I don't think many consider the waffen ss to have been elite "combat" troops . They were indoctrinated to do what the regular army would not do . They were trained to break the rules of war . However , there were no rules about aerial bombing (hadn't been invented) so all sides could bomb away and raze cities without restriction .
I remember not that long ago seeing rusted rifles dug up from WWI battlefield sites being sold at militaria fairs in the UKicon ... and I could see the rusted magazines were still full of live .303 , probably one up the spout as well ! Those were the good old days ..... uhm ! 'bout ten years ago .