question

[calbert at tiac.net]

No need for a book. The Hague Regulations (1907) may elaborate 
admirable principles, but how long would it take you to come up with 
MAJOR violations since their "acceptance"?

One need not even limit one self to contests between 1st and 3rd 
world nations where the former characterizes the soldiers of the  
latter as "less than human". During the Battle of the Bulge (WW2), 
some german officers, recognizing the tactical problems inherent in 
trying to ensure POW well being while attempting to execute a quick 
"bust out", ordered such prisoners shot. This led to reprisals by 
allied forces.

Not to pick on germans - but "no quarter given" was certainly an 
operating principle on the eastern front. Hitler demanded that his 
forces at Stalingrad fight "to the last man" even after the 
hopelessness of the situation was clear to more rational figures 
around him. 

It remains such for snipers - who, if legend is to be believed, always 
keep the last round for themselves.

But there is a more ready example - Mondaugen's story relates what 
appears to be a routine dismissal of the Hague sensibility in the 
course of the battle witnessed by the denizens of Foppl's.

love,
cfa
 
> What book is this in? 
> 
> No quarter was outlawed by the Hague Regulations. 
> 
> 
> calbert at tiac.net wrote:
> > 
> > > I checked the German translation of V. (which isn't the best I
> > > admit) and it says "Der heilige Georg und kein Nachtlager" - no
> > > place to stay for the night.
> > 
> > Is that the "Babelfish" translation?
> > 
> > Quarter can indeed describe such "accomodation" in its literal
> > application. The term in question, however, relates to the martial
> > principle of "no quarter asked, and none given" - a primitive form
> > of motivation which eliminates the possibility of honorable
> > surrender.
> > 
> > love,
> > cfa
>