How effective were SS divisions?

In the early years of the war the SS track record as combat formations wa mixed. One regiment was the target of a Polish night attack, which went badly for the SS regiment as they thought hey were safely in the rear and had halted along the road & not set up night security. Another battalion attempted a frontal assault on a Polish roadblock and suffered overly large casualties & failed to displace the roadblock in that attack. Post war the Poles made a lot out of those two affairs. In the west in 1940 & in the east in 1941 the SS regiments played minor roles. It was not until late 1942 or 1943 when well armed armored SS corps were fielded they became notable.
 
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