Interesting Story - WW2
Starting in 1941, an increasing number of British airmen found themselves as the involuntary guests (POW's) of the Third Reich and the Crown was casting-about for ways and means to facilitate their escape. Now obviously, one of the most helpful aids to that end is a useful and accurate map, one showing not only where-stuff-was, but also showing the locations of 'safe houses', where a POW on-the-lam could go for food and shelter. Paper maps had some real drawbacks: They make a lot of noise when you open and fold them, they wear-out rapidly and if they get wet, they turn into mush. Someone in MI-5 (similar to America 's CIA) got the idea of printing escape maps on silk. It's durable, can be scrunched-up into tiny wads and unfolded and as many times as needed and makes no noise what so ever. At that time, there was only one manufacturer in Great Britain that had perfected the technology of printing on silk and that was John Waddington, Ltd. When approached by the government, the firm was only too happy to do its bit for the war effort...........................to continue click on link above

Prisoner of war
During the 19th century, efforts increased to improve the treatment and processing of prisoners. The extensive period of conflict during the Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), followed by the Anglo-American War of 1812, led to the emergence of a cartel system for the exchange of prisoners, even while the belligerents were at war. A cartel was usually arranged by the respective armed service for the exchange of like ranked personnel. The aim was to achieve a reduction in the number of prisoners held, while at the same time alleviating shortages of skilled personnel in the home country. Later, as result of these emerging conventions a number of international conferences were held, starting with the Brussels Conference of 1874, with nations agreeing that it was necessary to prevent inhumane treatment of prisoners and the use of weapons causing unnecessary harm. Although no agreements were immediately ratified by the participating nations, work was continued that resulted in new conventions being adopted and becoming recognized as international law, that specified that prisoners of war are required to be treated humanely and diplomatically. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prisoner-of-war staus
To be entitled to prisoner-of-war status, captured service members must be lawful combatants entitled to combatant's privilege—which gives them immunity from punishment for crimes constituting lawful acts of war, e.g., killing enemy troops. To qualify under the Fourth Geneva Convention, a combatant must have conducted military operations according to the laws and customs of war, be part of a chain of command, wear a "fixed distinctive marking, visible from a distance" and bear arms openly. Thus, uniforms and/or badges are important in determining prisoner-of-war status; and francs-tireurs, "terrorists", saboteurs, mercenaries and spies may not qualify. In practice, these criteria are not always interpreted strictly. Guerrillas, for example, do not necessarily wear an issued uniform nor carry arms openly, yet captured combatants of this type have sometimes been granted POW status. The criteria are generally applicable to international armed conflicts. In civil wars, insurgents are often treated as traitors or criminals by government forces, and are sometimes executed. However, in the American Civil War, both sides treated captured troops as POWs, presumably out of reciprocity, though the Union regarded Confederacy personnel as separatist rebels. However, guerrillas and other irregular combatants generally cannot expect to simultaneously benefit from both civilian and military status

The United States Military Code of Conduct
Articles III through V, are guidelines for United States service members who have been taken prisoner. They were created in response to the breakdown of leadership which can happen in an atypical environment such as a POW situation, specifically when US forces were POWs during the Korean War. When a person is taken prisoner, the Code of Conduct reminds the service member that the chain of command is still in effect (the highest ranking service member, regardless of armed service branch, is in command), and that the service member cannot receive special favors or parole from their captors, lest this undermine the service member's chain of command

Groups Appeal to U.N. for Alleged Prisoner of War on Judicial Misconduct
Joined by Disclosure Watch and other legal reform advocates, the grassroots nonprofit known as POPULAR (Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored) lobbies the U.N. for leverage following the arrest of California judicial whistleblower and international legal scholar, Dr. Richard Isaac Fine. POPULAR representatives describe Fine as a "prisoner" of the metaphorical war on judicial misconduct.

Politics and Conflicts Featured in Fall 2008 "History and the Headlines" Collections From Premier History Publisher
ABC-CLIO's Collections of Free Online Resources Feature Arab-Israeli Conflict, Upcoming Spike Lee World War II Film and Controversy in the Oval Office

Karl Marx Conquers Health Insurance Capitalist
I surrender Will someone please take me prisoner