The treatment of prisoners of war in Germany from 1871-1945, and its effect on the trial of Generaloberst Hermann Hoth.

Abstract

Throughout the history of mankind, there has been warfare and prisoners of war. The treatment of prisoners has ranged from torture and loss of limbs, to death. Since the 1800s, attempts have been made to rectify the problem of treatment of prisoners of war and develop laws for their protection. Germany, since its foundation in 1870 through 1945, has been involved in three wars. During this time, the military policies and directives toward prisoners of war gradually disintegrated. It has gone from just plain neglect caused by the conditions of the war to deliberate neglect ordered by Adolf Hitler. The trial of Hermann Hoth caused difficulty for the defense in establishing the traditional treatment of prisoners of war by the military and showing the court that Hoth was only following orders in his treatment of prisoners of war. The result lead to the sentencing of Hermann Hoth to fifteen years in prison.