Canon

Prisoner of war: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

(New page: A '''Prisoner of War''' ('''POW''', '''PoW''', or '''PW''') is a combatant who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict.<ref>[http://www.e...)
 
No edit summary
 
(94 intermediate revisions by 42 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
A '''Prisoner of War''' ('''POW''', '''PoW''', or '''PW''') is a combatant who is imprisoned by an [[Covenant|enemy]] power during or immediately after an armed conflict.<ref>[http://www.en.wikipedia.org/prisoner_of_war Wikipedia]</ref>
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Cleanup}}
A '''prisoner of war''' ('''POW''', '''PoW''', or '''PW''') is a combatant who is imprisoned by an enemy force during or immediately after an armed conflict.<ref>[[Wikipedia:Prisoner of war|'''Wikipedia''' ''Prisoner of war'']]</ref>


During the 19th century, efforts increased to improve the treatment and processing of prisoners. The extensive period of conflict during the Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), followed by the [[United Kingdom|Anglo]]-[[USA|American]] War of 1812, led to the emergence of a cartel system for the exchange of prisoners, even while the belligerents were at war. A cartel was usually arranged by the respective armed service for the exchange of like ranked personnel. The aim was to achieve a reduction in the number of prisoners held, while at the same time alleviating shortages of skilled personnel in the home country.
Even in the 26th Century, the [[UNSC]] continues to take prisoners of war in their conflict against the [[Covenant]],<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 187''</ref> often using them as manual labor to construct fortifications for defending against Covenant attack and digging graves for Covenant and UNSC dead.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 234''</ref> In general, however, UNSC Marines appear to maintain a "policy" of leaving no Covenant alive.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "[[The Mona Lisa]]", ''pages 262, 269''</ref> After the destruction of [[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]], multiple Sangheili were recovered in their lifepods by a UNSC-requisitioned [[prison ship]], the ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' and experimented on by an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] [[John Smith|medical officer]] seeking ways to harness the Flood, either to find a "cure" or to use it as a weapon against the Covenant. The last survivor of these, [[Henry (Sangheili)|"Henry"]], assisted the other human prisoners on the ship and was one of only two survivors, with him and [[Patrick Rimmer]] joining a UNSC Marine squad to try and escape.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "The Mona Lisa"</ref> For much of the war, the Covenant refused to take prisoners, executing any human personnel who were captured or who surrendered.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 74''</ref> After the discovery that only human "[[Reclaimer]]s" could activate Forerunner artifacts, the Covenant kept them alive for such a purpose.<ref>'''Halo Wars'''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 97''</ref><ref name="T and R">'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level, ''[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]''</ref> After the ascension of the [[Jiralhanae]] to the positions formerly held by the [[Sangheili]], UNSC PoWs were routinely captured and butchered for food for the Jiralhanae.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[Crow's Nest]]''</ref>


Later, as a result of these emerging conventions a number of international conferences were held, starting with the Brussels Conference of 1874, with nations agreeing that it was necessary to prevent inhumane treatment of prisoners and the use of weapons causing unnecessary harm. Although no agreements were immediately ratified by the participating nations, work was continued that resulted in new conventions being adopted and becoming recognized as international law, that specified that prisoners of war are required to be treated humanely and diplomatically.
The [[Prisoner of War Medallion]] is awarded to [[UNSC Army|Soldiers]], [[UNSC Navy|Sailors]], [[UNSC Air Force|Airmen]] and [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] who have been recovered from, escaped, or released from capture by the enemy.  


