Numbers of POWs
This is a list of nations with the highest number of POWs since the start of World War II, listed in descending order. These are also the highest numbers in any war since the Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War entered into force on 19 June 1931. The USSR had not signed the Geneva convention.
| Armies | Number of POWs held in captivity | Name of conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Soviet Union | 4–5.7 million taken by Germany (2.7–3.3 million died in German POW camps) | World War II (Total) |
| Nazi Germany |
|
World War II |
| France | 1,800,000 taken by Germany | World War II |
| Poland | 675,000 (420,000 taken by Germany; 240,000 taken by the Soviets in 1939; 15,000 taken by Germany in Warsaw in 1944) | Invasion of Poland, and Warsaw Uprising |
| United Kingdom | ~200,000 (135,000 taken in Europe, does not include Pacific or Commonwealth figures) | World War II |
| United States | ~130,000 (95,532 taken by Germany) | World War II |
| Pakistan | 90,368 taken by India. Later released by India in accordance with the Simla Agreement. | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Iraq | ~175,000 taken by Coalition of the Gulf War | Gulf War |
Read more about this topic: Prisoner Of War
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