How was war on western and eastern fronts different?

War on the Eastern front against Russia was marked by atrocities by both the "Vons" (Germans) and the "Ivans" ( Russians). Being captured meant you would probably be tortured to death and so this fact led to the utmost brutality .

The Germans viewed the Russian as "Untermensch" (Less than [sub]human) so it made it easier to kill without mercy . The Russians , understandably , felt the need to reciprocate in kind .