2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich

The 2nd SS Division Das Reich was one of thirty-eight divisions of the SS during World War II. For the invasion of Poland, three regiments of the SS ("Deutschland," "Der Fuhrer", and "Germania") were grouped in one division , the SS-Verfügungstruppe ("Troops of special purpose"). After Poland, a regiment ("Germania") was sent to form another division (5th SS Panzer Division Wiking), and a third regiment was created (SS Regiment 11), later becoming the second division of the SS Reich. In November 1942, the division became a Panzergrenadier division, having changed its name to 2.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich. In 1943, the division was reorganized as a Panzer division adding 2.SS Panzer Regiment, forming, so the Panzer-2.SS-Division "Das Reich". The remnants of the division surrendered to the Allies in May 1945. The symbol for the Das Reich division was the wolf's hook, or Wolfsangel. As a whole, the Waffen-SS was found guilty of war crimes in the Nuremberg tribunal, with Das Reich itself being notorious for the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre.