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Best division in the Waffen SS??

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 7:31 pm
by 2nd SS Panzer Das Reich
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?

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:09 pm
by Paul_9686
No contest; the Leibstandarte.

Yours,
Paul

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:06 am
by Verellen
How about the Wiking division? who's also high knowed of their actions.

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:33 am
by derGespenst
No contest - LeibstandarteDasReichTotenkopfWikingHitlerjugend was clearly the best of the bunch.

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:00 pm
by AH
IMO, Leibstandarte.

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 2:02 pm
by 2nd SS Panzer Das Reich
derGespenst wrote:No contest - LeibstandarteDasReichTotenkopfWikingHitlerjugend was clearly the best of the bunch.
argeed!

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 2:36 pm
by Nibelung
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

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 6:50 pm
by sniper1shot
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.

Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:04 am
by M.Wittmann
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 :wink:

3. Dito

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

Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:30 pm
by Tom Houlihan
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.

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:22 am
by derGespenst
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).

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:34 am
by Igorn
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,

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:15 am
by Mark C Yerger
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

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:15 pm
by mikerock
Mark,

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

--Mike

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:31 pm
by 2nd SS Panzer Das Reich
mikerock wrote:Mark,

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

--Mike
3000