This is a shallow and non-specific answer, but many Axis units attempted to flee as far west as they could before disbanding or surrendering. Being captured by the Soviets in the East could mean summary execution, or a slow wasting death in the gulags. Although your safety wasn't guaranteed in the West, you had much better odds of winding up in a relatively humane P.O.W. camp, and surviving to eventually return home.

There are some rather heartbreaking stories of Axis units fighting tooth and nail to reach the Allies in the west and surrender, only to find that the Soviets had already reached an agreement to divide up P.O.W.s with the West based on their previous positions. Many ran happily into the waiting arms of their Western captors, only to be returned to the Soviets because they had been on the wrong side of the map on the day the prisoners were divided up.

I don't know if this applies to the Handshcar Waffen-SS, though.