This is true. Not EVERY single member of the Waffen SS was a war criminal or even a concentration camp guard. The Waffen SS was in fact considered the elite of the German military establishment. They fought the hardest on the Eastern Front and often advanced when other units retreated. They were more often than not given the best of of German equipment especially Tiger and Panther tanks. They received more political training than the Wehrmacht and were known for their loyalty to Hitler. Some Waffen units committed war crimes such as the execution of American POWs at Malmedy during the Battle of the Bulge. But it would be a mistake to consider ALL of them war criminals. Some of them were quite brave including the legendary Tiger Tank commander Lt. Michael Wittman who knocked out more tanks than other tank commander in WWII. Many German youth aspired to join the Waffen SS as they were noted for their espirit de corp and their willingness to fight when other units retreated.
Pretty much off topic, but the above triggered the memory of a bit that I read years ago that has stuck in my mind every since. It came from "Washing of the Spears", a definitive (in my view) book on the 1870 Zulu campaigns in South Africa.
Writing about the massacre at Isandlwana, the author quoted a survivor's comment about the Endendale Contingent. These were mounted black troops from the Christian mission at Endendale, armed with Martinis instead of the old Sniders.
When the battle line collapsed, the remaining Brits headed for the only troops putting up an organized fight - the Endendales. The Brit said "The Endendales RETREATED SO AGGRESSIVELY that the Zulus left them alone". That's one Helluva compliment in my book.