Quote:
Originally Posted by Wustenfuchs
This first picture looks like the German soldiers are actually trying to help the Soviet soldier get behind the line to safety before he gets hit. The second picture is really kind of sad considering the POWs all appear healthy and fairly happy in their situation (their war is over) but unfortunately most Soviet POWs met a cruel fate.
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Two opinions on that Bill.
First, This photo may be from the early stages of Barbarossa when front line troops of both sides had a grudging respect for each other. This changed when the war in the east turned into a battle of attrition and mandates on prisoners issued by the commands of both side changed.
Second, in most cases prisoners suffered worse treatment after capture when moved to rear areas. Tragically large numbers of German and Russian POWs who entered captivity in relatively good heath, did not survive to see the end of the war.
I posted a photograph in the "Fallen" thread of a Russian battlefield grave topped with helmets with an MG nearby. Look very closely at what else is in that photo. There is a interesting story there.