Laborers
Labor/ Work
When a prisoner is in the hands of the enemy there are multiple things that that prisoner may be forced to do. One of these many things can involve the gathering and production of natural resources and these resources being delivered to where it needs to go. Another thing prisoners tended to have to do was clean. POW (Prisoners of War) were forced to clean anything they were told to, whether it was inside or outside, or even human and animal waste, they were forced to cleanse it. Lastly, Prisoners of war would have to help the country they were being imprisoned inside. If another enemy of the enemy were to attack, the POW would have to clean up the mess or help prevent more of that mess. Most times, when there were attacks, Prisoners would have to put out fires and remove flying materials. Half the time there would me more prisoner deaths, because of this, than the actual "attacked" people. So, because the prisoners were forced to do some harsh labor, most died, this is what the enemy wants. If the prisoners cant be worked to death, then they might as well die during the work. To the enemy, it's better the "weak" prisoners than them themselves in the war. Another thing that some enemy countries want is to basically turn these prisoners into a part of their country, they want these soldiers (or maybe ordinary people) on their side benefiting them and fighting for them. Many prisoners see this throughout war, and feel guilty or disgusted to have to turn against their country and their home, but survival can be a key concept when in war with what seams like nothing to believe in.
Strength:
To a country, if they have collected military soldiers from the enemy, they seem to believe that they are the stronger side of the war. To relate to what I just said, the enemy believes by capturing other soldiers of the enemy that they are above everyone else in the war, that they are the belligerent power during the war. To them, everyone should fear them, and they think that if there is fear, then there is control. This is a big concept during war, control, it is what everyone is after during war because with control comes loyalty and to a country, strength. Moreover, strength and control are the same thing, but they are not. From a military standard, they are the same thing during a war, but outside of that they mean different things. Strength does not come from winning, but from courage and sacrifice. To a soldier, in the war that doesn't seem to matter. To conclude, the enemy gathers prisoners and holds them captive to create fear, in hope for control and power.
Military and Political Intelligence:
When holding soldiers captive, it is a gate way to the enemy's intelligence of the war. With prisoners, a country can gather new information that could possibly benefit them. Yet, this is not necessarily easy, many prisoners must be beaten and tortured just to get a word about the war out, let alone something about their own country's secrets. These captives endure such brutal treatment just to keep their country safe. So, to a country holding prisoners, if they could get some information out of the prisoners, this could definable benefit them, but how do they know if the prisoner is telling the truth? That's the thing, they don't know for a fact that what these captives are saying is true, but the go ahead and test the theory they were told. You see, with secrets and lies, comes a price, they are not for free, so if a prisoner was caught lying, because they eventually would be caught, they were brutally beaten, forced to work hard labor, and possibly killed. Again, with fear and punishment, to a country during war, strength and control will follow.
Labor/ Work
When a prisoner is in the hands of the enemy there are multiple things that that prisoner may be forced to do. One of these many things can involve the gathering and production of natural resources and these resources being delivered to where it needs to go. Another thing prisoners tended to have to do was clean. POW (Prisoners of War) were forced to clean anything they were told to, whether it was inside or outside, or even human and animal waste, they were forced to cleanse it. Lastly, Prisoners of war would have to help the country they were being imprisoned inside. If another enemy of the enemy were to attack, the POW would have to clean up the mess or help prevent more of that mess. Most times, when there were attacks, Prisoners would have to put out fires and remove flying materials. Half the time there would me more prisoner deaths, because of this, than the actual "attacked" people. So, because the prisoners were forced to do some harsh labor, most died, this is what the enemy wants. If the prisoners cant be worked to death, then they might as well die during the work. To the enemy, it's better the "weak" prisoners than them themselves in the war. Another thing that some enemy countries want is to basically turn these prisoners into a part of their country, they want these soldiers (or maybe ordinary people) on their side benefiting them and fighting for them. Many prisoners see this throughout war, and feel guilty or disgusted to have to turn against their country and their home, but survival can be a key concept when in war with what seams like nothing to believe in.
Strength:
To a country, if they have collected military soldiers from the enemy, they seem to believe that they are the stronger side of the war. To relate to what I just said, the enemy believes by capturing other soldiers of the enemy that they are above everyone else in the war, that they are the belligerent power during the war. To them, everyone should fear them, and they think that if there is fear, then there is control. This is a big concept during war, control, it is what everyone is after during war because with control comes loyalty and to a country, strength. Moreover, strength and control are the same thing, but they are not. From a military standard, they are the same thing during a war, but outside of that they mean different things. Strength does not come from winning, but from courage and sacrifice. To a soldier, in the war that doesn't seem to matter. To conclude, the enemy gathers prisoners and holds them captive to create fear, in hope for control and power.
Military and Political Intelligence:
When holding soldiers captive, it is a gate way to the enemy's intelligence of the war. With prisoners, a country can gather new information that could possibly benefit them. Yet, this is not necessarily easy, many prisoners must be beaten and tortured just to get a word about the war out, let alone something about their own country's secrets. These captives endure such brutal treatment just to keep their country safe. So, to a country holding prisoners, if they could get some information out of the prisoners, this could definable benefit them, but how do they know if the prisoner is telling the truth? That's the thing, they don't know for a fact that what these captives are saying is true, but the go ahead and test the theory they were told. You see, with secrets and lies, comes a price, they are not for free, so if a prisoner was caught lying, because they eventually would be caught, they were brutally beaten, forced to work hard labor, and possibly killed. Again, with fear and punishment, to a country during war, strength and control will follow.