Why do soldiers bother taking POWs?
In addition to laws and conventions, it's also a tactical decision. If you're a soldier, and you know the enemy are about to overwhelm you, you have two options. Surrender, or go down fighting and take a few more of the enemy with you.
The Short Answer
In addition to laws and conventions, it's also a tactical decision. If you're a soldier, and you know the enemy are about to overwhelm you, you have two options. Surrender, or go down fighting and take a few more of the enemy with you. If you know the enemy is likely to accept your surrender and take you prisoner, you're probably a bit more likely to go with that option. By taking prisoners, armies save the lives of their *own* soldiers, too. There's a story that during WWII, German parents would tell their children to surrender to Americans, because they take prisoners and treat them well. Much safer than actual fighting.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Enemy, surrender, take
This explanation focuses on enemy, surrender, take and spans 111 words across 7 sentences. At 54% above the average History explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “In addition to laws and conventions, it's also a tactical decision.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 7 connected points.
How This Compares in History
Ranked #95 of 500 History questions by answer depth (top 20%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why soldiers bother taking pows?
In addition to laws and conventions, it's also a tactical decision. If you're a soldier, and you know the enemy are about to overwhelm you, you have two options. Surrender, or go down fighting and take a few more of the enemy with you. If you know…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar History questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 111 words, ranked #95 of 500 History questions by depth. The key concepts covered are enemy, surrender, take.
What approach does this answer take to explain soldiers bother taking pows?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 111 words. It is categorized under History and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.