Prisoner of war

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.

American Revolutionary War

Category:Prisoners of war in the American Revolutionary War

Illustration of British soldiers surrendering after the Battle of Saratoga

Crimean War

Category:Crimean War prisoners of war

Russian prisoner after the battle of Kinburn (1855)

American Civil War

Category:Prisoners of war in the American Civil War

Confederate POWs at Gettysburg
Union Army soldier on his release from Belle Isle prison camp in May, 1865.

Spanish American War

Spanish prisoners in Santiago marching to transports, 1898

Philippine Revolution

Filipino POWs near San Miguel Cathedral, 1899
The first prisoners of the Filipino revolution in 1896.

Second Boer War

Category:Prisoners of war in the Second Boer War

transit camp for prisoners of war
Winston Churchill in Durban in the British Cape Colony in 1899. Delivering a speech after escaping from a South African prisoners' of war camp.

WWI

Category:Prisoners of war in World War I

Austro-Hungarian POWs in Russia, 1915
Russian POW in Tuchola, 1919
Turkish prisoners, 1915
A wounded female Russian POW who had fought in the frontline, published 1916

German Revolution

POW captured during the revolution in Bavaria

WWII

Category:Prisoners of war in World War II

The endless procession of German prisoners captured with the fall of Aachen marching through the ruined city streets to captivity
German prisoners, WW II
Japanese prisoners in Changde.
Japanese prisoners
German POW's captured by the U.S. 82nd Airborne division in Belgium
British and French prisoners at Veules-les-Roses, France
British POWs in Italy
„Lager Remagen“ (in April 1945, the head count amounted 660,000 inmates)
POW Camp Remagen, Germany (Goldene Meile)