2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich 1941 War Diary Pt 1 - Operation Typhoon Paul Hauser Guderian 2. PzG

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Episode 109

In this multi-part series we’ll follow a platoon leader from the 2. SS PzD Das Reich from the beginning of Barbarossa up through the end of 1941. This includes his regiment’s positioning at the tip of the spearhead during operation Typhoon, the Wehrmacht’s desperate final attempt to take Moscow. After the Soviet’s brutal counter attack, of the 2000 soldiers that had been active at the beginning of the Russian campaign, only 35 remained. Our platoon leader was one of those men. Using his sensational diary, photographs, personal letters, and other related primary source materials we’ll tell his story.

At the beginning of Barbarossa, the formation was designated simply the Motorized SS Infantry Division Das Reich and was made up of the regiments Deutschland, Der Führer and Germania. Our author, named Kurt was a platoon leader in the Regiment Der Führer.

This is the Kurt’s Ostmedallia. It reads Winterschlaht I’m Osten 1941/42. Above the Ostmedallia we see an excerpt from AH's April 26 1942 Reichstags speech in which he compliments the soldiers of the Waffen SS and security forces for their exemplary combat bravery and loyalty. It’s likely that he’s referring to their performance during the Winter of 1941/42. The praise was probably important to the author because up until Barbarossa the Waffen SS had been know more for their sharp uniforms and precise marching skills than for combat effectiveness. After performing poorly during the campaign in Poland there was even a question as to whether the units should be dissolved all together. Only by having the Reichsführer-SS Himmler as a benefactor was it allowed to continue. This speech marks that discussion being finally put to rest.

11.6.1941
Our marching orders have arrived! We’ll be leaving beautiful Waizenkirchen where, for the last 6 weeks, we really have been treated as family. Assigned to assist second lieutenant Neumann who is in charge organizing the unit’s movement, I too am heading to Greisskirchen at 22.00 hrs, before the rest of the company. My friends and I meet for a final farewell gathering at the Haus Semper. An ominous feeling has taken grip that neither music nor wine can release. Each of us contemplates the possibility that our time might be coming. None of us want the evening to end.

As I stand in front of Uncle Franz all my gear packed and ready to leave, he grasps my hand and tears begin to stream down his face. He grabs me in his arms, and then without a word we turn and we begin the short walk to the market square.

Everyone is out and about this evening until late, savoring every remaining moment. Slowly our trucks begin arriving, we go to them, load our equipment and get on. As we pull away I look back and see uncle Franz wearing his hunting hat and waving to me. Quickly the figures on the Market square disappear into the darkness - We’ve left our home behind.

We are on the road again, and in spite of our quiet, somber mood we begin to lighten up. We’re back on the move in our beloved truck and finally heading towards action. The rest of the company hits the road at 24.00 hrs. Arriving in Greisskirchen, everything gets efficiently unloaded from the trucks and onto a train with which we will continue our journey. The transfer is so quick that we’re actually hours ahead of schedule.

As of now still nobody knows where we are going and our imaginations run wild. It’s generally believed that Russia will open a corridor that that we will be able to travel on through to Iraq! The excitement is almost unbearable. In our part of the train I discover a section that is meant for normal paying travelers which is far superior and we secretly move in and make ourselves comfortable.

We travel over Passau-Regensburg - Nürnberg - Plauen - Halle/Salle - Leipzig heading towards Berlin. During the entire journey we continue discussing all our possible destinations. Just past Cottbus our direction suddenly changes and we continue on over Sagan - Glogau - Lissa and at 18.00 we cross the former Polish border. At 1.00 hrs we reach Zgiertz and the order is given to unload everything and prepare for immediate continuation of the journey by truck.

At 4.00 hrs our colony departs passing over Litzmannstadt - Brezeny - Rawa - Radom - Pulawy and at 14.15 hrs we arrive to Wola-Osynska which is where we will be quartering. In an open field that is surrounded by birch trees we set up our tents and camp. The following days are used to make sure our weaponry and equipment is in order. The motor vehicles are all checked over down to the last screw and our clothing down to the last button. The intense heat from the sun causes in the entire battalion to spend these busy days wearing nothing but swimsuits. These are happy moments - could they be our last?