Why you Must NOT Shoot Medics in War

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As a way to alleviate some of the horrors of combat, social convention and international law make some individuals on the battlefield off limits to deliberate targeting. Very often, however, in the heat of battle, these conventions are ignored and those who should be off limits are intentionally targeted.
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Credit:
Show Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script: Robert de Graff
Narrator: Chris Kane
vocalforge.com/
00:00 The legality of shooting medics in war
00:24 Americans deliberating targeting British Officers in the American Revolution
03:26 Geneva Convention when medics forfeit their protection
05:15 Axis and Allies respecting medics in ww2
06:25 Heres what happened to Medics on the Eastern front
07:42 Japanese sharpshooters looking for medics

[@Simplehistory]

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[@FamousSeamus23]

Hi @Simplehistory

[@aM1AbramsTank]

Ok

[@singleplayer1921]

Mr history where are you from?

[@warpigs9069]

First! NOOOOOOOOO dam u all!

[@warpigs9069]

No fair no fair 😢

[@activatekruger446]

Civilized enough to have rules about killing each other, but not Civilized enough to, you know, not kill each other in the first place. Classic humanity.

[@becky2235]

Yes I agree

[@kevray]

just make war a war crime

[@MarkoXPlays]

Humanity is committing friendly fire lol

[@scubasteve3032]

The age old young men dying because of old men’s problems.

[@Jaypc06]

To be fair sometimes you gotta do a little bit of killing

[@redjaypictures4528]

Funnily enough, in the game Payday 2, the police forces that oppose you sometimes have medics with them when you play high-difficulty heists, if you shoot one, your in-game criminal record updates with a violation of the Geneva convention, meaning you’re a bonafide war criminal as well as a notorious bank robber

[@leguichettravel1599]

Lol

[@Balls1335]

I’m wondering how your heister is a war criminal? The medics go in guns blazing and is engaged in combat against armed robbers in a, you know, armed robbery. Not a war.

[@pseudosanct5253]

you can also kill unarmed civilians, could be seen as homegrown terrorism@@Balls1335

[@ctnke]

wait….. you aren’t supposed to shoot medics?

[@RandomBrotherHoodMF]

@@Balls1335oh hey an enclave member

[@shinoshiny]

" To take down your enemies' team, take out their backline mage and healers first " - Sun Tzu, Art of War

[@FNT860]

amazing

[@gmodGod963]

what a bs quote 🤣

[@stickmangamer8731]

@@gmodGod963no it’s kinda…… idk

[@keyboardtaskforcephi-3689]

"Send the healers as bait, you dont need healers if you kill your enemies before they can do damage. DPS is everything" - Sun tzu, Speedrunner

[@tathang6511]

" Stop making quotes I never said " - Sun Tzu, Art of War

[@ZydenHi]

A wise man once said "Its not a warcrime if you win the war"

[@strikeforce1500]

"It's not a war crime as long as you are a super power or win" it's more appropriate

[@RazorsharpLT]

Is that why the Biscarri massacre is well known? Or the fact that the Soviets were awful, even more so than the Germans? Please tell me again how "it's not a warcrime if you win the war".

[@ZydenHi]

@@RazorsharpLT it was a silly goofy edgy joke dont take what i said seriously

[@ivancaballero5123]

if you are from U.S.A :v

[@sbmotoracer]

@@RazorsharpLT "Or the fact that the Soviets were awful, even more so than the Germans?" - How were the Soviets worse then the Germans? I'm not arguing, just curious why you think that.

[@TTV_Breezer]

"How did the Japanese view medics?" "Through Iron sights."

[@M4A1BestGirl]

Call me biased but I don't believe the Japanese were as sadistic as they were made out to be. The majority of them were conscripted from an early age, conditioned to be fearless and have unwavering loyalty to the emperor, and taught that compassion is a sign of weakness. Any soldier branded a deserter would be forced to redeem themselves (usually with their own blood) and any compassion displayed to westerners or those already branded a deserter would be met with consequence. The Japanese chain of command was different from our own. Court martial proceedings were generally swift, and if found guilty of desertion, the offenders were forced to commit seppuku to prove they were still loyal to the emperor. Japan deliberately targeted noncombatants, but only because they were afraid of the consequences. If they had a medic in their crosshairs and hesitated, they were viewed as spineless, cowardly, dishonorable, and unworthy of their status as warriors. These are all things they learned during their training. It can surely be unlearned.

[@MrEpIcAcC]

@@M4A1BestGirl ... Unit 731?

[@M4A1BestGirl]

@@MrEpIcAcC Okay, so I'm going to overlook A FEW war crimes committed by Japan. Unit 731 and the Kempatai deserve nothing less than the death penalty.

[@lyncharles4856]

​@@M4A1BestGirlthe Chinese from ww2 would like to have a talk with you

[@waunke56]

which sadly makes me feel less bothered that the Americans viewed them through bomb scopes with atomic payloads.

[@mercenarygundam1487]

Team Fortress 2 Players: I miss the part where that's my problem.

[@chickenwarriorr]

Actually since medic actively has shown that he will harm others that nullifies him from the qualifications

[@welkiesshitpost7156]

Tf2 characters are hired guns and are therefore not subjected to the rule of warfare.

[@brianmoyachiuz905]

To be fair, they're not even doctor, just mad scientists who happen to heal their allies with illegal technology

[@doge_sfm]

i got crits on the medic

[@Ploxtifs_OldAndDeadAccountXD]

I’m pretty sure most of the TF2 classes are war criminals regardless…

[@Blundabus1337]

My grandfather, a WW2 vet, told me: "You don't target the medic first. You target the radioman."

