Many committed numerous atrocities, most prominently rapes and murders,[22] and did not always distinguish between Poles and Germans, often mistreating them alike.[3] Other Soviets were taken aback by the brutal treatment of the Germans and engaged in their protection.[21] According to the West German Schieder commission of 1953, the civilian death toll was 2 million.[24] However, in 1974 the German Federal Archives estimated a death toll of about 400,000.[25][26][27].