[colorado tanker]

I also found that article very interesting. I was not aware there were any prisoner swaps during WWII. It sounds as if it was for grave medical cases who presumably would not rejoin the fighting?

The Russians have every reason to be pissed. The level of brutality on that front to both soldiers and civilians still sickens me.

[henkster]

I think it was not only for medical cases who could not rejoin the fighting, but the injuries were sufficiently serious that it may have been felt they would receive better care in their home countries. I’m guessing this practice did not continue long into 1944, but don’t know for a fact.

I’m not guessing; I KNOW this practice never took place between the Germans and Soviets. The level of brutality on that front has always fascinated me. Not that I’m in favor of it, but rather what it is that will drive organized groups of human beings to such levels of mass cruelty.