Generalplan Ost
The Nazis considered Slavs, such as Russians, Ukrainians, etc., to be "Untermensch" (subhuman), with their "Generalplan Ost" (Masterplan East) envisioning the extermination or expulsion of Slavs to provide "Lebensraum" (living space) for German colonization of central and eastern Europe. The Nazis also sought to exterminate the Jews (The Holocaust) in every region under their control. So war crimes against both soldiers and civilians were officially sanctioned.