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The purpose of this rule, at least in part, is to ensure that civilians in occupied territoryare not required to engage in activities that would forfeit their protections as civilians under thelaw of war. 380The prohibition against forcing the inhabitants of an occupied territory to take part inmilitary operations against their own country precludes requisitioning their services in workdirectly promoting the ends of the war, such as construction of fortifications, entrenchments, andmilitary airfields, or the transportation of supplies or ammunition in the zone of operations. 38111.20.2 Types of Work That May Be Compelled. The Occupying Power may not compelprotected persons to work unless they are over eighteen years of age, and then only on work thatis necessary for: (1) the needs of the army of occupation; (2) the public utility services; or (3)the feeding, sheltering, clothing, transportation, or health of the population of the occupiedcountry. 382Thus, the Occupying Power may compel protected persons to engage in these three typesof work, provided that such work is consistent with the other prohibitions against employingprotected persons. 383 For example, even if it is permitted to compel civilian engineers inoccupied territory to provide information about the telecommunications system of an occupiedcountry in order to facilitate restoration of service, they may not be required to provide suchinformation where it will be used to locate and attack the armed forces of the occupied territory.11.20.2.1 Examples of Services That May Be Requisitioned From Inhabitants.The services that may be obtained from inhabitants by requisition include those of professionals,such as engineers, physicians, and nurses; and of artisans and laborers, such as clerks, carpenters,butchers, bakers, and truck drivers. The officials and employees of:• railways, trucking companies, airlines, canals, and river or coastal steamship companies;• cable, telegraph, telephone, radio, postal, and similar services;• gas, electric, and water works; and380 GC COMMENTARY 297 (“One point must not be forgotten: the Fourth Convention applies to civilians andcivilians are by definition outside the fighting. Any action on the part of the Occupying Power which had the effectof involving them, directly or indirectly, in the fighting and so preventing them from benefiting by special protectionunder the Convention must be regarded as unlawful. The application of this clause depends very largely on the goodfaith of the occupant, who must judge in each individual case, with a full sense of his responsibility in the matter,whether or not the work demanded is compatible with the conditions here laid down.”).381 1956 FM 27-10 (Change No. 1 1976) 420 (“The prohibition against forcing the inhabitants to take part inmilitary operations against their own country precludes requisitioning their services upon works directly promotingthe ends of the war, such as construction of fortifications, entrenchments, and military airfields or the transportationof supplies or ammunition in the zone of operations.”).382 GC art. 51 (“The Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to work unless they are over eighteenyears of age, and then only on work which is necessary either for the needs of the army of occupation, or for thepublic utility services, or for the feeding, sheltering, clothing, transportation or health of the population of theoccupied country.”).383 Refer to § 11.20.1 (Types of Labor That May Not Be Compelled).802