Respect for one's enemies

[sohaminator]

A theme which often plays out in literature is that of the mutual respect opposing armies sometimes have for each other. Movies often show soldiers locked in bitter struggle showing admiration for his enemy's courage or expressing some form of kinship with them.

This is not something entirely in the realm of fantasy as there is historical evidence of this. For example when Manfred von Richthofen was shot down and killed over the allied lines in WW 1, he was given a burial with full military honors.

Another example is the Christmas truce in December 1914 when a widespread unofficial ceasefire was declared on the western front and the British and German soldiers exchanged seasonal greetings.

My questions is does such a sentiment exist in today's world? There are many veterans on this site and I would love to hear your views on this.

Personally, and I have never served in the armed forces, if I was being shot at all my thoughts would be on vanquishing my enemy. I doubt that I would feel any kind of respect for them.

[Ordie]

During the Cold War we had this Soviet KGB trawler shadowing us in the Sea of Japan for many weeks. The tiny spy trawler was a former rusty fishing boat being tossed around with high waves. Every time we tossed trash overboard, the trawler would sent a whaleboat to retrieve garbage bags to find anything information of value. Since we burn all classified materials, there was little value in trash.

One day the Skipper (An F-4 Aviator during the Vietnam War), call over the 1 MC and asked us to report back to the fantail with any old **** to get rid of. Some shipmates showed up with stacks of Playboys, Penthouse, Swank magazines. The intelligence officers glanced through them for any classified notes and placed them in a heavy duty plastic bag. The deck apes filled them up with air and sealed them up.

The signalman communicated with the Soviet boat to stand by for a special gift. Once we dumped it into the water, the Soviets pick it up opened it and started waving in excitement. Within an hour, our Skipper had a bottle Vodka and fresh Russian Bread.

[HollywoodMarine]

U.S. Marine R.V. Burgin explains why he and his fellow Marines hated the Japanese soldiers in the Pacific War.

[Holycrusader]

During the Cold War we had this Soviet KGB trawler shadowing us in the Sea of Japan for many weeks. The tiny spy trawler was a former rusty fishing boat being tossed around with high waves. Every time we tossed trash overboard, the trawler would sent a whaleboat to retrieve garbage bags to find anything information of value. Since we burn all classified materials, there was little value in trash.

One day the Skipper (An F-4 Aviator during the Vietnam War), call over the 1 MC and asked us to report back to the fantail with any old **** to get rid of. Some shipmates showed up with stacks of Playboys, Penthouse, Swank magazines. The intelligence officers glanced through them for any classified notes and placed them in a heavy duty plastic bag. The deck apes filled them up with air and sealed them up.

The signalman communicated with the Soviet boat to stand by for a special gift. Once we dumped it into the water, the Soviets pick it up opened it and started waving in excitement. Within an hour, our Skipper had a bottle Vodka and fresh Russian Bread.

Fantastic story. Thank you...

[PEMM]

The idea ive seen and heard most from finnish veterans from WWII is that they have no grudge against Soviet soldiers, because they were both doing their jobs. Some seem to even feel certain kind of felloship, because they went trough the same battles and experiences, even if they were on different sides.

[gaijinsamurai]

I was in Desert Shield/Storm, and while I never fired any shots in anger, I didn't have anything personal against the Iraqi soldiers we faced. When I saw them face to face, surrendering by the hundreds, I took pity on them. Not their leaders, but the common "soldiers" who had been concripted and sent to Kuwait with no choice in the matter.

Respect is a two-way street. Abide by the Laws of War and Geneva Convention, conduct yourself in a humane manner, and you will get respect. That has a lot to do with why Rommel's Afrika Korps and the Commonwealth units they faced in North Africa got along on a personal level.
I don't blame the WWII vets for hating the Japanese. I grew up using the word "jap" from the influence of my step-grandfather, who saw extensive combat in the Phillipines and New Guinea, and although his ill-feelings dissipated over time, I could understand why he felt the way he did.

[Connaught Ranger]

A theme which often plays out in literature is that of the mutual respect opposing armies sometimes have for each other. Movies often show soldiers locked in bitter struggle showing admiration for his enemy's courage or expressing some form of kinship with them.

This is not something entirely in the realm of fantasy as there is historical evidence of this. For example when Manfred von Richthofen was shot down and killed over the allied lines in WW 1, he was given a burial with full military honors.

