We used Google Trends to find six common questions on Prisoners of War… and now an expert gives informed answers
Who qualifies as a prisoner of war?
Aprisoner of war (POW) is a combatant who, in time of war, has been captured by the opposing side. Captive chaplains and medical personnel are not considered to be POWs. Although the former are almost invariably sent to POW camps to minister to their compatriots, they are “protected personnel” and entitled to be repatriated along with the sick and wounded.
Neither are captured civilians considered to be POWs. Civilian prisoners are known as internees and are sent to internment camps. Political prisoners are another animal entirely and have been confined to cells, sent to concentration camps, or killed outright.
Why take prisoners?
The enemy of manpower. In ancient times, POWs were also symbols of military prowess and were paraded through the streets by their captors. They were often sold as slaves or – if wealthy – ransomed, and thus a valuable source of income. Treatment of POWs has been mixed. Some tribes have cut off pieces of their prisoner’s flesh, which they cooked and ate. Religious and ideological fanatics attempted to convert them. Even …
