Knight Errantry (5W)

[xjym2002]

Or chivalry, all goes to one chinese word: The spirit of Knight.

Another 5W question on the event depicted by this art work. Is it a real historical event?

http://www.figuresmania.net/BBS/attachments/forumid_42/aD7p_200431112833%5B1%5D.jpg

[mustamato]

Interesting picture, hm, the americans seems to be lacking weapons. Maybe
they are POW´s? Just because Hollywood depicts the germans soldiers as monsters
it doesn´t mean that they just left wounded to die. Especially not on the western
front.

Or maybe a ceasefire and picking up wounded. Just as in the movie Stalingrad.

[Ratamacue]

Interesting picture, hm, the americans seems to be lacking weapons. Maybe
they are POW´s? Just because Hollywood depicts the germans soldiers as monsters
it doesn´t mean that they just left wounded to die. Especially not on the western
front.

Or maybe a ceasefire and picking up wounded. Just as in the movie Stalingrad.

Both sides are lacking weapons and seem to be cooperating to help the wounded. Regardless of fact or fiction, it's an interesting painting.

[TALOS]

I will see if I can find the book, it is on the back of military heritage magazine in 2003 (dont remember the month).
Is apparently a true story where in the midst of the battle both sides had a lull and the medics just spontaneously went out to get wounded. I will look for the issue

[ogukuo72]

Interesting picture, hm, the americans seems to be lacking weapons. Maybe
they are POW´s? Just because Hollywood depicts the germans soldiers as monsters
it doesn´t mean that they just left wounded to die. Especially not on the western
front.

Or maybe a ceasefire and picking up wounded. Just as in the movie Stalingrad.

Medics in the US Army in the ETO, during WWII, don't carry weapons.

[Flagg]

For some reason I'm guessing this painting may depict a scene related to The Battle of Hurtgen Forest...just a hunch

To help explain the possible scenario depicted in the painting:

The NZ Army medical personnel I have interacted with carry special ID cards that protect them in accordance with the Geneva Convention, some details of which are provided below:


Identification and Protection of Military Medical Personnel

Medical personnel who are exclusively engaged in medical duties or medial administration are entitled to special protection. While it is not a violation of the conventions for medical personnel to perform non-medical duties, they lose their protection by doing so. Once protected status has been lost, it cannot be regained. Medical personnel are provided the following protection.

Medical personnel are protected from intentional attack, provided they are readily recognizable as medical personnel by the enemy while in a combat environment. This condition is met by the wearing of a white brassard bearing a red cross or red crescent.
Medical personnel will receive the designation of "retained person" should they fall under enemy control. Although they are entitled to the same protections as EPW, retained persons "shall be retained only in so far as the state of health . . . and the number of prisoners of war require." However, the convention continues to state that retained persons may be required to perform non-medical labor and may be held until a general repatriation of EPW is conducted.
Medical personnel who are exclusively engaged in medical duties may wear the white and red brassard described earlier and carry a medical personnel identification card. U.S. medical personnel carry DD Form 1934, Geneva Conventions Identity Card. Medical personnel not exclusively engaged in medical duties are not allowed to carry a medical identification card and may wear the brassard only when engaged in medical duties.
Identification and Protections of Medical Units, Facilities, Materiel, and Transports

Medical units, facilities , materiel, and transport are protected from intentional attack if they are clearly identifiable by the enemy in a combat environment. This can be accomplished by using large white and red flags, emblems, or panels. To be afforded this protection, medical units may not be positioned so that attacks against military objectives imperil their safety. Medical evacuation vehicles that also carry unwounded, non-medical personnel are not entitled to protection. Medical evacuation aircraft are only entitled to protection while flying on prearranged routes at prearranged times and heights. If there are no prearrangements, medical evacuation aircraft fly at their own risk.

Should medical materiel be captured by the enemy, it is to be used first to treat patients of the captured force. If there are no patients of the captured force, it may be used to treat other sick or wounded persons. Therefore, medical materiel is not to be destroyed to prevent it from being captured by the enemy. Captured medical facilities should continue to be used as medical facilities. Captured medical transports may be used for non-medical purposes if their distinctive markings are removed. A medical aircraft must obey an enemy summons to land; if examination reveals it is not engaged in harmful acts, it will be released to continue its medical mission.

Guidelines from the Geneva conventions grant medical units protected status, however to maintain protection they must identify themselves with very distinct and obvious markings. There are three symbols used to identify medical units: a red cross, a red crescent, or a red lion. These red emblems must be displayed on a white background to qualify as an obvious marking. Although the red Star of David is not officially recognized as a distinct medical symbol, it has been afforded protection in past conflicts.

Although the articles of the Geneva conventions state that the medical emblems "shall be displayed on the flags, armlets, and on all equipment employed in the Medical Service," it is generally accepted that there is no obligation for belligerents to mark units with the emblems. A commander, usually no lower than the grade of O6 in the U.S. forces, may order medical units and transports to be camouflaged to conceal the presence or strength of a force. Camouflaging a medical asset does not automatically result in its losing protected status. Protection is only lost if camouflaging the unit or transport prevents the enemy for recognizing its medical function. There is no such thing as a camouflaged red cross. When medical units and transports are camouflaged, their red cross emblems should be covered up or taken down. A black cross on an olive drab background is meaningless.

Loss of Protection by Medical Units and Facilities

Medical assets may lose their protection by engaging in acts harmful to the enemy. If a force suspects its enemy is using medical units to commit harmful acts, it must first warn the enemy to stop within a given period time period. Only after the time period has expired and the harmful acts have not ceased may the force open fire or attack. Examples of harmful acts include using a hospital to shelter combatants, siting a medical unit to impede an enemy attack, or mounting a crew-served weapon on an ambulance. Use of smoke and obscurants, like camouflage, is not considered a harmful act.

Conditions that Do Not Deprive Medical Assets of Protection

Medical personnel may be armed and may use arms in self-defense or in defense of their patients.
Medical personnel may perform guard duties for their own unit if non-medical personnel are not available.
Small arms and ammunition taken from casualties may be stored in medical facilities until they can be turned in to proper authorities.
Veterinary personnel and materiel may be collocated with medical personnel and materiel.
Medical personnel may care for civilian casualties.

ID cards of this nature are supposed to be carried by all military medical personnel from Geneva Convention signatory nations.