I first became aware of POW exchanges while editing my great-great-great-grandfather's Civil War diary. Back then, Union POWs and Confederate POWs were exchanged on oath that they would return home and not return to combat. This is a few days old. 3/25/22 The Hill:
Ukraine and Russia on Thursday exchanged prisoners of war for the first time in the conflict, exactly one month after the fighting began.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced Thursday that the swap occurred after it was ordered by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the Ukrainian Volunteer Journalists Initiative.
Iryna Vereshchuk, deputy prime minister and minister for reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, said 10 Ukrainian soldiers were released and 10 Russian soldiers were given back to their country.
The minister also said 11 Russian civilian sailors were swapped for 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors.
The Russian civilian sailors were rescued by Ukraine when their vessel flooded, while the Ukrainian civilian sailors were taken by Russia after they were found in a rescue vessel heading to Snake Island to retrieve troops.
Russia will also give back the rescue ship to Ukraine, which will send it to a port in Turkey, according to the agency.
This is not only humane but reduces both housing and food needs for POWs. It should also be an incentive to not kill POWs; you will have nothing to exchange.
"Back then, Union POWs and Confederate POWs were exchanged on oath that they would return home and not return to combat."
ReplyDeleteAre you sure about that? I thought that since it was a 1 for 1 deal, they were allowed to get back into the fight. Was there a difference between parole and exchange, for instance? (I could research it on my own, but what the heck.)
At least when my great-great-great-grandfather referenced it, they were paroled, on the condition of not returning to battle.
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