[@honkhonk8009]

Lol thats what Germans said about Americans. Because unlike the Wehrmacht, American GI's had much more freedom on where to spam artillery.

[@Blundabus1337]

@@honkhonk8009 I think everyone said that. At least until everyone got a radio.

[@SylvainSybaris]

Yes, the radioman is indeed a target, but so are the Commanders too.

[@chrishughes-ol1yj]

While I was medic in Iraq and Afghanistan, we were frequently warned about bounties on medics, officers, and radiomen.

[@Frankiekuchez1]

Former corpsman USN. They told us the same thing. Luckily we no longer wear any distinguishing patches only a few warfare devices and stuff

[@terrywalker7991]

ditto

[@SonaNerikov2]

Why are you even saving murderer in the first place?

[@We.do.stuff.]

@@SonaNerikov2not murderers, innocent civilians

[@SonaNerikov2]

@@We.do.stuff. I'm pointing out American soldiers. All of them are murderer

[@alexbrown9622]

I’m not a medic, but I’m in the medical corps, and I was told it’s not against any laws to say that I’m a medic if I get captured. I asked the medics and they told me “If they make you treat their wounded just do your best.”

[@KryptonArcher]

Always wondered if Combat Medics were considered Immune since they don’t really have symbols on their personal I’ve noticed

[@jeffreyblack666]

Pretty sure it isn't against the law if you lie in war.

[@American-Jello]

They don't get treated better, just so you know. My daughter is a combat medic. Avoid capture AT ALL COSTS. It will not help you.

[@samgriess438]

you think this is real LOL medics are literally what people aim for

[@scr1m844]

​@@American-Jelloso just off yourself then?

[@equarg]

I read a story where a German medic found a wounded American during WW2, treated his wounds, then hid his body under brush and leaves so the SS would not fund him. This gave Allies time to reclaim the area, find the American who stayed quiet despite his injuries, and get him proper treatment. It was found the Germans Medics treatment probably saved his life. American never found out who that medic was, but never forgot what he did.

[@Alak-Hul_Darkblade]

Probably replaced his heart with that of a super-baboons

[@-ZM_Gaming-]

​@@Alak-Hul_DarkbladeYour such a baby, ribs grow back! _speaks to archimedes_ *no they dont*

[@AndresRodriguez-sm1fr]

Just like in the movie hacksaw ridge. The American medic attended the wounds of a Japanese soldier.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Marine Soldier High School

[@santiagovasquezgomez2136]

Regardless if the story is true or false, in the climate of dehumanization of the enemy, there's always people that overcome the stupid propaganda to do the right thing.

[@methodical.millennial]

My wife’s grandpa was a corpsman in WW2, since I married into the family, he was (for some reason) more comfortable telling me stories than his blood descendants. He was on Guadalcanal and carried a 1911 for the duration of his service. The things he witnessed and survived were horrifying.

[@thetaranchula]

the most unnecessary comment

[@JustALittleGhostOfHallownest]

@@thetaranchulaactually, that would be yours.

[@Monogrammaton]

@@JustALittleGhostOfHallownest they probably read that reply somewhere and have been itching to use it themselves ever since

[@vbadimothebadassjackass8011]

Liar

[@JoeMama-ef7ju]

I think the reason why he was more comfortable with you is because if he messes up it won’t be permanent. There was a chance that she might divorce you or something along that line.

[@USMCDR]

Great video man. Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman of 21 years and still going. I talk about this history with all my junior docs.

[@wesleyward5901]

Remember everyone: It's not a war if at least one war crime isn't committed.

[@Lambda_111]

Its also not a war crime if you win, just saying...

[@georgestain4491]

@@Lambda_111 Or if you are the ¨good guy¨

[@Lambda_111]

@@georgestain4491 History is written by the victors, ala the good guys typically.

[@vampirehunter9047]

It’s not a war crime the first time

[@warmak4576]

And pin your war crimes to the loser, win-win

[@Thewalk4756]

9:10 Huge correction: This is not against the Geneva convention if the medic is not wearing red cross insignia. Medics are only protected by the laws of war when they are wearing the symbol. If they take it off, they are considered a legal combatant. This happened on the Western Front too, when American medics would take off their insignia when presense of snipers/SS were announced.

[@Lajos_Kelemen]

Problem is, like the Japanese, they didn’t care much about the Geneva convention. Better to be not protected by it and live, than to be under it’s “protection” only to get your grey matter splatered all over before anyone else’s.

[@rubenjanssen1672]

Small corection/adition the red cross is not the only emblem that provides this protection the red cresant and the red diamond like the red cross on s whithe backgroubd are subject to the same rules under the geneva convention.

[@Blankoid82]

You mean Geneva suggestion?

[@Thewalk4756]

@@rubenjanssen1672 absolutely, amazing addition. But I think those symbols were added after ww2

[@rubenjanssen1672]

wikipedia says 1929 is the formal recognision of the red cresent. wich would be before ww2. the diamond is for sure after ww2 (2005)@@Thewalk4756

[@PopCatBedwars]

"War does not determine who is right, only who is left"

[@mizmeinyourbones]

the poppy war reference 🤔

[@jfr45er]

Loved all the little edits, facial reacts and past references!!

[@jamesdaughton8017]

My Dad was a WWII medic. He said no one on the front lines put crosses on their helmets as it gave the Germans an easier target. My Dad spoke very little about his time going through France. I expect he had undiagnosed PTSD. He also served in Korea.

[@SomeBoredTanuki]

​@@UnitTracethat is like saying "if a tree crashed in a forest and nobody hears it, it never happened" it still matters, even if nobody knows about it.

[@Kerurung]

I deeply appreciate his dedication to fighting to protect Korea. We'll never forget. Thank you so much.

