![]() At the end of 1943, Das Reich had only the strength of a combat group. Panther tank of ‘Reich’ in Russia in winter 1943-44.Within five months the division had been constantly pushed back, with the climax of the loss of Kiev in November. Then retreat over the Dnieper and counter-attacks and defensive fights at the Dnieper bow. In August and September 1943, the defense and counter-attacks in the Kharkov and Poltava area continued. At the end of July, counter-attacks and defensive battles followed on the Mius-Donez area, then near Stepanowka and Marinowka near Stalino. In mid-July, the division left the area west of Belgorod. Although the Russian losses were greater than those of the Germans, the Red Army was able to replace them, while the Waffen-SS divisions did not live in this luxury.Īfter the Allied invasion of Sicily, German divisions were needed in the West, so that the offensive was broken off and Das Reich became defensive.ĭuring the second half of 1943, the division fought many fierce battles along the river Mius and once again had to defend the cities it had previously conquered. During the following days, both sides fought a battle of wear and tear without any major gains in terrain, with terrible losses of human lives and tanks on both sides. Together with the other Waffen SS divisions of the II SS tank corps, they took out more than 300 enemy tanks.Īfter this counterattack was fought off, Das Reich continued its advance until the division was involved in the famous tank battle in the hills around Prokhorovka on 12 July. Despite fierce resistance, however, Das Reich made excellent progress until the division at Prokhorovka was counterattacked by the Russians.ĭas Reich, however, held on to the enemy, supported by General von Richthofen’s Ju 87 tank busters. SS-Hauptsturmführer Kaiser of the Panzergrenadier Regiment ‘Der Führer’ with his staff in front of a knocked-out Churchill tank of the Soviet 5th Guard tank army near Prokhorowka.But the Russian resistance stiffened quickly and the SS soldiers came under artillery fire and air strikes by enemy aircraft. ![]() The support of Stukas helped them to take their first operational targets, the town of Berezov and its dominant heights. Torrential rains had turned the roads into impassable mud tracks, forcing the Panzergrenadiers of Das Reich to advance without the important tank support and quickly becoming involved in fierce close combat. As part of the SS II Tank Corps under General Hoth’s 4th Army, Das Reich invaded the southern part of the Front bulge and covered the right flank of the corps. The soldiers of the division Das Reich were able to recover from April to the beginning of July 1943, until they were thrown back into the Battle of Kursk. This success was the greatest victory for Hitler since a long time and laid the foundation for the subsequent rapid expansion of the Waffen-SS with numerous new divisions. This was a significant victory for the Waffen-SS, which was all the more satisfying when they were able to recapture Belgorod.
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