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In battle in a declared war is cowardice a prosecutable offense?

Posted - March 11, 2017

Responses


  • 2658
    During World War I,  cowardice was punishable by execution.
      March 11, 2017 8:57 PM MST
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  • 5614
    Thanks.
      March 11, 2017 8:59 PM MST
    1

  • Beans is right. Up to and including WWI it was a capital offence. We have a better understanding these days.

    George Carlin did a very clever presentation on this. It runs for about 9 minutes but is well worth listening to. It's all about how shell shock evolved into battle fatigue, then into operational exhaustion, then into PTSD. 

      March 11, 2017 9:11 PM MST
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  • 5614
    Brilliant! You are a treasure.
      March 11, 2017 9:16 PM MST
    1

  • 184
    Right on point.
      March 12, 2017 2:10 PM MDT
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  • 372
    It is normal to be frightened in battle. If cowardice were punished, there would be no armies. ACTING from cowardice such as desertion in the face of the enemy is usually a capital offense.

    In WW2, the American army had one such soldier who was executed.
      March 11, 2017 9:13 PM MST
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  • 6988
    My WW2 U.S. Army father said he never actually shot any Nazi soldiers. He shot over their heads. However, he also "assisted a sniper to locate targets."  He was awarded a bronze star for doing "something".
      March 12, 2017 7:13 AM MDT
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  • 22891
    it might be
      March 12, 2017 5:49 PM MDT
    0