Profile of Esky

They were called like that because they plugged the holes in the line when other units couldn't hold the Soviets any longer. They did their job and departed to another sector at the frontline which needed help.

I think we have an english translation issue though, lol. I understand the meaning, and know how they were often used, but "firedepartment" is pretty funny.

welcome!

need more vodka

i have plenty

My initial question was not at all vague and in general. You need to know the amount of Waffen SS soldiers serving at the eastern front from 41 to 45. The amount of Wehrmacht army soldiers is known. Then you can do the comparison. I did not find those numbers during my internet research though, thats why i asked.

I wasn't referring to that question which has been answered...I think van Voort has the best answer we're going to really find to the original question.

Well actually none of both got favoured equipement wise, they were in constant concurrence to eachother. The number of well equipped Waffen-ss divisions was higher because there were less of them.

The early Waffen-SS divisions were formed out of volunteers, thereby those divisions had a extraordinarily high grade of motivation and combat spirit. Although the problem was, that their officers often lacked any military education and experience (for example Theodor Eicke) because they were mostly selected under political criterias, which often lead to very high losses.

Another answer of generalities, of course the exact opposite was the case sometimes (i.e. Paul Hausser, Felix Steiner), and quite often very capable higher level commanders emerged from the ranks of company and field officers who were excellent combat commanders at lower levels. (i.e. Kurt Meyer)

I think it's largely overstated that the SS lacked experienced and educated officers, sure, there were political appointments, but the cadre of small unit officers, NCOs, and up to field and general level officers weren't really any worse off than their counterparts in the Heer, at least in my opinion, and a large bulk of general level officers were in fact experienced, often decorated ww1 officers and involved in the interwar years when the most progress was made with doctrinal and command thought, with the proper military education befitting their positions. I think this is one of the myths of the SS that they were all just political appointments, most of them were in fact usually educated, decorated, and experienced officers who happened to be flaming nazis...though there are examples even in the SS of very good officers turning on Hitler and the party, i.e. Bittrich of market garden fame.