[@woodrew5415]

Many WW2 vets never talked about their time. My mom was 45 before my grandfather mentioned he was at DDay

[@justaghost3285]

Respect for what your dad had to go through, may he rest in peace

[@paleoph6168]

​@@UnitTracewell your mind has definitely crashed, so that is a war crime!

[@Bear.M.ro.3]

There is another reason to not shoot medics. It's sad, brutal, gruesome, but it must be acknowledged: wounding an enemy soldier is often better than killing him. Yes, killing him takes the enemy soldier out permanently, but any notable wound - the type of wound requiring a field-medic's attention - may _still_ take the wounded solder permanently out of combat, and _also_ require a continued drain on enemy personnel and resources to care for him for months to years, thus more of a total loss for the enemy than just killing him.

[@chrishughes3405]

I once heard that landmines are often designed to maim not kill for precisely that reason. A burial uses far less resources than supporting an amputee for life.

[@gbeach85]

I never thought of that. Interesting, man

[@mad_scientist5597]

my grandpa told me this was a thing in Yugoslavia. Landmines designed to wound the soldier in order to incapacitate one fighter permanently and a bunch more temporarily.

[@d.blacksmith8466]

I've heard that Vietnam booby traps follow the same idea of wounding rather than killing as well. I guess it is just an effective war strategy

[@darthvector8076]

And the training of a new soldier, of course, does not take away from the enemy a lot of personnel and resources for his training for months or years.

[@redwolfexr]

Minor quibble, it was legal to detain medics to treat POWs and though their legal status was (like clerics) as detained and not POW - they were sent to treat/minister to prisoners. Even though US medics do not wear protective emblems they do carry the identification of a medic so if captured and disarmed it is up to the other party to decide which status to grant them. If they are granted medical status then Geneva applies both ways, and they are no longer a legal combatant and can't engage in combat. If you aren't wearing a protective emblem then you are (as far as as Geneva) a normal combatant that has more medical training than most.

[@richardjames6947]

Well done presentation. Since you are familiar with the Hague and Geneva Conventions/Treaties, please do an episode on recent violations includer cluster munitions

[@acceptablecasualty5319]

Cluster Munitions are not covered under either. Banning them was a voluntary initiative.

[@chiliforlife2558]

killing medics doesn't lower morale, it just enrages the enemy unit

[@ComradeOgilvy1984]

Not only does it make them mad, but it colors expectations for what will happen if they surrender. Not only is anger more likely to make them brutal, but fighting to the death becomes more attractive.

[@theangryotaku3361]

whoever touches doc gets the glock

[@brodriguez11000]

@@ComradeOgilvy1984 From an enemy that already believes in fighting to the death making both sides equal.

[@someonerandom9939]

​@@ComradeOgilvy1984it also increases the consideration of "if I'm going down I'm taking you with me" So if you kill all the medics don't be surprised if the last thing that dying soldier does when you get close is pull the pin of a grenade.

[@bestaround3323]

If an enemy knows surender means death, then they will always fight to the death. War is terrible, so the least we can do is minimize human suffering as much as possible.

[@Apple.CC.technomail]

Japanese soldiers- “your honor, It isn’t my fault I mistook the rule book for a checklist ”

[@colin8696908]

Japanese Navy:" what do you mean were not supposed to tie POW's to bricks and throw them in the ocean."

[@averageamerican9427]

Japanese Army- "wait, we weren't supposed to eat the livers of American pilots?"

[@Nakedsnake36]

Japanese army: wait what do you mean we weren’t supposed to kill civilians including children and women

[@guts-141]

But your Honor, not torturing and killing those soldiers would be dishonorable to my family

[@Memer_Engineer]

​@@guts-141💀💀

[@Harry11152]

As a current combat medic in the US Army I am excited to watch this. Thanks for all your work KZbinr!

[@hippoguy17]

My dad was a medic on Omaha bwach and he said that by the second day he removed the cross from his helmet ecause he saw many with bullet holes in the middle of the crosse. I have read that in some armies the piper is also not a legit target.

[@juicedgoose]

Pipers are always legit targets, even in peacetime😂

[@daehr9399]

My grandfather was a medic in Chorwon, Korea, 1952-53. It's part of DPRK now. He never spoke much of Korea, but I know for a fact he carried a rifle regularly. I've never seen such a good shoot in my life. Point being, he probably dealt death to avoid death. To both himself and his patients. You shouldn't harm a medic, no, but they are a great target during warfare. And people will always stoop to the lowest level to win a fight.

[@samuelnakai1804]

Babou?!

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Salute dude

[@han-me6kd]

Great appreciation to your grandfather from Korea

[@yasininn76]

"you should probably shoot a medic" "SAlUTe AnD ReSPEct"

[@johnlocke8642]

Ive been reading a lot about the Korean War recently. Im just a history buff in general. Those guys had the misfortune of being between WW2 and Vietnam, never getting their due respect. Salute to your grandfather, that was a tough war to be in, as is any war of course.

[@Dojibu]

So in most video games that have combat, the basic strat is to violate the geneva convention by removing the healer so the other enemies can't keep on trucking you, and any monster that can actually raise their fallen comrades.

[@mirzapramudya1580]

To be fair Videogame healers doesn't wear those red plus sign symbols which makes them legal combatant

[@aidansharp2447]

Well if you get shot in real life you won’t be on the battle field within 1 minute of healing

[@mirzapramudya1580]

@@aidansharp2447 also, no one can punish you for violations of the Geneva convention if everyone is dead

[@1vader]

​@@mirzapramudya1580Funnily enough, it violates the geneva convention to use red crosses for health pickups and the likes in video games and game studios have gotten letters for that. Thats why it's often a green cross.

