Soviet POW's were mistreated by the Nazi's because the Nazi's viewed the Soviet's as subhumans. About 5.7 million Soviets were captured by the Nazi's with 3.3 million (57%) being killed. The rest escaped German custody or were freed when their numerous concentration camps were liberated. Soviet POW's were treated drastically different due to the Americans and British being seen as racially equal. Where 57% of Soviet POW's were killed, only 8,300 out of the 231,000 (3.6%) British and American POW's were killed. Soviet citizens were also persecuted having to work in forced labor camps. Many Soviet elite classes such as intellectuals, politicians, and catholic priests were killed. |