Rules of War

[Timerover51]

The following is an interesting comment from the introduction to THE WAR BOOK OF THE GERMAN GENERAL STAFF, BEING “THE USAGES OF WAR ON LAND” ISSUED BY THE GREAT GENERAL STAFF OF THE GERMAN ARMY. It is a translation done by a British Constitutional Law professor in 1915, and it is available on Project Gutenberg for full download and reading;

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/51646/51646-h/51646-h.htm

But since the tendency of thought of the last century was dominated essentially by humanitarian considerations which not infrequently degenerated into sentimentality and flabby emotion (Sentimentalität und weichlicher Gefühlsschwärmerei) there have not been wanting attempts to influence the development of the usages of war in a way which was in fundamental72 contradiction with the nature of war and its object. Attempts of this kind will also not be wanting in the future, the more so as these agitations have found a kind of moral recognition in some provisions of the Geneva Convention and the Brussels and Hague Conferences.

It is the manual for the German Army covering the "usages of war regarding the enemy's army", "usages of war with regard to enemy territory and inhabitants", and the "usages of war as regards neutral states".

As the concept of the Imperial Rules of War is mentioned in the rules, I thought that a sample of what an actual army manual covering the subject would be useful. There are also manuals covering the Law of War for the US Army available online as well.

 

[kilemall]

I think an even better resource for Traveller is the USNI book International Law for Seagoing Officers. I have an earlier edition, thinking about upgrading to the latest-

http://www.usni.org/store/books/nav...l-reading/international-law-seagoing-officers

Earlier editions are far cheaper to acquire and should be adequate for most gaming model purposes-

http://www.amazon.com/International...557500746/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=

This gets into flagging, boarding, who has control of what sea zones, etc. etc., just the sort of thing even Captain Jamison has to concern himself with. It's more relevant for MTU with near-present customs, but can be really good grist for the ship mill.

While I'm at it with USNI books, a must have for naval-based adventuring-

http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Braid-Foreign-Relations-Diplomatic/dp/0870212281

This is a book that covers US naval officers making foreign policy up, sometimes Captain Kirk style, in situations where Washington DC cannot be contacted for weeks or months.

JUST the sort of thing your naval officers have to do in Traveller's non-FTL comms enviornment- doesn't have to be straight up power plays, often the sort of thing that can mess up or help your freighter, respect the flag ops were often about commerce.

Dozens of RL interventions, threats, and shenanigans that are not tolerated today with instant worldwide comms but happened all the time back in the sailing navy days.

 

[Marchand]

The following is an interesting comment from the introduction to THE WAR BOOK OF THE GERMAN GENERAL STAFF, BEING “THE USAGES OF WAR ON LAND” ISSUED BY THE GREAT GENERAL STAFF OF THE GERMAN ARMY. It is a translation done by a British Constitutional Law professor in 1915, and it is available on Project Gutenberg for full download and reading;

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/51646/51646-h/51646-h.htm



It is the manual for the German Army covering the "usages of war regarding the enemy's army", "usages of war with regard to enemy territory and inhabitants", and the "usages of war as regards neutral states".

As the concept of the Imperial Rules of War is mentioned in the rules, I thought that a sample of what an actual army manual covering the subject would be useful. There are also manuals covering the Law of War for the US Army available online as well.

Thanks for that, looks like a really interesting link.

However I would wonder about the fairness of the translation, seeing as it was done in wartime...

 

[McPerth]

As the concept of the Imperial Rules of War is mentioned in the rules, I thought that a sample of what an actual army manual covering the subject would be useful. There are also manuals covering the Law of War for the US Army available online as well.

See that there's an important difference among IRW and Geneva Convention: IRW has an enforcing power (the Imperium) for internal "minor" wars, while the Convention is an agreement among various sides, without such an anforcing power, and moslty for external "major" wars (I know no war is minor by those affected by it, but I guess you all understand what I mean).

The equivalent to the Convention would be any agreement reached among the various stellar powers, major (Solomani, Imperium, Zhodani, 2000 worlds, Hiver etc...) and minor (Darrian, Sword Worlds, Arden, various Vargr factions and Aslan clans, etc...).

Maybe you'll like to read also this thread about similar issue...

 

[Timerover51]

See that there's an important difference among IRW and Geneva Convention: IRW has an enforcing power (the Imperium) for internal "minor" wars, while the Convention is an agreement among various sides, without such an anforcing power, and moslty for external "major" wars (I know no war is minor by those affected by it, but I guess you all understand what I mean).

The equivalent to the Convention would be any agreement reached among the various stellar powers, major (Solomani, Imperium, Zhodani, 2000 worlds, Hiver etc...) and minor (Darrian, Sword Worlds, Arden, various Vargr factions and Aslan clans, etc...).

Maybe you'll like to read also this thread about similar issue...

Based on the date of publication, March of 1915, and also in New Yoirk, a large part of the translation would have had to be done prior to the start of World War 1. If you read some of the other German publications just prior to the war, written by German staff officers, the recurring theme is that "military necessity" trumps any treaty, and absolves any member of the military from any charge of criminal activity. Once I get to another computer, I will work on some more links.

With respect to US writings, there are quite a lot online covering Rules of Land Warfare, but the intent was to provide some rules that would have a different perspective. Also, it should be noted that the US will, at times, totally ignore treaties under the argument of "Military Necessity". for an example, set the Battle of the Bismarck Sea accounts, with the merciless attacks on the Japanese in the water following the sinking of the Japanese transports.

 

[BlackBat242]

The following is an interesting comment from the introduction to THE WAR BOOK OF THE GERMAN GENERAL STAFF, BEING “THE USAGES OF WAR ON LAND” ISSUED BY THE GREAT GENERAL STAFF OF THE GERMAN ARMY. It is a translation done by a British Constitutional Law professor in 1915, and it is available on Project Gutenberg for full download and reading;

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/51646/51646-h/51646-h.htm



It is the manual for the German Army covering the "usages of war regarding the enemy's army", "usages of war with regard to enemy territory and inhabitants", and the "usages of war as regards neutral states".

As the concept of the Imperial Rules of War is mentioned in the rules, I thought that a sample of what an actual army manual covering the subject would be useful. There are also manuals covering the Law of War for the US Army available online as well.

A PDF version is available here (for those, like me, who don't have a Kindle or any other e-reader): https://archive.org/details/warbookofgermang00newyiala

 

[Timerover51]

A PDF version is available here (for those, like me, who don't have a Kindle or any other e-reader): https://archive.org/details/warbookofgermang00newyiala

Thanks for the additional file data, Black Bat.

 

[Condottiere]

Formal or informal, rules and conduct of war tends to be based on fear of retaliation and an imposed code.

 

[Timerover51]

Formal or informal, rules and conduct of war tends to be based on fear of retaliation and an imposed code.

You are correct in that. If there is little likelihood of any penalty, any and all rules of war can be ignored.

 

[mike wightman]

Formal or informal, rules and conduct of war tends to be based on fear of retaliation and an imposed code.

Correct.
During WW2 both sides were so worried the other would use chemical weapons that neither side dared to use them.
During the cold war fear of nuclear retaliation prevented the use of nuclear weapons.

However the first rule remains - win at all costs.

Then you get to decide who goes to trial for war crimes.