[@Paul.......]

​@mirzapramudya1580 mercy from OW does

[@scheevyjenkinz8444]

You can't fool me. Video games taught me to always go for the healer

[@marcusbrown7817]

Good job on this project

[@blackwatertv7018]

European armies: “So we are in agreement we don’t shoot officers cause it’s mean” American revolutionaries: skill issue.

[@ronanchristiana.belleza9270]

no Shooting officers? can you explain?

[@hankgaming3]

USSR with

[@puchopucho7790]

geneva conventions: "killing medics is a warcrime" UK: "let's sink an entire hospital cruise ship then"

[@Walker-ow7vj]

@@SlitWristDemigodthe drums were to keep the infantry lines stable and at a consistent pace. They had to shoot in a way that maximized volume of fire since smoothbore muskets are inaccurate af and that’s the main weapon armies of the time had.

[@ReicantheJester]

>skill issue >needed help from the French to have a chance to win.

[@Mareczekw30]

It's convenient to ban shooting officers while ordinary soldiers could die in waves. I'm glad, that this rule was changed, maybe this made them think more about throwing anyone for death

[@libertycowboy2495]

Now if they could hit the people who give the officers orders.

[@scottanos9981]

Artillery doesn't care anyway

[@korbell1089]

America, eliminating the class system one baron at a time.😅😅

[@strongback6550]

Part of the reason for that is that should the enemy make a conscious effort on killing officers whom were usually part of prominent families in the home country, it would also make peace talks more difficult because the people whose words actually carry weight would suddenly start taking the war personally and even if the King would like to sue for peace, it's a bit hard to do if everyone with wealth or some sort of title would be crying out for blood. Knowing this is the same for enemy, it is better if you don't kill them and simply capture them, as a letter from an imprisoned son has a bit of an opposite reaction to the peace negotiations, seeing that many would want to ransom their child and end the war quickly without making the enemy desperate enough to start executing hostages. You may think it's a bit silly or unfair, but it does often help de-escalate a conflict if you capture rather than kill the family of the movers and shakers. This is of course, more important when you fight a local war rather than your enemy crossing the sea to get to you.

[@Justin-pe9cl]

It’s not about convenience.

[@freddieweasel2533]

" In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers."

[@silverfawx2797]

I like how at 1:38 the tiny people are facing away their giant opponents... considering they are walking on the giants hats

[@flamaxrudolf7606]

Remember: It’s not a war crime if nobody acknowledges what you did

[@jeffclarkofclarklesparkle3103]

Like the whole Canadian Parliament, yes exactly 😂

[@Fallen_2003]

The Geneva Suggestion 💀💀💀

[@joerivas9847]

Its not a war crime if you are the victor.

[@Labyrinth6000]

Israel and Palestine agrees

[@jordanalexander615]

Leaving no witnesses I suppose is an option too

[@janerin-9246]

i like how this gets recommended a day after my socials keep barraging my feed with news about hospitals getting bombed

[@ZackCali]

Israel be like: its not a warcrime if the USA is on your side

[@aleksandrpaniutin4028]

Look at the war crime where you not supposed to hide behind civilians and especially medics/hospitals.

[@ISaIGoI]

​​@@aleksandrpaniutin4028 I thought Israel said that Hamas had tunnels? The world knows who is the real monster, nothing can change that!

[@BingoBongo227]

@@aleksandrpaniutin4028ok mr “terrorist check in calendar” 🙄🙄 where’s that al shifa complex chief??? you hear about israel’s “where’s daddy?” AI software? it TRACKS “HAMAS MILITANTS” (which are usually just military aged men israel wants to shoot at) AND FIRES FROM A DRONE AT THEIR HOMES ONLY WHEN THEY GET HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. go read a fucking book 🙄🙄

[@Dzulqornain26]

@@aleksandrpaniutin4028Aren’t you tired spreading propaganda yet?

[@mjbalcueva6485]

thanks, will use this knowledge in the upcoming global faction based battle royale

[@thefiest]

2023:cameraman never dies 1947:medic never dies

[@charlesderosas5577]

Germany: we shouldn't shoot medics. japan: hold my sake

[@iamgaijin88]

usa: taste my nukes

[@Muhammadwasapedo]

​@@iamgaijin88japan: is that the sun?!

[@redrocket604]

Krauts killed medics too

[@starhill8456]

USA: Yes 😎🇺🇸

[@E_the_great]

​@@Muhammadwasapedolittle boy and fat man: here come the sun

[@bombfog1]

I was shot at just as much as the infantry in Iraq and Afghanistan and that was a good thing! That means I did a superlative job hiding the fact that I was a medic.

[@becky2235]

I heard medics out there were targeted. Thanks for what you done though. How long were you in the Army for?

[@42gp]

Because you were fighting against insurgents rather than a legitimate army, therefore they would not have to abide by the laws of the Geneva Convention.

[@mcklub]

Insurgents themselves don’t fall within Geneva convention anyway and we rarely expected to be taken alive anyway, plus they’d often use civilian population to hide

[@martymcfly8535]

Rebels and insurgents have zero reason to honor conventions. Especially when fighting a superior force. Cold but true.

[@bombfog1]

@@martymcfly8535 I definitely wasn’t expecting them to, otherwise I wouldn’t have been so assiduous in hiding my identity.

[@andersonsds]

Tell it to Netanyahu, he needs to know what is war crimes.

[@antonioscendrategattico2302]

As usual for Netanyahu, Palestinians are citizens when it lets him abuse them, but foreigners whenever they should have a right. And this is a war when it's convenient, and a "defensive operation". He and his buddy Putin think in a very similar way.

