Queen of Bohemia (Bohemia) and Hungary, Maria Theresa von Habsburg (1717-1780), one of the most prominent rulers of the second half of the 18th century. The emblem of the division was the image of a cornflower flower inscribed in a heraldic shield-tarch with 8 petals, a stem, 2 leaves and 1 bud - (subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Danube monarchy, who wanted to join the German Empire, until 1918 wore a cornflower in their buttonhole - the favorite flower of the German emperor Wilhelm II of Hohenzollern).

23rd Volunteer Motorized Infantry Division Waffen SS "Kama"

Croatian number 2, which consisted of Croatian, Bosnian and Herzegovinian Muslims. "Kama" is the name of a cold weapon with a curved blade (something like a scimitar), which is traditional for Balkan Muslims. The tactical sign of the division was a stylized image of the astronomical sign of the sun in a crown of rays on a heraldic shield-tarche. Preserved information about 2 other tactical signs of the division, which were:

1) the Tyr rune with 2 arrow-shaped processes perpendicular to the rune stem, in its lower part:

2) rune "odal" (similar to the tactical sign of the SS division "Prince Eugene")

23rd Volunteer Motorized Infantry Division Waffen SS "Netherlands" (Dutch No. 1)

The name of this division is explained by the fact that its personnel were recruited mainly from the Dutch (Dutch) Waffen SS volunteers. The division's emblem was the odal (otilia) rune with the lower ends in the form of arrows, inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch.

24th mountain (mountain rifle) division of the Waffen SS "Karst Jaegers" ("Karst Jaegers", "Karstjeger")

The name of this division is explained by the fact that it was recruited mainly from the natives of the mountainous region of Karst, located on the border between Italy and Yugoslavia. The division's emblem was a stylized image of a "karst flower" ("karstbloom"), inscribed in the heraldic shield of the "Varangian" ("Norman") form.

25th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS "Hunyadi" (Hungarian # 1)

This division, recruited mainly from Hungarians, was named after the medieval Transylvanian-Hungarian Hunyadi dynasty, the most prominent representatives of which were Janos Hunyadi (Johannes Guniades, Giovanni Vaivoda, 1385-1456) and his son King Matthew Corvin (Matthias Hunyadi, 1443- 1490), who heroically fought for the freedom of Hungary against the Ottoman Turks. The division's emblem was the "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield with the image of the "arrow-shaped cross" - the symbol of the Viennese National Socialist Arrows Crossed Party ("Nilashists") by Ferenc Salasi - under 2 three-toothed crowns.

The divisions of the SS troops (Waffen SS) were selected units, the true elite of Hitler's armed forces during the second world war. The SS Division Das Reich (which, in German, means Empire, or, more precisely, Power), is the subject of this book, which sets out the background history of the formation of this select SS military unit, including the history of the origin of the SS-FT division (Ferfyugungstrupe or Ferfyugungstruppen ), its organization, the number of its members, the most famous commanders and lower ranks, especially those who distinguished themselves in the course of hostilities. The book also pays considerable attention to the description of the military training of the Waffen SS ranks, symbols, uniforms, banners and insignia of the military personnel of the division.

The book "SS Panzer Division Das Reich" describes in detail the combat path of the division that fought during the Second World War both in the Western and Eastern Front... The division's participation in the invasion of Poland, in the defeat of Belgium, Holland and France, the invasion of Soviet Union, battles near Kharkov and Kursk, the defense of Normandy, the Ardennes offensive, an unsuccessful attempt to break the encirclement around Budapest and in the defense of Vienna, where the division actually bled to death, completing its combat path with dignity. A dark spot in the history of the division, associated with the participation of its servicemen in the "sweeps" carried out in the French city of Tulle and the destruction of the town of Oradour-sur-Glane, did not remain unnoticed. Illustrated with rare photographs, the book "SS Panzer Division Das Reich" - in contrast to the countless publications demonizing the SS in general and the SS troops - in particular, and from the not so numerous, but, nevertheless, apologetic publications about the SS found in the modern book market , immensely extolling their merits and dignity and at the same time trying by any means to justify or silence the crimes they have committed! - is a truly truthful, that is, non-fictional and unadorned, history of one of the best military units of Nazi Germany during the Second World War - the most terrible and bloody conflict in the history of mankind.

