Re: German ranks
Hi Narwan
Well if all these were full sized divisions the Germans may have held the russians for an extra year and ended up being nuked.
For instance.
33.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (franz�sische Nr.1) - "Charlemagne" This Division was little more than a brigade
It was formed in the last 2 months of the war and made up form the remains of 33rd Waffen Cavalry Division wich had been destroyed at Budepest. The French element was one regiment and one Brigade
27.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division (fl�mische Nr.1) - "Langemarck" This division again brigade size.
These below seem to be pretty typical of the poorly performing "SS" Divisions.
13.Waffen-Gebirgsj�ger-Division der SS (kroatische Nr.1) - "Handschar" Formed 1943 Mutineed during training brutalised yugoslavian civilians was disbanded and reformed as a mountain regiment.
21.Waffen-Gebirgsj�ger-Division der SS (albanische Nr.1) - "Skanderbeg" and
23.Waffen-Gebirgsj�ger-Division der SS (kroatische Nr.2) - "Kama"
Both had such high desertion rates they were disbanded.
But then we have,
14.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (galizische / ukrainische Nr.1) - "Galizien" Wiped out in the Brody-Tarnov pocket.
15.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr.1) - "Lettland" fought to the death in Berlin.
33.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (franz�sische Nr.1) - "Charlemagne" fought to the death in Berlin
28.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division - "Wallonien" (wallonische) Wiped out on the Order 1945
So yes there were SS 'divisions' that were a "joke" but these seem to be way under strength, didnt last long and didnt do much. Most of these paper divisions seemed to have been used in police actions and had little if any opportunities to surrender in any case. The Nazis organised a SS division for every country they occupied to pretend that Europe was united in a crusade against Bolshevism" and these are usually the substandard units you refer to. They are more for propaganda purposes than fighting.
From a second source that plagurises the first.
"Perhaps the most crucial of these fire brigade battles was the containment of the British and Canadians at Cean in June July 1944 where the seven Waffen SS divisions fought themselves to virtual destruction."
Im not sure here but these appear to be
1.SS-Panzer-Division - "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
2.SS-Panzer-Division - "Das Reich" (also "Verf�gungstruppe", "Deutschland", "Reich")
3.SS-Panzer-Division - "Totenkopf"
9.SS-Panzer-Division - "Hohenstaufen"
10.SS-Panzer-Division - "Frundsberg" (also "Karl der Gro�e")
12.SS-Panzer-Division - "Hitlerjugend"
17.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division - "G�tz von Berlichingen"
For game purposes I think that most players are thinking they are buying men form units such as these when they buy SS not from one of the small shortlived substandard units.
So maybe "no surrender"?
Looking at the diversity of the SS maybe there is a opportunity here to give it its own OOB like the Marines?
Best Regards Chuck.
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