Actually strongest close range dps belongs to thompson paras.
You can't forget as well that volks get 2x 30% accuracy vet.
Vet0 volks are indeed prety underwhelming, but vet4 ones are monsters.
The issue lay in the fact that it's dumb how you have Allies which excel in the early game and the Axis who excel in the late game, resulting in an insanely dumb way of balancing were if the game lasts a certain amount of time Axis auto win (Unless you go all in with all IS2's) but it remains extremely easy for allies to win the game in the first 5-9 minutes.
The factions should honestly be more based around counters rather than a ever escalating 1 up contest in the way current tech structures work. Since in a game of "Who has the biggest dick" Axis will normally win (with the exception of the IS2 which is the second best Heavy in the game).
I think the ONLY solution Relic can come up with is nerfing the shreks to be in line with zooks. Unless, Relic decides to completely do away with Vet 5 system, just don't see any other option.
You know that Riflemen vet up quite fast when using Zooks to right? They just only have 3 levels instead of 5.