INSTEAD OF INTRODUCTION

ARMOR FASTENERS AND TANKS OUR FAST

It was the second day of the Ardennes Breakthrough, the last German offensive on the Western Front. The morning of this December 17, 1944, here on the western slopes of the Belgian Ardennes, turned out to be damp and foggy. A fine, cold rain was falling, brought from the Atlantic by a gusty northerly wind. A full-fledged American armored artillery division, consisting of twenty-seven newest Sherman medium tanks, twenty-six field and anti-tank artillery barrels, and two hundred US Army soldiers and officers, approached the southern outskirts of the small town of Malmedy. The blocks of the city, dimly visible through the veil of heavy morning fog, seemed to be quite close. American tank crews, leaning out of their towers to their waist, spoke merrily through throatophones. Suddenly…

Something very large and at the same time very fast flashed through the fog, and a German medium tank "Panther" with a cross on its armor jumped out from under the slope of the ravine at the American armored column, turning the long trunk of the turret gun on the move. The carriage of the American head gun, crushed by the Panther's caterpillar, crackled. She swiftly jumped over the next two, now, close, no longer dangerous anti-tank guns. Obliquely, almost on the move, with a kind of laughing burst, spitting out a smoky-red sheaf of fire, the Panther's gun hit - and immediately exploded the ammunition on the lead American Sherman. Pecking deathly with its barrel, the Sherman instantly turned into a brightly flaming torch. From somewhere on the side, out of the fog, two more German tanks emerged and, turning sharply, hit the American gun servants with machine guns. Two more brand-new Shermans flared up, without having time to prepare for battle, and the rest, ponderously breaking formation, with a frightened herd of Arizona bulls, rushed down the gentle, long slope, cowardly substituting their angular ash sides with white pentagrams ...

The rout was complete. On the field of a tank battle, which lasted no more than a quarter of an hour, there were sixteen burned-out "Shermans" and the bodies of seventy (according to other sources - seventy-one) killed Americans. The entire cannon artillery battery was completely destroyed. At the same time, the Germans did not lose a single person. The success of the German tank strike at Malmedy could enter the annals of the world military science, as one of the fastest and most effective tactical tank operations in World War II. I could have, but I didn't. There were a number of reasons for this.

Firstly, german plan to dump the Anglo-American "Western allies" into the Atlantic Ocean from where they sailed failed. After insistent requests from Roosevelt and Churchill to "save Private Ryan," Stalin threw Soviet troops from the three central fronts into a massive offensive, which forced the command of the German Wehrmacht to transfer the most combat-ready units from the Western Front to the Eastern. The German offensive in the Ardennes was stopped - the Anglo-Americans were saved.

Secondly, the brilliant victory at Malmedy was won not just by some Germans, but by the SS troops (Waffen SS), which, apparently, even before the Nuremberg International Tribunal was sentenced, it was tacitly decided to count, along with all the SS, a criminal organization - although the Soviet NKVD troops fighting on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, responsible for all the crimes committed by the executioners of the NKVD in Stalin's camps and dungeons, only because both were considered "NKVDists" and wore the same uniform!

Thirdly, the victory at Malmedy was won not just by some SS troops, but by the 1st SS Panzer Division, which bore the name of Adolf Hitler, which could be interpreted not only in a purely military, but also in an undesirable symbolic sense.

Fourthly, the command of the American expeditionary forces, disdaining all the rules of officer honor, did not want in the face of history to recognize their troops so quickly and ingloriously defeated at Malmedy. The destruction, within only a quarter of an hour, of an entire armored artillery division by the forces of only three German medium tanks, could be explained by only two reasons:

1) the complete mediocrity of the American military leadership (but the Americans, of course, could not admit this - the "honor of the uniform" did not allow it!);

2) excellent moral and combat training of the enemy (but recognition of this fact, of course, would have dealt a blow to the morale of the US army, which was not particularly resilient - its companies in Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq, etc., serve as an example).

However, having closed our eyes to the truth, one could try to find (or, more precisely, to invent) a third reason for what happened. And the Anglo-American sages took this third path.

