The Soviet military leadership ignored the emblems of the Red Cross
since the beginning of the war. German field hospitals and forward
collection points marked with a visible Red Cross flag came under fire
so frequently that, in the end, the Red Cross flag was no longer
flown, since it offered no protection. Since unarmed German medics
wearing Red Cross armbands were killed upon capture, together with the
wounded, they were issued .38 caliber pistols to protect the wounded.
To protect them from sniper fire, German medics were even prohibited
from wearing the Red Cross armband, since it provided a highly visible
target.
Eye and genital mutilations were inflicted with such frequency on
German prisoners during the early part of the campaign that it
increased unease even further at the prospect of possible capture by
the enemy. The rapidity of Blitzkrieg often punished reckless
advances, so that prisoners of war were not solely a Russian
phenomenon. Over 9,000 German soldiers were reported missing in July,
7,830 in August and nearly 4,900 in September 1941. Although the death
rate of Germans falling into Russian hands was to decline later, at
this stage 90% to 95% perished.
These numbers pale into insignificance compared to the fate of
millions of Soviet POWs, but they were enough to promote unease among
German soldiers.
.....War Without Garlands-Operation Barbarossa - Robert J. Kershaw
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