Were those SS units Germany created in occupied territories on par with those of Germans?

Answer 1

Yes and no. The units formed early in the war, yes. Some of these early units were considered elite units. Such as 5th SS Panzer Division " Viking ", and 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland".
In the last two years of the war these units were under-trained, under-equipped and used mostly as police and anti-partisan units.Example is 7th SS Division " Prinz Eugen " made up of Croatians, Serbs, Romanians and Hungarians. This division was used extensively for anti-partisan duties and received a reputation for atrocities in Yugoslavia.

Quote " By the end of the war, there were a total of 38 Waffen-SS divisions in the German Army, some having a full strength of 19,000 men in each division and others being considerably smaller. Many of these divisions were predominately manned by foreign soldiers. Only about 12 of the divisions were a true elite,10 being German, most were formed late in the war and were divisions in name only, often being under-trained and poorly equipped ". unquote

Answer 2

On average yes. The SS units created in German occupied areas were equal to or better than the average SS and Wehrmacht counterparts.
The majority of these SS units were recruited from areas that once belonged to Imperial Germany and made up of former Germans. This being the fact these members were more politically motivated.
On the Russian front being a member in the SS meant that you would be executed when caught. So the SS became very good at fighting to the end rather than surrendering.
But I would say on avergage within the complex structure of the SS the units were equal.

Answer 3

Most of the divisions from the early Western nations were on par with the Reichs-Deutsche divisions. However, these "volunteer" formations were not 100% non-German. Many of the officers, enlisted men consisted of national Germans and ethnic Germans (Volksdeutsche) SS men. The reason being is that the SS could not recruit sufficient French, Scandanvia, or Baltic men to fight. More still the losses on the eastern front made keeping the ranks of existing foreign legions problematic.

Answer 4

Yes - - - - the best 'officers' in any era of history are the disgruntled sons of the middle & striving classes, those seizing the 'cahnce,' making the gamble, and so when Heinrich Himmler went prospecting in Belgium (Flemish & Walloons) and later in Lativia / Estonia / Lithuania Etc he attracted the attention of the brightest & best those locales had to offer. Just as one will find men/women joining the opposittion politcal party in America because there is more room for advancement so did recruits for the 'foreign' SS units. Desperate to validate their decision and by 1944 having no delusion that only Nazi success would earn them any kudos back home (in other words players for the Ravens in the fourth quarter of a game), they fought with a desperation that was admirable if futile. The Walloon units were especially effective combining the natural brilliance of 'Belgium' bureaucratic efficiency with the ruthless steel of the German Army.....

Peace............. //----------ppfffftttttttttttttzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (ah)

Answer 5

Actually no. The SS was mostly supporters of the Nazi party and had very little training. They were resented by the Army and the General Staff.