Comparison of US Treatment of Wehrmacht and SS POWs During and After World War II

During and after World War II, the treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) under the control of the USA differed significantly based on their affiliation with either the Wehrmacht or the SS. Understanding the reasons behind these discrepancies provides insight into the complex dynamics of the era.

Factors Influencing Treatment

Several key factors contributed to the differences in how US soldiers treated Wehrmacht and SS POWs:

Military Convention

The Wehrmacht, as a recognized conventional military force, was afforded protections under the Geneva Conventions. This created a legal framework that protected its soldiers from harsher treatment. The SS, on the other hand, was involved in numerous war crimes and atrocities, particularly against civilian populations and prisoners of war. This engaged them in actions that were not covered by the conventions and resulted in a more antagonistic perception by Allied forces.

Military Personnel Behaviors

US soldiers often viewed the SS with greater disdain due to their involvement in the Holocaust and other war crimes. This negative perception extended to their treatment of SS personnel, which was often less sympathetic than that accorded to regular Wehrmacht soldiers.

Propaganda and Morale

The US military often emphasized the distinction between the Wehrmacht and the SS in its propaganda. The Wehrmacht was depicted as following orders, while the SS was portrayed as ideologically driven and responsible for heinous acts. This propaganda influenced how POWs were treated, with Wehrmacht soldiers typically receiving better conditions.

Post-War Policies

Following the war, many SS members were prosecuted for war crimes, while Wehrmacht soldiers were generally reintegrated into society without the same level of scrutiny. This difference in legal and societal treatment further contributed to the disparities in POW treatment.

Personal Account from War-Experienced Perspective

My relationship with a former German POW, who was initially captured by the Russians and later transferred to US control, provided firsthand insight into these discrepancies. During my childhood, we lived in Germany, where my father was a pilot in the USAF. Our landlord, a German man of roughly the same age as my father, shared stories of his experiences under Russian captivity. He described horrifying conditions, including malnutrition, lack of heat, and medical care, as well as execution for minor infractions or purely for entertainment by his captors.

After the concentration camps were uncovered by the Allies, Russian treatment of POWs intensified, rather than becoming more humane. However, the transfer to US control significantly improved his living conditions. He had access to better food, heating, medical care, and even medicine. Many German POWs held a sense of relief and hope at the prospect of being under US control, knowing that their chances of survival were much better compared to other captors.

This personal account underscores the significant improvement in POW treatment by the US military, especially for those associated with the Wehrmacht. Compared to their SS counterparts, conditions of Wehrmacht POWs were generally more favorable, influenced by the broader context of wartime propaganda and post-war legal processes.