Prisoner of war

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A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict.

The laws apply from the moment a prisoner is captured until he is released or repatriated. One of the main provisions of the convention makes it illegal to torture prisoners, and states that a prisoner can only be required to give his name, date of birth, rank and service number (if applicable).

Article 4 of the Third Geneva Convention protects captured military personnel, guerrilla fighters and certain civilians.

The endless procession of German prisoners captured with the fall of Aachen marching through the ruined city streets to captivity	German prisoners, WW II	Austro-Hungarian POWs in Russia, 1915	Russian POW in Tuchola, 1919
Japanese prisoners in Changde.	Japanese prisoners	German POW's captured by the U.S. 82nd Airborne division in Belgium	Portugisische POWs in WW1
British prisoners at Dunkerque, France	Turkish prisoners, 1915	Iraq prisoners, "Desert Storm', 1991	Britische POWs in Italy