Specifically, Chapter II of the Annex to the 1907 Hague Convention covered the treatment of prisoners of war in detail. These were further expanded in the Third Geneva Convention of 1929, and its revision of 1949.
==PoWs in the Halo games==
Though the Covenant have repeatedly been stated to never take prisoners, the games depict UNSC captives in Covenant custody multiple times.
*'''''[[Halo Wars]]'''''
**'''[[Relic Approach]]''' - A number of Warthogs are trapped behind Covenant energy shields, guarded by infantry and Ghosts.
**'''[[Anders' Signal]]''' - Professor Ellen Anders is captured by the Arbiter [[Ripa 'Moramee]], and imprisoned within a stasis field on a discovered Forerunner [[Trove|Shield World]] because of her ability to activate Forerunner technology.
*'''''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'''''
**'''[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]''' - [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] and several Marines are rescued by the [[John-117|Master Chief]] and a team of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] aboard the {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''. Many more Marine bodies can be seen throughout the ship.{{Ref/Reuse|T and R}}
*'''''[[Halo 2]]'''''
**'''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''' - several Marines are rescued from [[Holding chamber|prisoner cells]] by the Master Chief, as he rampages through [[High Charity]], following the [[Prophet of Truth]]. They are either killed by the Covenant, or infected by the [[Flood]] when it infects the holy city. Johnson and Miranda were taken to Installation 05, but would be rescued by Thel' Vadam in [[The Great Journey]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>
**'''[[The Great Journey]]''' - A handful of [[Sangheili]] [[Councilor]]s are held captive in prisoner cells by the [[Brutes]]. They are rescued when [[Thel 'Vadam]] fights to stop [[Tartarus]] from activating the rings.
*'''''[[Halo 3]]'''''
**'''[[Sierra 117 (level)|Sierra 117]]''' - [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]] and three other Marines are captured by [[Jiralhanae]]-led [[Covenant]] forces during the UNSC's extraction of the Master Chief, and used as bait to draw the [[Spartan]] into a trap. They are rescued, and manage to fend off a Covenant counter-attack.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Sierra 117]]''</ref>
**'''[[Crow's Nest]]''' - Marine prisoners are tied up in the barracks of [[Crow's Nest]]. They were killed and tortured until the Master Chief managed to save them.
*'''''[[Halo 4]]'''''
**'''[[Spartan Ops]]''' - [[Fireteam Crimson]] were captured and held prisoner by [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] after being surrounded by an insurmountable amount of forces. They successfully escaped 'Mdama's Covenant detention facility they were being held at by hijacking a Phantom.
**'''[[Spartan Ops]]''' - Sometime during the [[Requiem Campaign]] Lieutenant [[TJ Murphy]], as well as a Marine squad known as [[Icebreaker squad|Icebreaker]] were captured by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant forces and held at the same detention facility as [[Fireteam Crimson]]. [[Icebreaker squad|Icebreaker]] squad were rescued by Crimson and together they managed to escape.
**'''[[Spartan Ops]]''' - [[Henry Glassman]] was [[Slipspace translocation|translocated]] to [[Requiem]] where he was captured by Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, they used him in order to activate a shrine where they believed they could come in contact with the [[Librarian]] AI. As the Sangheili were distracted by the activated shrine, Dr. Glassman made his escape.
**'''[[Spartan Ops]]''' - [[Fireteam Switchback]], minus [[Cara Costabile]], were captured and held at Warrens. They were eventually rescued by Fireteams [[Fireteam Crimson|Crimson]] and [[Fireteam Lancer|Lancer]].
*'''''[[Halo Wars 2]]'''''
**'''[[One Three Zero]]''' - [[Alice-130]] rescued imprisoned Marines hours that were captured during [[The Signal|initial exploration]] before rallying them at one of the Research Outpost. After successful evacuation, [[Captain (NAVCOM)|Captain]] [[James Cutter|Cutter]] ordered her to conduct a series of hit-and-run operations.
**'''[[Lights Out]]''' - [[Red Team]] rescues Marines and Hellbringers from the prison, and they join Red Team to hunt down and defeat [[Decimus]] once and for all.
*'''''[[Halo Infinite]]''''' - Several UNSC soldiers, as combat medic [[Lucas Browning]] and Spartan [[Hudson Griffin]], were held prisoner by the [[Banished]].


