POW Parole Predated Prison Camps

During much of the 18th century, European armies commonly released captured enemy soldiers on parole instead of confining them in permanent prisoner-of-war camps. The prisoners promised not to take up arms again, following a practice that had become standard in Europe after the 1648 Peace of Westphalia. Britain finally established the earliest known purpose-built POW camp at Norman Cross in 1797 as the French Revolutionary Wars produced increasing numbers of prisoners.

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