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The Law of War

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years before being interned in a mental asylum in Ranchi, where they spent the next 38<br />

years under a special prisoner status.<br />

<strong>The</strong> last prisoners <strong>of</strong> Iran–Iraq <strong>War</strong> (1980–1988) were exchanged in 2003.<br />

Numbers <strong>of</strong> POWs<br />

This article is a list <strong>of</strong> nations with the highest number <strong>of</strong> POWs since the start <strong>of</strong> World<br />

<strong>War</strong> II, listed in descending order. <strong>The</strong>se are also the highest numbers in any war since<br />

the Convention Relative to the Treatment <strong>of</strong> Prisoners <strong>of</strong> <strong>War</strong> entered into force on 19<br />

June 1931. <strong>The</strong> USSR had not signed the Geneva convention.<br />

Armies Number <strong>of</strong> POWs Held in Captivity Name <strong>of</strong> Conflict<br />

Soviet 2.7-3 million taken by Germany (1.6 million died in German World <strong>War</strong> II (total)<br />

Union<br />

POW camps (56–68%))<br />

Nazi<br />

6,435,502 taken by USSR (474,967 died in captivity World <strong>War</strong> II<br />

Germany<br />

(15.2%)) (according to another source 1,094,250 died<br />

in captivity (35.8%))<br />

unknown number in Yugoslavia, Poland, Netherlands,<br />

Belgium, Denmark (the death rate for German<br />

prisoners <strong>of</strong> war was highest in Yugoslavia with over<br />

50%)<br />

1.3 million unknown<br />

France 1,800,000 taken by Germany World <strong>War</strong> II<br />

Poland<br />

United<br />

Kingdom<br />

United<br />

States<br />

Pakistan<br />

675,000 (420,000 taken by Germany; 240,000 taken by the<br />

Soviets in 1939; 15,000 taken by Germany in <strong>War</strong>saw in 1944)<br />

Invasion <strong>of</strong> Poland,<br />

and <strong>War</strong>saw<br />

Uprising<br />

World <strong>War</strong> II<br />

≈200,000 (135,000 taken in Europe, does not include Pacific<br />

or Commonwealth figures)<br />

≈130,000 (95,532 taken by Germany) World <strong>War</strong> II<br />

90,368 taken by India & Bangladesh Liberation force (Mukti<br />

Bahini). Later released by India in accordance with the Simla<br />

Agreement.<br />

Bangladesh<br />

Liberation <strong>War</strong><br />

Iraq ≈175,000 taken by Coalition <strong>of</strong> the Gulf <strong>War</strong> Persian Gulf <strong>War</strong><br />

Page 107 <strong>of</strong> 265

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