Another example is the Christmas truce in December 1914 when a widespread unofficial ceasefire was declared on the western front and the British and German soldiers exchanged seasonal greetings.

My questions is does such a sentiment exist in today's world? There are many veterans on this site and I would love to hear your views on this.

Personally, and I have never served in the armed forces, if I was being shot at all my thoughts would be on vanquishing my enemy. I doubt that I would feel any kind of respect for them.

Both the above mentioned incidents have to be taken into view with the following considerations:-

a, the Christmas truce was very early in WW1 and after this, active measures were taken, and orders given to stop fraternization with the enemy.

b, with regards von Richthofen, by the time of his death in 1917, the air service of both sides was still a relatively new type of warfare fought by fairly highly educated men and it still retained a sense of chivalry.

It was common to call a truce in WW1 to clear the dead away from the battlefield however probably a combination of respect for the dead and for health reasons.

Every war is different, so conditions with regards "respect" do not always apply in the same circumstance, however I believe that most would prefer to bury the dead including enemy dead with a modicum of respect, hoping that if they get killed the same would be done for them.

Connaught Ranger.

[Indiana Jones]

Both the above mentioned incidents have to be taken into view with the following considerations:-

a, the Christmas truce was very early in WW1 and after this, active measures were taken, and orders given to stop fraternization with the enemy.

b, with regards von Richthofen, by the time of his death in 1917, the air service of both sides was still a relatively new type of warfare fought by fairly highly educated men and it still retained a sense of chivalry.

It was common to call a truce in WW1 to clear the dead away from the battlefield however probably a combination of respect for the dead and for health reasons.

Every war is different, so conditions with regards "respect" do not always apply in the same circumstance, however I believe that most would prefer to bury the dead including enemy dead with a modicum of respect, hoping that if they get killed the same would be done for them.

Connaught Ranger.

Two things. First off, despite sometimes draconic measures to stop them, fraternisations occured during the entire war, not just in 1914. Secondly, Richthofen was killed in 1918, on the 21st of April to be exact.

[Hollis]

In part, it really depends on who the enemy is. Like Mr. Burgin, my dad had the same view of the Japanese. He was in the China Fleet from 1937 on.

Ordie, Great story, thank you.

The Viet-Cong and Bac Biet (NVA) was like the Japanese soldier, very brutal. No love there at all. Sat Cong.

[JCR]

This seems to depend on the war, but generally I think the more culturally similar the two sides are and the less ideology is involved, the greater the chance for fraternisation or at least mutual respect.

[seraosha]

I had no respect for my enemies in Haiti, none. They were child killers, rapists, and would prey on the weak...they were scum.

[Xomimilt]

"If you dont respect your enemy that's how stupid man die."

[Hollis]

"If you dont respect your enemy that's how stupid man die."

Different kind of respect. Like respecting a rattlesnake, a very deadly spider, a rapid dog, etc.

[T-5 Killer]

During the Cold War we had this Soviet KGB trawler shadowing us in the Sea of Japan for many weeks. The tiny spy trawler was a former rusty fishing boat being tossed around with high waves. Every time we tossed trash overboard, the trawler would sent a whaleboat to retrieve garbage bags to find anything information of value. Since we burn all classified materials, there was little value in trash.

One day the Skipper (An F-4 Aviator during the Vietnam War), call over the 1 MC and asked us to report back to the fantail with any old **** to get rid of. Some shipmates showed up with stacks of Playboys, Penthouse, Swank magazines. The intelligence officers glanced through them for any classified notes and placed them in a heavy duty plastic bag. The deck apes filled them up with air and sealed them up.

The signalman communicated with the Soviet boat to stand by for a special gift. Once we dumped it into the water, the Soviets pick it up opened it and started waving in excitement. Within an hour, our Skipper had a bottle Vodka and fresh Russian Bread.

Outstanding story!

[Wildgoose]

I had no respect then, now, or for the future of men whom would cut off the heads of prisoner's with a rusty knife, use women and children as shield's, or lure's to a kill zone. They even sought to use the mentally unstable as suicide bomber's. Making good men go bad for food money, no, they get a wish from me to burn in hell.

x2. That goes for passing out candy when your brave warriors slit a baby's throat.