[@IsaacSchultz]

How do the people of Gaza think? "Harbor terrorists, feed terrorists, be a shield for terrorists, but I am not a terrorist."

[@Stevenpaul654]

@@IsaacSchultzso the 10k children killed were feeding Hamas?

[@sully9080]

​@@IsaacSchultzSo what are they supposed to do about it? Vote them out? With what elections? Rise up against them? With which weapons? They have no one to help them. The world has abandoned them to colonialists and extremists.

[@MarkelMathurin]

Palestine I'd a false state

[@user-yj9ho4uf5y]

I have to disagree with you saying targeting officers was “barbaric” it just makes sense, if you removed the one giving orders its more likely for units under their command to retreat, ultimately saving more lives.

[@Mikazuchireborn]

Now what you said makes complete sense. I'm pretty sure the only people who really view the targeting of aristocratic officers as barbaric are said aristocratic officers being targeted!

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

5:08 I remember as a kid being told stories of my great great great aunt who served as a ambulance driver for the Germans during the First World War. Apparently she wasn’t terribly keen on those British pilots because they kept strafing her ambulance and purportedly on one occasion got out to shake her fist as they flew away, shouting something to the effect of “Are you blind?! Can’t you see the big Red Cross painted on top, you idiots?!”

[@giovannivazquez8275]

That’s very interesting!

[@Jack-yo2bc]

wait...the germans?

[@pipebombpete.6861]

The Geneva convention was made after WW1.she was fair game.

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

@@Jack-yo2bc M’yes. Believe it or not, not everyone from the English speaking world hated all Germans back then. Especially when those young American men encountered feisty German lasses, like with my great great great uncle and my great great great aunt

[@Jack-yo2bc]

@@hfar_in_the_sky and did they continue 2 side with germany for round 2?

[@-Raylight]

"These are medics" "Dear GOD" *"You can't shoot them"* *_"NO"_*

[@ItsWorm0912]

expiration date reference lol

[@makumba9629]

@@ItsWorm0912 its obviously a reference to fortnite

[@Billy426.]

“It contains the heinous warcrimes against medics the men here have commited”

[@dusancosic6432]

"There's more"

[@Billy426.]

@@dusancosic6432 no…

[@DocP91B]

Yet at Ft. Sam Houston, at US Army Medic School, they taught us that Soviet/FSU trained snipers used the red cross as a target. In fact the number 3 Sniper priority below Officers & Radio Operators. So... The problem with the LOAC is that only the good guys follow it.

[@jackwaterman-lw4co]

Don't worry about that, you won't ever be in a real war, nor will any US soldier. They're just going to make your kids gay.

[@mackswellgg]

4:03 “prosecuted accordingly” LOL

[@SantaFe19484]

Another reason to follow this rule is because if any your guys get captured, the enemy's medic will be the one to take of them. Since the Japanese did not believe in surrendering, they had no problem killing American medics.

[@TheManofthecross]

and there is the propaganda angle that which unforchanetlly for plenty of the japs the allies lived up to the propaganda. this is due to the japs fear or so and fought fenatically etc. and other reasons to as well.

[@mooncat3344]

And we all see how that ended in Hiroshima.

[@CrabLadius]

They didn’t want their cities bombed, not knowing by deliberately violating the treaties, they enraged America enough to bomb their cities. They made their own self fulfilling prophecy, good riddance to Imperial Japan.

[@samuelmatheson9655]

Kaboom?

[@Greg-w-smeg]

⁠Yes Rico, Kaboom

[@JonBrown-po7he]

As a retired Navy corpsman, you learn to remove all insignia to reduce the chance being killed by a sniper, and to maintain a close relationship with your marines.

[@mikeb8277]

Thanks for the mostly add clip!

[@protectork9831]

America can never commit war crimes . Rule # 1

[@corymorimacori1059]

“Friendly fire isn’t tolerated”

[@antcommander1367]

well with 1 excemption: Ruski

[@RolandEdrickSantos-jz7yp]

Funny way to say "team kill"

[@intellicadee]

Well, didn't count how many I killed.

[@aelahn]

what do you mean by friendly fire? those were enemies as well..

[@bernieeod57]

The Japanese were among the first to actually target medics. In Vietnam, the concept of sparing medics went out the window. Removing the Red Cross doubled the life expectancy of the Medic. Removing the Medics bag and carrying his gear in combat pouches tripled the Medics life expectancy! This changed the character of the Medic. Pacifists have been known to volunteer to be combat Medics. They felt it was an opportunity to serve and still take the risks of those who actually fight. After Vietnam, a new breed of Medic / Corpsman rose up. Those who pride themselves on their ability to inflict wounds as well a bind wounds. This makes it dangerous for on to target a modern Medic for he will guard the life of his patient with his life weather the threat to the patient's life is a wound, infection, or enemy soldier

[@katfishkobain8809]

Yeah, I got caught up as a medical student in Chile during Pinochet stuff. I was the “medic” in a little village in the mountains for about six weeks. They treated me okay and I figured it was this Doctor Zhivago thing going on. I had only seen that movie a few years earlier and it was fresh on my mind. Always wondered if that was a real story..

[@gotchufam2964]

Damn-

[@Asddasa281]

I saw an ad one day, it was an ad about an execution from germany in 1940 and one medic was getting executed

[@yeetthebeatout6906]

Doc: gets shot The rest of the platoon: "Cowabunga it is"

[@BlueJayWaters]

Unfortunately in modern conflict, almost zero considerations are given for medics. I was a Hospital Corpsman with the US Navy. We technically always wear medical insignias because of our rate (job) but from the war on terror onward, terrorists don't play by the rules, so we have been armed and are expected to be a fighter first and a medic second.

[@TheManofthecross]

and terrorists will weaponize the rules of war against you for propaganda wins.