A few days after the stabilization of the front in the Ardennes, the radio station of the British Royal Air Force transmitted an informational report (of course, without prudently informing that the information transmitted by it came not from military intelligence, from the battlefield, but from the opposite side - from across the ocean, from the special services USA!). The summary reported that the Germans, in order to create the impression of the defeat of American troops near Malmedy, killed several hundred (!) Captured (!) American soldiers, allegedly specially brought in advance for this purpose to the Malmedy region from Germany.

12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" (12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend").
This formation owes its formation to the SS Gottlob Berger, who proposed to the SS Reichsfuehrer Heinrich Himmler, in January 1943, to create an SS division from members of the Hitler Youth. On February 10, 1943, a decree was issued, according to which the formation of the SS "Hitler Youth" division was allowed from conscripts born in 1926 (age - 17 years old, previously for volunteers entering the SS there was an age limit of 23 years). SS Oberführer Fritz Witt of the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler was appointed commander of the division, who also provided other personnel for the newly formed units. Through a competition, the division's distinctive sign was established, on which the Sovilo rune (the symbol of the Hitler Youth organization) crossed with the master key (the sign of the SS Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler division, which arose from the name of its first commander Joseph Dietrich (German: Dietrich - master key) ).
Fritz Witt

Formation of the division's tank crews during an inspection by Field Marshal Gerd von Rundsted, France, January 1944.

Prisoners German soldiers from the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" under the escort of the military police of the 3rd US Army. These young soldiers (16 and 17 years old) were captured on the outskirts of Magerotte, east of Bastogne, Belgium.

Until September 1, 1943, more than 16 thousand members of the Hitler Youth were drafted, who underwent six months of training. In addition, more than 1,000 veterans of the SS troops, as well as experienced officers from the Wehrmacht, were transferred to the division. The total number of personnel exceeded 20 thousand people with 150 tanks. During training in Beverloo (Belgium), it was decided to reorganize the original tank-grenadier division into a tank division and change its name to the SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth". When the Waffen-SS units were renumbered on October 22, 1943, the division received number 12, and its grenadier regiments received numbers 25 and 26.

From June 1944, the division was on the Western Front in Normandy.
Grenadier of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" on the road to Orne, Nomandia.

On June 6, 1944, with Operation Overlord, the Allies launched an invasion of Normandy. The 12th SS Division "Hitler Youth" together with the 21st Panzer Division were the closest tank units to the landing site. However, due to air raids, they reached the battle site only about 22 hours near Evresi.
On June 7, the 25th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, under the command of SS Standartenfuehrer Kurt Meyer, together with the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, managed to repel the attack of the Canadians, and 28 tanks were destroyed, and the Nova Scotia Highlanders infantry regiment suffered heavy losses. At the same time, the division's losses amounted to six people. During this operation, 20 Canadian prisoners of war were killed by soldiers of the division at Abbaye d "Ardenne.
Kurt Meyer

On June 8, the 26th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, commanded by SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Wilhelm Monke, reached a position west of Meyer's regiment. The regiment struck in the direction of Saint-Manvieu-Norre and captured a strategically important village.
Two tanks M4 "Sherman" squadron "A" of the 2nd Canadian tank division, knocked out and burned down on June 11, 1944 on the street of the French town of Ro (Rots) during a battle with the 12th SS Panzer Regiment of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" ".

Captured soldiers of the 12th SS-Division "Hitlerjugend" (12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") at lunch in a field near the French town of Rots.



On 14 June, the Royal Navy shelled positions at Venoix, killing Witt. His place was taken by Kurt Meyer, who became the youngest division commander in World War II (33 years old). Meyer was later charged with war crimes, as he demanded from his units not to take prisoners.
The division was ordered to capture Caen over the next four weeks, although the enemy was vastly outnumbered and there was no air support.

Panzergrenadier of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" captured by Canadian intelligence during the Battle of Caen. August 9, 1944

Tank Pz.Kpfw. IV (Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. H, hull number 626) of the 6th company of the 12th tank regiment of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" (6.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 / 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") on the march down a street in the French city of Caen.

Another Pz.Kpfw.IV tank with tactical number 625 from the same company of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth".


In the first weeks of July, the division suffered heavy losses. Therefore, Meyer ignored the order to hold the northern border of Caen and retreated with the remnants of his troops to the south. By this time, the division had lost 4 thousand people killed, 8 thousand wounded and a large number of missing persons.

