Grossdeutschland (literally Greater Germany) is a term that has been used in two separate contexts over history.

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Grossdeutschland and Kleindeutschland Grossdeutschland, the Wehrmacht division

Grossdeutschland and Kleindeutschland

Grossdeutschland was firstly a 19th century political idea postulating the (never realized) idea of a unified Germany, led by Habsburg Austria and with Vienna as its capital, as opposed to the Prussian-led alternative, known as Kleindeutschland (Small Germany).

Following that idea the Deutsches Reich (German Empire) was informally named to Grossdeutsches Reich when Austria became part of the Third Reich after the Anschluss (annexation) in 1938.

Grossdeutschland, the Wehrmacht division

Grossdeutschland was also the name of German Wehrmacht's élite armored division during World War II.

While Grossdeutschland was an élite Army unit, it is often incorrectly perceived as being a part of the Waffen-SS, and its involvement in war crimes against the population of occupied countries has never been proven.

The division became also known post-War through the book The Forgotten Soldier, by the Alsatian veteran Guy Sajer (a pseudonym), who served as a volunteer (first published 1967 in France as Le Soldat Oublié).

While the historical accuracy of Sajer's autobiographical work has been questioned, it offers nevertheless a compelling and moving account of the horrors of war on the Eastern Front.