this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2025
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[–] [email protected] 76 points 1 month ago (6 children)

Dressing up as the enemy is actually a war crime.

[–] [email protected] 104 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Not back then it wouldn't be, though, if we take the veracity of the story at face value. The inclusion of perfidy (bad-faith deception, such as dressing up as a civilian or opposing force) as a banned act within the Geneva Conventions was only adopted in 1977, under articles 37 and 39 of Additional Protocol I.

Edit: And even today, Article 39 exempts naval engagements specifically from that provision when it comes to flying the wrong colors with intent to deceive.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's a fashion crime if your enemy's the British Beefeaters.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

I think all military companies should keep their formal uniforms from whever time period they were formed. Imagine the photos from military banquets or 4th of July celebrations if one company is in WW2 era formal wear, another is Civil War, and another is from the Napoleonic era! It would be so cool to watch

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What? Committing war crimes? Germany? Preposterous!

[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 month ago (2 children)

WWI was so famous for everyone fighting a calm and reasonable war with no war crimes

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Reasonable amounts of condiments in the air

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They were serving so many hot dogs that they have to aerosolize the mustard.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

They were so progressive about women having a safe space to congregate they introduced a miles-long no-mans-land in France.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

To be fair: A lot of things that are war crimes today were declared as such specifically because of WWI. Meaning that they weren't war crimes when they were committed during the war. Specifically chemical agents (mustard gas and friends) had never been seen before, so there obviously was no treaty banning their use until after the fact.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Only if you engage under the enemy's colors. Otherwise it's a ruse of war, and legitimate.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

Then thank the British for stopping this potential war crime.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago

war crimes are whatever the dominate military power says it is the other guy is doing

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's war, and when you are being invaded by greedy bastards. There are no war crimes.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I thought the Germans were the greedy bastards?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Yes, in that case yes. But in current global situations.