Were There Any Honorable Waffen SS Units That Did Not Commit War Crimes?

When discussing the Waffen SS during World War II, the association with war crimes is almost inevitable. However, there exist instances of units and individuals within the Waffen SS who did not commit atrocities, often due to their early disillusionment with Nazi ideology or the harsh realities of war.

Not All Waffen SS Units Were Involved in Atrocities

A “unit” can include a squad or even an individual scout-sniper team. There were cases where entire units did not commit war crimes and atrocities, primarily due to their proactive resistance against Nazi ideology. As noted, Otto Skorzeny, a notorious member of the Waffen SS, was never found guilty of war crimes, despite his infamous exploits. While he was a dedicated special forces operative, it remains possible that he could have committed crimes if the situation arose.

The Baltic SS Divisions: A Case Study

The Baltic SS divisions, which included the Latvian and Estonian units, present a unique case. Unlike other Waffen SS units that were formed from forcibly conscripted men, these divisions were mostly made up of native Baltic soldiers who joined for various reasons, often out of necessity rather than ideology. Surprisingly, there is little evidence to suggest that these units were directly involved in war crimes.

The Baltic Context

When the Germans invaded the Baltic countries in 1941, they were initially welcomed by many locals as liberators. However, after a year of Soviet occupation, the locals witnessed brutality and harsh rule, leading to a sense of disillusionment. Many volunteers in the Baltic SS divisions joined to either get revenge on the Soviets or to avoid forced labor in Germany. Even some who had previously collaborated with the Nazis were not part of these units but often committed their crimes before the establishment of the Baltic SS divisions.

Professional Soldiers vs Ideological Volunteers

Baltic SS troops often had military experience, and they fought with a professional pride that set them apart from ideological volunteers in other Waffen SS units. Most battles took place within their own territories or occupied friendly countries, which motivated them to fight with great determination. This professional conduct likely contributed to their relatively clean record.

Not Involvement in Massacres

The Baltic SS divisions are not directly linked to several notorious massacres, such as the Podgaje massacre. Recent studies have suggested that this atrocity was likely committed by the 48th Dutch SS, rather than the Baltic divisions themselves. During the Podgaje incident, eyewitness accounts indicate that Latvian SS troops treated captured Polish prisoners relatively well, scolding them for fighting the communists despite the friendship between their countries before the war. Later, when German SS officers demanded the prisoners be handed over, Latvian troops reluctantly obeyed and witnessed the Poles killed by another SS unit.

War Effort and Post-War Treatment

Latvian and Estonian SS troops fought tenaciously to protect their nations from Soviet re-occupation, a fear intensified by the brutal events of 1940. After the war, former Baltic SS members who managed to surrender to the Allies in Western Europe were generally exempt from prosecution due to their conscripted status. Many of these individuals went on to serve in Allied forces, guarding the Nuremberg Trials.

Those who remained in the Courland Pocket and were captured by Soviet forces faced different fates. Initially treated fairly, they were later repressed and abused. Many received sentences in the Gulag, while others were let go but lived in fear. A portion joined the "Forest Brothers," a national resistance movement that fought Soviet occupation until 1956.

In conclusion, while the Waffen SS is often associated with war crimes, there were certainly units and individual soldiers who did not commit atrocities. The Baltic SS divisions provide a case study of soldiers who fought with professionalism and without the inherent brutality of their ideological counterparts.