Geneva Conventions

The Geneva Conventions are intergovernmental agreements with rules for the event of war. They are a fundamental component of international humanitarian law. The first Geneva Convention was signed in 1864, the following ones in 1929 and 1949. Among other things, they regulate the humane treatment of prisoners of war. During World War II, the German Reich disregarded the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, especially in its treatment of Soviet, but also Polish, French, and Italian prisoners of war. The use of prisoners of war in armaments production, which was frequently practiced by the Nazi regime, also did not comply with the agreement. Today, all states in the world are signatories to the Geneva Conventions. Nevertheless, violations occur time and again.