2nd SS-Division, Das Reich:
SS-Sturmmann, Flemish Friwilligen SS-Grenadier Division “Das~Reich”:
In September 1940, the Algemeene-SS Vlaanderen announced its intention to recruit Flemish volunteers for the Waffen-SS, initially sent to the SS-Division “Wiking”. This began a "race" to recruit volunteers for the German military. Between April and June 1941, nearly 800 Flemish volunteers were raised for the SS-Freiwilligen Standarte “Nordwest”, a mixed Flemish-Belgian/Dutch unit. After the close of the Battle of France, the SS-VT was, officially renamed the Waffen-SS in July 1940.
In December 1940 the “Germania Regiment” was removed from the Verfügungs-Division and used to form the cadre of a new division, SS Division “Germania”. It comprised mostly Danes, Norwegians, Dutch, and Flemish volunteers. By the start of 1941, the division was renamed “Reich” and “Germania” was renamed “Wiking".
Not all foreign volunteers moved on to “Wiking”. SS recruiting chief Gottlob Berger anticipated the need to correct German errors in handling volunteers to salvage the faltering Germanic recruitment program. In February 1942, after the invasion of Russia, he outlined several issues that threatened to alienate all further recruiting efforts such as the absence of sufficient measures to preserve the nationality of volunteer units when nine Danish volunteers were killed while in the ranks of “Das Reich”. During the invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, “Das Reich” fought with the Army Group Center, taking part in the Battle of Yelnya near Smolensk; it was then at the spearhead of Operation Typhoon aimed at the capture of the Soviet capital.
By the time “Das Reich” took part in the Battle of Moscow, it had lost 60 percent of its combat strength. It was further reduced in the Soviet Winter Counter-Offensive: for example, the “Der Führer” Regiment was down to 35 men out of the 2,000 that had started the campaign in June. By February 1942, it had lost 10,690 men. By mid-1942, the division was pulled out of the front and sent to the west to rest and refit.
The SS-Strummann was married during well-earned leave during this period. His uniform clearly shows his Ost Front, Infanterie Sturmabzeichen, and the Tollenaere Kenteeken. The SS-Sturmmann wears the Heeres Dienstanzug Model 1936 with the new pattern of Feldmütz with metal insignia which while not totally regulated may have been done to expedite these Ost Front veterans into new uniform.
The Tollenaere Kenteeken was created to honor Reimond Tollenaere who fell at Kopzy, near Leningrad on 22 January 1942. The popular commander of the Germanic SS in Belgium, the “Black Brigade” had been one of the first to volunteer for service with the Flemish Legion. The award commemorates his leadership “Hero’s Death” and rewards the loyalty and sacrifice of Flemish Friwilligen.
EM, Nachrichten Abteilung. 2 ‘Das-Reich‘:
SS-Unterscharführer, SS-Artillerie Regiment 2 ,,Das Reich”:
2. SS-Grenadier-Division Das Reich was formed in October 1939 from the Deutschland, Germania, and Der Führer regiments of the SS-Verfügungestruppe (SS-VT). The regiment Germania was removed from the division in 1940 to form the 5. SS-Division Wiking.
Das Reich took part in the campaign in the west of 1940 and after spending some time guarding the border with Vichy France it was transferred to the Netherlands. It took part in the campaign in the Balkans where a small detachment led by SS-Hauptsturmführer Klingenberg managed to get the mayor of Belgrade to surrender the city without a fight.
Participating from the first stages of Operation Barbarossa fought on the frontlines until August when it was withdrawn from refitting. It was sent back to the front in September and a few months later it took part in the failed offensive against Moscow. It was transferred to France in March 1942, with the exception of a small Kampfgruppe, where it was upgraded to a Panzergrenadier Division. It was sent back to the Eastern Front in January 1943 where it took part in the capture and recapture of Kharkiv as well as fighting at Kursk.
Das Reich was transferred back to France, this time to be upgraded to a Panzer Division, and was sent to Normandy when the Allies invaded. It took part in the heavy fighting in Normandy before retreating into Germany. It later took part in the fighting in the Ardennes, Hungary, and Austria. Before surrendering to the US Army, elements of Das Reich helped large numbers of civilians in Prague escape the Red Army.
