On the other hand, "both sides" can be used to rationalize bad actors. I'd imagine that 1940's Germany would be an excellent countpoint to the "both sides" fallacy.
Sometimes there really are bad guys and its useful to keep an eye out for them.
Sometimes there really are bad guys and its useful to keep an eye out for them.
Not much better.
If you want to read about what the Communists had in plan for German you can read about the horrors they did in Russia. The Gulag Archipelago has been highly recommend.