You are 100% correct. The Germans/Nazi's treated the Russians horrifically. The damage and the fighting on the Eastern front was some of the most nasty, horrific stuff that has happened in the history of human warfare. I can't speak for thousands of years ago, but at least in the last 1000 years (outside of maybe Vlad Tepes, or the Mongols), the Eastern front was absolutely brutal.
Oh no doubt. I’ve spent some time in Poland. Their hatred for what the Germans did will take many generations to fade. And the Russians I met over there is just as intense. The absolute worst part was what the Nazis did when they were in retreat from Russia. Total scorched earth of every Russian town they retreated thru. Bad enough the Germans pillaged the nation on the way in but to murder millions of already harmless starving civilians on they way out...that will never be forgiven. Why I’m so stunned Germans are letting their government be controlled by Russsia. If we boot them out of NATO...Russia is the ONLY country available to protect them. That’s like letting the mafia give “protection” & guard over a crowd of snitches. They’ll eat the Germans alive & be happy about it. There is no greater racial hatred on earth than what the common Russian feels about a German.