Best division in the Waffen SS??

2nd SS Panzer Das Reich · Post by **2nd SS Panzer Das Reich** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 7:31 pm

What do you think was the best division in the Waffen SS? Most of the great heroes of Germany came from the LAH (like Otto Skorzeny and Michael Wittmann). But the Das Reich division knocked out 3000 tanks and won 72 Knight's Crosses. But what do you think?

Paul_9686 · Post by **Paul_9686** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:09 pm

No contest; the Leibstandarte.

Yours,
Paul

Verellen · Post by **Verellen** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:06 am

How about the Wiking division? who's also high knowed of their actions.

derGespenst · Post by **derGespenst** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:33 am

No contest - LeibstandarteDasReichTotenkopfWikingHitlerjugend was clearly the best of the bunch.

AH · Post by AH » Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:00 pm

IMO, Leibstandarte.

2nd SS Panzer Das Reich · Post by **2nd SS Panzer Das Reich** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 2:02 pm

derGespenst wrote:No contest - LeibstandarteDasReichTotenkopfWikingHitlerjugend was clearly the best of the bunch.

argeed!

Nibelung · Post by **Nibelung** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 2:36 pm

I wouldn't vote for any of them to be the best, since how can you measure the greateness of one division? By a statistic? It's impossible to be objective and claim something like that...

It's true however that a large part of commanders and aces (even of other SS formations later) came from either LAH or Das Reich in the first place.

best,
Nibelung

sniper1shot · Post by **sniper1shot** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 6:50 pm

Well, they ALL have great statistics. HJ in Caen and holding the breach open in Falais (spelt wrong of crse). Das Reich in Vienna, and Wiking on all their actions....Even the Russians respected the Wiking. LSSAH fought in ALL theatres.
Great book I just finished The Waffen SS at War-Hitlers Pratoreans 1925-1945. BY Tim Ripley.....reviewed in book forum.

M.Wittmann · Post by **M.Wittmann** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:04 am

IMO it's allmost impossible to point out which division was "the best"

But I'll vote for:

1. Wiking
2. LAH
3. Das Reich
4. Hitlerjugend

1. First foreign volunteer Waffen-SS unit. Never accused about warcrimes. Outstanding record IMO even the russians respected them.

2. Need to say more

3. Dito

4. Only 18 months of combat under very experienced officers and NCO's.

Tom Houlihan · Post by **Tom Houlihan** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:30 pm

6.SS-Nord went from being a poorly trained group of men routed in their first engagement, to one of the best divisions in Europe by the end of the war. During Unternehmen Nordwind, they were really the only unit that achieved any of their goals.

Not only were no allegations of warcrimes levied against them, but they have been praised by Americans for their treatment of captured soldiers.

derGespenst · Post by **derGespenst** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:22 am

Good point, Tom. Nord is too often overlooked. I'm sure it's because they weren't a Panzer Division (no glory for foot-sloggers).

Igorn · Post by **Igorn** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:34 am

M.Wittmann wrote:
1. First foreign volunteer Waffen-SS unit. Never accused about warcrimes. Outstanding record IMO even the russians respected them.

Source of information please.

Best Regards from Russia,

Mark C Yerger · Post by **Mark C Yerger** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:15 am

an old and repeated question, replies can only be based on opinion generally. Object of a Panzer Division is to destroy tanks. "Das Reich" destroyed the most tanks of any division in the German Armed Forces (over 4000).

Mark C. Yerger
moderator

mikerock · Post by **mikerock** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:15 pm

Mark,

Do you know how many tanks total Das Reich had throughout the war?

--Mike

2nd SS Panzer Das Reich · Post by **2nd SS Panzer Das Reich** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:31 pm

mikerock wrote:Mark,

Do you know how many tanks total Das Reich had throughout the war?

--Mike

3000

Feldgrau.net

Best division in the Waffen SS??

Best division in the Waffen SS??