The machine gunner of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" fires at the enemy with an MG-42 machine gun. France, July 1944.

18-year-old SS Sturmmann (corporal) Otto Funk of the 25th Grenadier Regiment of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitler Youth in Rots after the failed German attack on Norrey-en-Bessin, northwest of Caen, France.
On June 26, 1944, Otto Funk (06.06.1926-11.09.2011) was wounded in the Cheux area, on May 8, 1945 he surrendered to units of the 65th US Infantry Division in Enns, Austria.

Rewarding division soldiers for the June-July battles in Normandy

By August 17, the main forces of the division fell into the Falaise cauldron, where they operated north of the city of Falaise. On August 29, the remnants of the division managed to break out of the encirclement, while losing about 9 thousand people from June 6, almost all tanks and most heavy weapons and equipment. Until September, the personnel decreased by another 2 thousand people and amounted to about 3 thousand people. Meyer himself was captured on September 6 by Belgian partisans, as a result of which SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Hubert Meyer took command. Continuing the retreat, the division passed through Vielsalm and Malmedy. Having reached the Western defensive rampart, the division took part in the defense of the canal and the Eifel region.
In November, the division was transferred to Nienburg, where, due to the actual destruction, it was formed anew. Meyer was replaced by SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Hugo Kraas. The division was assigned to the 6th SS Panzer Army under the command of SS Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich to participate in Operation Watch on the Rhine.
Tank M4 "Sherman" (hull number 14) of the Canadian Sherbrooke Fusiliers regiment and soldiers of the Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal regiment in battle with the group of SS Sturmbannführer Krause (Kampfgruppe Krause) 12th tank division SS "Hitlerjugend" (12. SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend) on the street of the French Falaise (Falaise).

Captured soldiers of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth", captured in the Falaise cauldron.

The operation, which began on December 16, 1944, despite all efforts, did not achieve the task set - to break through the enemy's defenses. The reason was the strong resistance of the opposing American forces. Following this, the division was withdrawn to take part in the siege of Bastogne. Until January 18, 1945, the division, like other German units, was pushed back to its original positions.
Grenadiers of the 25th SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 25 of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend (12. SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend), killed in action with the 509th Parachute Regiment of the US Army on December 26, 1944 during offensive in the Ardennes.

Captured young German soldiers of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitler Youth captured by soldiers of the US 7th Army in Schillersdorf, France.

Captured soldiers of the 12th SS-Division "Hitlerjugend" (12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") load a wounded man into the back of an American GMC truck

Captured soldiers of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth".

On January 20, 1945, the 6th SS Panzer Army received an order to redeploy to eastern Hungary in order to take part in the battles for Budapest, where 45 thousand people from the 9th SS Mountain Corps were surrounded. The transfer of units began on February 2, and already on February 4, the first units arrived in the area south of Colta. On February 5, the division launched an offensive near the city of Gran on the Danube. By the end of the month, the bridgehead at Gran was eliminated. Then the SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" took part in the battles for the Paris Canal, Barth and Beni.
Subsequently, the division took part in the offensive on Lake Balaton, during which Germany planned to regain its oil fields. Parts of the division operated near the eastern part of Lake Balaton. Hitler tried to keep this operation secret and ordered not to conduct reconnaissance of the battlefield until the start of the offensive. After initial success, the operation was interrupted by a Soviet counteroffensive.
Destroyed near Lake Balaton german tank Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf.G "Panther" from the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth". A late-release vehicle, a gun mantlet with a peculiar tide in the lower part - a "beard" that makes it impossible for the turret to jam when a shell hits, and also prevents the shell from ricocheting into the turret plate. The machine has a gun barrel shot through. The number of the Soviet trophy team is "79".


After March 15, the Hitler Youth division began to retreat along the Veszprem-Papa-Raba route. Crossing Raba and Sopron, the remnants of the division in an accelerated march moved towards the advancing American forces deep into Austria. After passing Enns, the remnants of the division surrendered to the troops of the 65th Infantry Division of the 7th American army May 8, 1945. Of the 21,300 personnel in the division as of December 1943, 455 soldiers and officers survived. The division has one tank.