Article 4 of the Third Geneva Convention protects captured military personnel, some guerrilla fighters and certain civilians. It applies from the moment a prisoner is captured until he or she 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 their name, date of birth, rank and service number (if applicable).
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H3-MarinePOWs.jpg|UNSC Marines held captive by [[Brutes]] in [[A2 Hydroelectric Facility]], [[Tanzania]].
File:James Ackerson in Halo Uprising.PNG|Colonel [[James Ackerson]] held prisoner by the Brutes on the ''[[Triumphant Declaration]]''.
File:HTMCC-H2A Marine POW.jpg|A UNSC Marine being held in the detection center of ''[[High Charity]]''.
File:HTMCC-H2A Imprisoned Sangheili Councillor.jpg|A [[Sangheili High Councilor]] imprisoned in the [[Bastion of the Brutes]].
File:HINF PlasmaGyve.png|A [[Boxer Squad|squad]] of UNSC Marines imprisoned using a [[plasma gyve]].
</gallery>


However, nations vary in their dedication to following these laws, and historically the treatment of POWs has varied greatly. During the 20th century, Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany were notorious for atrocities against prisoners during World War II. The German military used the Soviet Union's refusal to sign the Geneva Convention as a reason for not providing the necessities of life to Russian POWs. North Korean and North Vietnamese forces routinely killed or mistreated prisoners taken during those conflicts.
==List of appearances==
 
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
Even in the 26th Century, the UNSC continues to take prisoners of war in their conflict against the Covenant<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], pg. 187</ref>, often using them as manual labour to construct fortification for defending against Covenant attack and digging graves for Covenant and UNSC dead<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], pg. 234</ref>. For much of the war, the Covenant refused to take prisoners, executing any human personnel who were captured or who surrendered<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], pg. 74</ref> After the discovery that only human "[[Reclaimers]]" could activate the Halo Array, the Covenant changed that policy.<ref>[[Halo 2]]</ref> UNSC treatment of prisoners has been "humane," while Covenant PoW's have been brutally tortured and interrogated<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], pg. 97</ref><ref>[[Halo: Combat Evolved]], [[The Truth and Reconciliation (Level)]]</ref>. After the ascension of the [[Jiralhanae]] to the positions formerly held by the [[Sangheili]], UNSC PoW's were routinely captured and butchered for food for the Jiralhanae<ref>[[Halo 3]], [[Crows Nest (Level)]]</ref>
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
[[Category:Terms and Phrases]]


[[Category:Military Terminology]]
[[Category:Terms and phrases]]
[[Category:Military terminology]]

Latest revision as of 00:50, March 5, 2024

Help.png
 This article does not meet the wiki's general standards and/or standards on layouts. You can help by cleaning this article.

A prisoner of war (POW, PoW, or PW) is a combatant who is imprisoned by an enemy force during or immediately after an armed conflict.[1]

Even in the 26th Century, the UNSC continues to take prisoners of war in their conflict against the Covenant,[2] often using them as manual labor to construct fortifications for defending against Covenant attack and digging graves for Covenant and UNSC dead.[3] In general, however, UNSC Marines appear to maintain a "policy" of leaving no Covenant alive.[4] After the destruction of Alpha Halo, multiple Sangheili were recovered in their lifepods by a UNSC-requisitioned prison ship, the Mona Lisa and experimented on by an Office of Naval Intelligence medical officer seeking ways to harness the Flood, either to find a "cure" or to use it as a weapon against the Covenant. The last survivor of these, "Henry", assisted the other human prisoners on the ship and was one of only two survivors, with him and Patrick Rimmer joining a UNSC Marine squad to try and escape.[5] For much of the war, the Covenant refused to take prisoners, executing any human personnel who were captured or who surrendered.[6] After the discovery that only human "Reclaimers" could activate Forerunner artifacts, the Covenant kept them alive for such a purpose.[7][8][9] After the ascension of the Jiralhanae to the positions formerly held by the Sangheili, UNSC PoWs were routinely captured and butchered for food for the Jiralhanae.[10]

The Prisoner of War Medallion is awarded to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have been recovered from, escaped, or released from capture by the enemy.

PoWs in the Halo games[edit]

Though the Covenant have repeatedly been stated to never take prisoners, the games depict UNSC captives in Covenant custody multiple times.

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Wikipedia Prisoner of war
  2. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 187
  3. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 234
  4. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Mona Lisa", pages 262, 269
  5. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Mona Lisa"
  6. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 74
  7. ^ Halo Wars
  8. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 97
  9. ^ a b Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level, The Truth and Reconciliation
  10. ^ Halo 3, campaign level, Crow's Nest
  11. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, Gravemind
  12. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Sierra 117
Retrieved from "https://www.halopedia.org/index.php?title=Prisoner_of_war&oldid=1621016"