A Short History of the Waffen SS Panzer Divisions 1943-1945In October of 1943, 1st SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" was reorganized as
1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler". From November of 1943, it saw service on the Eastern Front until it was moved to Belgium to be refitted in April of 1944. From June of 1944, it saw in Normandy until it was virtually wiped out at Falaise Pocket in August of 1944. It was reorganized and in December of 1944, it took part in the Ardennes Offensive. In February of 1945, it was transferred to Hungary, ending the war in Steyr, Austria in May of 1945.
In October of 1943, 2nd SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Das Reich" was reorganized as
2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich". From November of 1943, it saw service on the Eastern Front until it was moved to France to be refitted in February of 1944. From June of 1944, it saw in Normandy until it was virtually wiped out at Falaise Pocket in August of 1944. It was reorganized and in December of 1944, it took part in the Ardennes Offensive. In February of 1945, it was transferred to Hungary, ending the war in Prague, Czechoslovakia and Dresden in May of 1945.
In October of 1943, 3rd SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Totenkopf" was reorganized as
3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf". From November of 1943, it saw service on the Eastern Front without being taken from the front to be refitted. In December of 1944, it was transferred to Hungary, ending the war in Maissau in May of 1945.
In October of 1943, 5th SS-Panzer Grenadier-Division "Wiking" was reorganized as
5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking". From December of 1943 to February of 1944, it was encircled and virtually wiped out at Cherkassy Pocket. In March of 1944, it was reformed at Debica (Poland) and returned to the Eastern Front (Kowel, Maciejow, Warsaw and Modlin). In December of 1944, it was moved to Hungary, ending the war in Furstenfeld, Austria in May of 1945.
In October of 1943, 9th SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Hohenstaufen" was reorganized as
9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen". From March of 1944, it saw service on the Eastern Front until it was moved to Normandy in June of 1944. It was virtually wiped out at Falaise Pocket in August of 1944. In September of 1944, it was moved to Arnhem to be refitted and took part in containing the Allied Operation "Market-Garden". In December of 1944, it took part in the Ardennes Offensive. In January of 1945, it was transferred to Hungary, ending the war in Steyr, Austria in May of 1945.
In October of 1943, 10th SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Frundsberg" was reorganized as
10th SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg". From March of 1944, it saw service on the Eastern Front until it was moved to Normandy in June of 1944. It was virtually wiped out at Falaise Pocket in August of 1944. In September of 1944, it was moved to Arnhem to be refitted and took part in containing the Allied Operation "Market-Garden". In December of 1944, it took part in the Ardennes Offensive as reserve. From January of 1945, it was saw service on the Western Front until February, when it moved to the Eastern Front, ending the war in Schonau, Czechoslovakia in May of 1945.
In October of 1943, 12th SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Hitlerjugend" was reorganized as
12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend". It first saw combat in Normandy in June of 1944. It was virtually wiped out at Falaise Pocket in August of 1944. In October of 1944, it was moved to Oldenburg to be refitted and in December of 1944, it took part in the Ardennes Offensive. In February of 1945, it was transferred to Hungary, ending the war in Linz and Enns, Austria in May of 1945.
The SS Panzer Divisions often fought in SS Panzer Korps. There were three SS Panzer Korps each of which was supported by a Heavy Tiger Battalion.
Primary Sources:http://www.panzer-prints.com/new_page_1.htmhttp://www.feldgrau.com/ss.html"Hitler's Teutonic Knights: SS Panzers in Action" by Bruce Quarrie