The 10.5 cm leFH 18 leichte Feldhaubitze was the standard artillery piece that was adopted for service in 1935 and used by all divisions and artillery battalions. Designed in the late 1920s, it represented a major advance on its predecessor the leFH 16. It was superior in caliber to its early opponents in the war, with adequate range and firepower, but the modern split trail gun carriage that provided it with more stability and traverse.
The Unterscharführer joined the Artillerie Regiment as part of the newly formed Panzergrenadier Division moving to the Ost Front in January of 1943. Following the intense combat in Kharkiv and Kursk he was awarded the Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen as well as the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse. Promoted to SS-Rottenführer he took command of a gun crew. With the divisional transfer to France for refit into an SS-Panzer Division he was promoted to SS-Unterscharführer and issued a new SS-produced Feldbluse Model 1944 (nearly identical to the Heeres Feldbluse M43 with the exception of retaining the earlier five-button front closure and reducing the belt hook eyelets from three to two at each position) has had tress added to the collar and locally made shoulder boards before his promotion party. He has inherited a Feldmütz für Unterführer piped in Artillerie Waffenfarbe to which he has added a chinstrap and shined the visor to match his highly shined March Stiefel and cartridge belt.
SS-Obersturmführer Rudolf Garscha, SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 2 “Das Reich”:
Rudolf Garscha joined the SS-VT in 1938 as an Infanterie Soldat moving into the Artillery Regiment SS/VT in Juni 1939. Showing promise of leadership as a gun commander he attended the Junkerschule Braunschweig. Upon graduation, he was promoted to SS-Standartenoberjunker and assigned to the SS-Generalkommando until the spring of 1943 when he was assigned to SS-Panzer Division 2 “Das Reich”. From 1943 till the end of the war, Garscha filled various posts in the Artillerie with the division from Ordnance Officer to Batterie Führer with 8.Batterie.
A bold leader, often in action in front of the division’s lines, Garscha earned Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold as well as both the Eisernes Kreuz I. u. II. Klasse, the Nahkampfspang I. u.II. Stuffe, the Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen, as well as the Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber. Garscha was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer in Januar 1945
Photographed following the award of the Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold in April 1944 Garscha wears a Panzerjacke made from the M44 camouflage pattern with a dress shirt and tie. Schulterklappen with Rote Waffenfarbe display a gold metallic ’2’ identify Garscha as a member of ,,Das Reich”, SS-Panzer Division 2. With the Jacke he will wear Panzerhosen in matching camouflage print and SS-Feldmütz für Offizier
Sturmbannfhr , 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich”:
With over 12 years in service, as shown by his ribbon with the silver runic device, this Sturmbannfhr (Major equiluminant) has been in the SS since the early days. As a member of the first paramilitary section of VT of the SS, he is one of the first Waffen SS soldiers. Before that, he was a loyal member of the partaking place in the attempted overthrow of the Bavarian government in Munich for which he was awarded the "Blood Order" by Hitler.
This SS cut (no rear seam, straight cut front) panzer jacket shows him as a leader in the 2. SS Panzer Regiment with combat as part of one of the infantry regiments shown by the silver Close Combat Clasp. He has battled in Russia from the beginning being awarded the Eastern Campaign Medal shown on his ribbon bar next to his War Merit Cross with Swords. He has won the Iron Cross II Class and I, Class, for his combat leadership. He has fought in over 50 tank battles and has been wounded at least 4 times in combat; this man is probably in line for the German Cross and then the Knight's Cross from the Fuehrer's hand. In the photoshoots of the uniform, several caps have been used, a “Crusher Cap” and an early pink-piped “Schirrmutz” Officer cap, but I can see a Black M42 or M43 Feldmutze would work fine, and be wearable in the vehicle.
All his uniform insignia is hand-made with bullion embroidery as customary for a man of his rank. He wears Schirmmutz piped in branch pink color, against regulations. Since he is rarely out of battle nowadays, few would care to bring that point up. Keeping with living in his command tank he wears camouflage trousers so all he must do is throw on a camouflage smock kept close at hand for a dismounted recon or if forced to the bailout of a destroyed panzer.
