# What types of troops get the worst treatment if captured? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565 "2003-01-30T06:43:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/1 "2003-01-30T06:43:04Z")
A morbid sort of question, but…on the battlefield, I’ve often heard that Snipers and Flamethrower-operators (not that there are many of the latter, these days) are usually subject to much harsher treatment by their enemies if captured, if they’re even allowed to surrender at all, due to the kind of carnage they inflict. First off, is this true? And second-if it is, are there any other types of troops that get singled out like if captured? Well, thanks for your patience, Ranchoth ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/2 "2003-01-30T07:47:23Z")
The ones we can’t prove they’ve captured. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/3 "2003-01-30T08:11:37Z")
Should be snipers. There’s something about a sharpshooter picking you off one by one that’s different than say a firefight. At least, that’s what I’ve been told by combat vets. Most of 'em WW2 or Korean War vets ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/4 "2003-01-30T09:29:05Z")
WAG: I imagine intel officers would be subject to a fair amount of interrogation, and torture depending on who the enemy is. ---
**Author:** ![johncole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@johncole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johncole)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/5 "2003-01-30T13:24:22Z")
In WWII, Hitler issued a command order that all commandos were to be killed. [http://www.wwiitech.net/main/germany/archives/hitlerscommandoorder/](http://www.wwiitech.net/main/germany/archives/hitlerscommandoorder/) > [@](#): > > From now on all men operating against German troops in so-called Commando raids in Europe or in Africa, are to be annihilated to the last man. This is to be carried out whether they be soldiers in uniform, or saboteurs, with or without arms; and whether fighting or seeking to escape; and it is equally immaterial whether they come into action from Ships and Aircraft, or whether they land by parachute. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/6 "2003-01-30T13:41:30Z")
US bomber pilots have been given a rough time of it in WW2 Germany, WW2 Japan, & Vietnam. In the Gulf War & Bosnia, fighter-bomber & attack aircraft pilots got the same treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/7 "2003-01-30T13:43:39Z")
US bomber piolts & **crews** have been given a rough time of it in WW2 Germany, WW2 Japan, & Vietnam. In the Gulf War & Bosnia, fighter-bomber & attack aircraft pilots got the same treatment. ---
**Author:** ![rhinostylee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@rhinostylee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhinostylee)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/8 "2003-01-30T18:35:23Z")
I think that I would abuse any POW being that their job ultimately is to kill me, regardless of their specific duties. I realize that I wouldn’t want to be abused if I was a POW, but I’m sure that as an American, if captured in a hostile country, I would get tortured for sure. I wouldn’t torture anyone, mind you, just beat on them with the butt of my rifle and maybe kick them in the face a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-troops-get-the-worst-treatment-if-captured/151565/9 "2003-01-30T19:32:51Z")
David McCulloch’s bio of Harry Truman tells how in WWI Truman’s artillery battery came close to running out of ammunition, without time limber up and withdraw before the Germans overran their position. All they could do is wait and see if the guys they’s just been pouring shrapnel into were in the mood to take prisoners. I’ve read that this situation is where the expression “stand by your guns” comes from.