Soviet soldiers as German prisoners of war
Between summer 1941 and spring 1942, more than two million Soviets died while
being held by the German forces as prisoners of war. The Wehrmacht had sole
responsibility for transporting these POWs and
providing them with food, shelter, and medical care. In contrast to the
majority of Western POWs, Soviet soldiers were not treated according to the
minimum standards of international humanitarian law. As a result, disastrous
shortages of shelter and food lead to the death of millions of people.
Primitive
earth huts in the Wietzendorf camp, undated.
Staatsanwaltschaft Hamburg, 147 Js 29/65, Lichtbildmappe