[@Big_head033]

Yea you rarely hear about medics in modern conflict as being protected I always thought that they removed it from the treaty but they didn’t it just people don’t care anymore

[@healer_btw5606]

@@Big_head033it’s a very dumb thing to do, yeah spare their medics so they can potentially bring back more enemy combatants, I think not. Most of the things on the Geneva Convention make no damn sense whatsoever. Take no prisoners unless you plan on forcing information out of them. Attack higher ranked units if you can find them, to help disrupt their chain of communication. The people who can’t see these things are just dumb.

[@imperialhighcommand8535]

@@healer_btw5606 War is already brutal. The Geneva Conventions are about making it less brutal if possible, you idiot. The Western Front was less brutal BECAUSE both sides respected medics, and the Soviets actually requested that both sides followed the Hague Conventions. It was only AFTER inhuman barbarity of the kind you suggest that Soviet Soldiers committed such atrocities against German soldiers and later Axis civilians. Fine philosophy, dumbfuck, because that is the exact reason Germany and Japan lost the war. All of those things might gain you tactical advantages, but they will almost certainly cause strategic failures for your army, because not only will the enemy have no reason to treat you or your civilians fairly if you lose, they'll respond with just as much brutality. Look at what's happening in Israel and the Middle East after Gaza attacked civilians. Israel now has every reason to make it as brutal as possible for the civilians there. War isn't a game, and short-term successes can often lead to a LOT of long-term failures.

[@Labyrinth6000]

For a terrorist point of view, why should they let medics live when they are aiding enemies that want to kill them?

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

My Great Uncle was an Army medic in WWIl. He and a German medic worked together and treated wounded after a battle.

[@erebostd]

Medics are basically those who keep their decency for the longest time in war. Even if it’s hard. I tried to live up to that, that’s why i was a medic while in the military. I’m SO glad i didn’t had to show if i was good enough because there was no real war i had to serve in during service. I helped people, but i have so much respect for people who do this while something like WW2 is all around you…

[@crazyai6090]

Remember *It's not a war crime if you win*

[@Matt1sh]

War crimes just make me think of 2 kids having a Pokémon battle with their Pokémon cards and one kid shouts before”No, don’t use your charizard he’s too op!”

[@kawaiiarchive357]

My Grandfather fought in Italy during WW2 and the Germans there shot at his ambulance in an attempt to steal his medical supplies. He put his driving skills to the test and out ran his pursuers.

[@Jack-yo2bc]

wasn't italy on there side?

[@shadowy3755]

@@Jack-yo2bcthis was probably after the Allies occupied Italy but if it wasn’t I won’t be surprised

[@Snaic]

@@Jack-yo2bc Not until the Allies occupied it, no. Benito Mussolini was a part of the Axis as well until the people of Italy revolted (with our help) and executed him.

[@lanceuppercut6168]

I remember being intrigued with this topic when I learned Stardew Valley had to update their clinic signage from a red cross to a green cross because it went against something pertaining to this in the Geneva convention. Delving into it some more made me have more respect for medics in general and field medics specifically. Knowing you stick out like a sore thumb and relying on the enemy to uphold their side and not target you must be nerve wracking and require a great deal of bravery.

[@ramsoofkyo9047]

and also oblied to treat your enemies

[@projectxv3066]

Among us has the same thing

[@redwolfexr]

Not just games, any usage of the red cross except by non-combatant medic forces and the RED Cross organization itself. That is why most ambulances have the Star of Life on them instead. In Europe some ambulances are operated by the Red Cross and so they can use the emblem. Also the Red Cross allows under license some things like First Aid kits. Technically if you are playing a war game that follows Geneva rules you could use the emblem. (like having a Hospital that you have to avoid targeting) What gets them upset is games where the rules of the game require shooting people with protective emblems.

[@BeardedChieftain]

I would never wear the arm band in theatre... I also would shoot back when shot at. Ohh BTW, I was a Grunt who transitioned to Medic and Radiographer with nearly 4x years in war zones.

[@redwolfexr]

@@BeardedChieftain Yes, you were likely a US medic who does not wear a protective emblem and is a combatant. The US would not use emblems even with an enemy that did respect Geneva - they like having one more combatant per squad. If you were TOLD to wear an armband (and some countries do this - like the UK) then you shooting would be a war crime. You still can defend yourself.

[@christianerikmedelbreton1095]

I'm glad that you kept your video unbiassed and reported the violation of these rules from the allies side, because it's extremely common for people to paint them as holy people who werent as brutal as the germans at the time

[@makro5514]

On the eastern front of World War II there were exceptions that were not specified in the laws, but were respected on both sides. Temporary truces were often concluded to collect the dead and wounded to prevent the development of unsanitary conditions. They also didn’t kill people who went for water.

[@user-if2yf9yy5e]

Не знаю откуда взялась информация про воду (надеюсь не из фильма Сталинград), но когда советы Аджимушкайские каменоломни обороняли, за водой их мягко говоря не пускали

[@makro5514]

@@user-if2yf9yy5e информация взята из множества дневников и писем солдат. Стоит уточнить что правило не соблюдалось если за бойцами вёлся присмотр сверху.

[@makukawakami]

In the US armed forces, if you try and kill doc, expect the grunts to commit unimaginable acts

[@alexh3974]

Also the officer will ignore what happens when they go default aggressive. Double so of you hit the dog... Don t hit the dog.

[@TNCombatMedic]

Facts.

[@Russianmafiaman]

A round landed somewhere close to Doc, it gets radioed back to arty, "You see that grid square?" "Yes sir." "I don't want to see it anymore." "Understood sir."

[@ArjunPakrashi]

That's what they did anyway.

