Surrender (military)

See surrender for other meanings of the word.

To surrender is when soldiers give up fighting and become prisoners of war, either as individuals or when ordered to by their officers. A white flag is often used to surrender, as is the gesture of raising one's hands empty and open above one's head.

The Geneva Convention states that prisoners of war should not be mistreated or abused. United States Army policy states that surrendered persons should be treated according to the "5 S's" until turned over to higher authority.

Silence: so that they cannot plan an escape attempt.
Search: for weapons or items of intelligence value.
Secure: tie up and/or guard carefully at all times, particularly at first.
Safeguard: do not allow the dangers of the battlefield to hurt them
Separate: soldiers from officers, men from women, combatants from civilians, to make them easier to control.

Entire nations can also surrender in an attempt to end a war or military conflict. This is done through the signing of an armistice or peace treaty.

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