Belligerents

Belligerents: The opposite term to Non-Combatants. All soldiers are regarded as belligerents and have certain rights recognised by International Law. If captured in battle and taken on surrender their lives must be spared. The laws of war require that definite conditions shall be complied with before a man can be recognised as a belligerent. He must be commanded by a responsible leader, wear distinctive uniform, carry arms openly, and obey the laws and customs of war. The possible exception is where the population of unoccupied territory spontaneously take up arms to resist invading troops, in which case they are entitled to belligerent rights.

If people who are not actually in the army take it upon themselves to defend their own houses or workshops, they not only run the risk of being captured and shot, but the chances are that they will induce the enemy to take reprisals on the rest of the population.

References / notes

The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War.

This compendium forms the central hub of words, phrases, people, and places relative to the Great War period of 1914–1918. These also include battles, political events, ships, trench slang, British and American service terms and expressions in everyday use, nicknames, sobriquets, the titles of British and Commonwealth Regiments and their origins, and also warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used, some of which may seem derogatory by today's standards. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.

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