[@JGBeagle]

Don’t they do that already?

[@FrederickVanrijn]

Combat medicine in Vietnam is the ancestor of modern trauma medicine. In times past, very old or very young doctors were assigned to ERs and trauma was not considered a medical specialty. Ambulance crews (maybe) had first aid knowledge.

[@georgewondrak4835]

I never knew I wanted to see the man behind these videos. This is a great day.

[@onomee130]

Oh now i see, the cross arent meant to make easy the headshot Thanks for the info

[@allengreen424]

It's crazy how men fought in the same war yet depending on which front they came from, they wouldn't relate to each other. It genuinely seems like two separate timelines to me.

[@ardantop132na6]

*Imperial Japanese army sniper shot a USMC corpsman* *⚠️ You have alerted the horde ⚠️*

[@jaywerner8415]

Then after a couple minutes of fire you hear the Collective PING of like 200 M1 Garands.

[@Jack-yo2bc]

​@@jaywerner8415PING PING MUTHAFUCKERS

[@batman_2004]

Ahh left 4 dead.

[@Riku-Leela]

Got it, next time i go to war ill remember this

[@paulcowlishaw]

That's why I always play as a medic in COD. People don't shoot you.

[@becky2235]

Umm you can't play as a medic in cod

[@rustyrocket9117]

​@@becky2235shhh shh...thats what we call a joke

[@paulcowlishaw]

@@rustyrocket9117 I'm glad someone got it. I felt really proud of myself for thinking it.

[@rustyrocket9117]

​@@paulcowlishawbro I choked on my drink when I seen it 😂

[@paulcowlishaw]

@rustyrocket9117 haha. Sorry. Glad I made you laugh

[@bumpermanthesecond615]

Real world: don't shoot medics TF2: med dropped!

[@hanchen267]

Literally any FPS game revolving around 2 or more teams: we don’t do that here

[@dimitarBerbatov9]

"It's not a war crime if you win"

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Healer's down! Need a rez! Out of mana! Everyone: screaming

[@SynSpiderz]

*Head Cha La plays*

[@kyleochoa9004]

I was deployed with the US Army (I specify because I am a dual citizen and not born in the US) as an infantryman. In my experience the combat medics and corpmen are badasses. I love those guys. They are always the nicest people ive ever met but when the chips are down they will do anything, up to and including give their own life, to save another person. In my mind there's literally no higher calling on earth.

[@anterogradus]

It could be noted that Geneva convention apply even in case if other party is not a signatory of it. Moreover, USSR deliberately offered Germany to reciprocally apply this convention shortly after the war had started, but no answer was received.

[@ebongvictory]

Thank you sir for the great content 😅

[@tyrandgg345]

This video was inspired by "The Medic Who fought a War without a Weapon", In that video he discusses about a medical soldier named Desmond Doss who was a soldier who doesn't bring a gun during the world war. From that video, the soldiers are aware that the medic soldiers were frankly targeted because of the medical insignia in their caps.

[@littlekong7685]

there were apparently a lot of rumours circulated by the Japanese army psy-ops officers about American and allied medics. Things like they will change your blood so you are no longer Japanese, they castrate captured Japanese men, they perform forced abortions on Japanese and islander civilians, they have biological weapons to spread disease and cowardice, etc. This was on top of all the other propaganda being disseminated through the ranks to keep the soldiers loyal and willing to fight.

[@SLAMMED_EX]

Desmond doss 💯

[@nope1083]

Hacksaw ridge was pretty good

[@Albertan1984]

My dad was a unarmed combat medic in Sarajevo in 92-93 then an armed combat medic in Bosnia in late 98-99 for a peace keeping mission

[@jahlahbrine843]

1:50 I see on the of a british soldier walking up through Americas soldier hat from layer front 😆🤣

[@insaniam_convertunt_scientiam]

Doc is like John Wick’s dog only there are a dozenish John Wicks nearby that can call air strikes.

[@jokodihaynes419]

"we may be enemies but i am a medic first"- unknown german medic

[@gkozgkeiros5750]

man,your channel is something else,love to watch your content.its so well done

[@Samboi101]

It’s actually horrible the amount of atrocities and war crimes the Japanese did In ww2. I think it deserves a lot more attention because it helps show how horrible and heartless a military can be just for pride

[@VodkaDoge]

i think you're talking for all the armies here

[@fsoy7479]

You know just because Japanese is the one particularly known for it doesn't mean other armies isn't, those with power and weapons can do whatever they want in the battlefield and wastelands without the world knowing, the solider you admire could have done some inhumane things that you can't even imagine...

[@VodkaDoge]

@@fsoy7479 the americans blew up like 5 orphanages

[@mervinreyes3008]

Ya but we weren't experimenting on prisoners of war or raping women left right and certainly weren't dame siding with the Nazis But to be fair we experimented on are own people 😂so ya worse there and during peace ish time Also like 100years ago no? I think we can cut them some slack there not the same people ​@@VodkaDoge

[@iMaxBlazer]

​@@mervinreyes3008you nuked them, man. Twice. Nuked the civilians.

[@istutteralotlol]

The Spy uncloaking behind my back: Do I look like I care?

[@larryalvares1369]

9:13- I never knew that the M1 Garand was secretly a bolt-action rifle

[@user-bd5mh8kq3o]

Well actually when the marines arrived to the Pacific they only had the 1903 Springfield

[@larryalvares1369]

@@user-bd5mh8kq3o but I’m the clip, it shows m1 garands being used

[@thomashsiai6250]

An animation hiccup.

[@printaboy]

Always has been

[@imofage3947]

The reason why you don't shoot combat medics is because the whole squad knows that if they get hurt, Doc is their only hope of survival. An attack on Doc is an attack on the whole squad and they will take it personally.

[@jeffreyblack666]

As opposed to an attack on the whole squad?

[@dhark0n332]

yes, think about it, if you are attacking the whole squad, you are actively hurting them/killing a lot of them... but if you attack the doc and he die, the squad is STILL ALIVE AND NOW THEY KNOW THAT EVERYTHING GOES, so even if you surrender.. you WILL die.@@jeffreyblack666

[@fantomphlame5565]

@@jeffreyblack666yes, you shoot doc, they stop aiming at your group and start chasing you in particular down to tear you apart with their bare hands.

[@jeffreyblack666]

@@fantomphlame5565 That entirely misses the point and just further highlights how irrational it is. You are saying they go insane and barbaric and brutal. So much so that they entirely ignore who they should be focusing on and instead just focus on a single person. So have a single person in a squad take out the medic, so the opposing squad targets them alone, while the rest of the squad then moves to a better position to take out that opposing squad entirely. And what if my entire squad all target the medic. Then what does the other squad do? Target all of us? Like they were doing before?

[@number3766]

I mean, that's the point. Increase casualties and bait the enemy into irrational action. No medic means increasing the chance on wounded becoming casualties. It makes people either get mad or shut down making easy targets. It demoralizes the unit. Why do you think children are used as combatants and prisoners used as meat shields? The entire point is to "exploit" the humanity of your enemy. If an enemy has either enough people or political power, they know that those tactics can be done without personal consequence. It's war. It's only a crime if you "lose". This ain't a video game. This ain't fair and honorable combat. It's total warfare. They kill a medic with bullets, how is that any worse than starving them via blockade, disease or any waste with chemical warfare, flamethrowers, false surrenders, ect?

[@BeardedChieftain]

Dependant upon the Foe/theatre, many Enemy can be relied upon to not shoot at Doc. But it is not the bullet with my name on that worried me, it was shrapnel and ricochets which are always addressed "To Whom It May Concern".

[@BlooDergon99]

once you hear medic is down. no mercy is left on the battlefeild

[@thehistoryvideogameandgame4730]

There’s an error in this video at 9:20; Desmond Doss did receive The Medal Of Honor however he received the Army version of the medal, That’s the Navy version

[@dolarhyde]

Japan: *ignores GC pact* Oppenheimer: I’m gonna give them something they can’t ignore

[@stick527]

1:42 there is a layering problem over here at the second to the most left troop

[@void6141]

Imagine hearing "MED DOWN MED DOWN LETS GOO!!!"

[@cope2217]

Japan soldiers: im gonna pretend i didn't see that

[@just_a_turtle_chad]

Based

[@user-kr7yh8vw9m]

Imperial Japanese and Soviet soldiers:It's free real estate

[@AlreadyDeadInside83079]

​@@user-kr7yh8vw9mYou forgot any country that ends in "an", North Korea, the Mexican, Columbian cartels(let's face it, they're a full on militarily organized force with numbers rivaling citizens in other countries), any military on the African continent, North Vietnam, China, The Wagner Group and a lot of their county of origin, (not anymore though 😂), Hamas, Al Quida, Syria...I can go on for DAYS, and WE are expected to play by the "rules"🤨. It's probably a good thing we sometimes DON'T💯

[@user-kr7yh8vw9m]

I wanted to be more precise with the time period

[@zombies4evadude24]

@@AlreadyDeadInside83079doesn’t “American” end in “an”? Shhhh… 🤫

[@jonathanoriley8260]

Imperial Japanese soldier im WW2 when they see an American medic: *_"COWABUNGA IT IS"_*

[@zearcjustice7837]

"take out the healer" this sentence is true in anything

[@k3vinz_]

Meanwhile Genji in OW when he spots the healers nearby, *Ryūjin no ken wo kūrae*

[@SquashedBeanz]

6:35 That animation and level of detail was so good. Love the effort!

[@user-kr7yh8vw9m]

Another exceptional video. Highly useful and informative

[@TheOneAndOnlyOuuo]

In the Finnish defence forces medics are taught the laws, then told to ignore them as the enemy will do that too. The medics are all armed and trained for combat. The important thing is to let the enemy fire the first bullet, then you're free to engage. Same with landmines; We train to use anti-personnel mines by training placing AT mines/whatever random crap the same way an anti-personnel mine would be used. Then when the war breaks out we are ready to withdraw from the anti-landmine treaty since the adversary has been proven to not care about it or any other treaties in Ukraine.

[@-MrEVIL-]

Yeah well now a certain entity is doing it

[@MyLateralThawts]

Related to this, the RAF shot down unarmed and clearly marked air sea rescue planes during the Battle of Britain. How this affected the attitude of German soldiers in other theatres is up for debate.

[@TheManofthecross]

they did that? let alone there was air sea rescue planes used?

[@MyLateralThawts]

@@TheManofthecross Sadly, not one of the RAF’s proudest moments. In response, Goering ordered retaliatory attacks, but the front line Luftwaffe pilots refused. At any rate, here’s some interesting reading: aviationtrivia.blogspot.com/2012/06/luftwaffe-seenotdienst-first-air-rescue.html

[@z1u512]

Not like the nazis were known for not committing war crimes in the first place

[@looke3392]

yeah they did, probably because Britain didn't really use their own air sea rescue planes and it was a war of attrition at that point so they didn't want to allow German pilots to gain experience

[@leebush4053]

The Nazis were bombing civilian targets during the battle of Britain. Bear in mind they were also planning on gassing people I doubt the RAF shooting down air sea planes would have been a motivator to treat allied soldiers any worse. F the Nazis. They were not all literal Nazis. They were a legitimate enemy.