Why Did We Shoot Spies?

bainbrig | 21:26 Sun 11th Nov 2018 | History

94 Answers

Why did we execute spies? What harm could they do once we’d locked them up? Why didn’t we treat them like other POWs?

Was it just habit?

Pope Gregory Ix Inquistion

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SparklyKid

Best Answer

A stupid question Bainbrig, touche.

11:35 Tue 13th Nov 2018

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jno

spying was long thought of as cheating, the sort of thing a gentleman didn't do. Many Britons were shocked at the idea that other countries might do it, but also at the idea that Britain might do it too.

Now everyone seems quite happy with being spied on, whether by GCHQ or CCTV or their own TVs and loyalty cards, and the notion of privacy seems to have gone out the window.

Khandro

grumpy; //We didn't shoot George Blake,Kim Philby or any of the other post war spies though.Just as guilty.//

We didn't shoot, or rather hang them, because they escaped to Russia before their crimes were completely uncovered.

jno

Anthony Blunt remained here and got a very good job.

jim360

It probably goes back to ancient times, and some idea that war can be honourable but only if fought in a particular way. I know that the Romans, early in their history, had a passionate -- and at times a fatal -- distrust of anything that was "underhand": spying, scouting, even ambush.

Presumably, it's the same thing carried forward: that there is a right way to slaughter your enemies, and anything that deviates from that is dishonourable and deserves the highest of punishment.

bainbrig

Question Author

Not you, auntie! (But I suppose you could throw a stick).

“...your comments are about as ridiculous as they are rude. You are showing yourself up again.”

Try answering the question, logically and carefully. I really AM interested in the answer.

bainbrig

Question Author

Yes Jim, makes sense. The Germans and the British were oddly ‘civilised’ - I’m thinking of repatriating sick prisoners, for example, not the death camps.

Maybe the Nazis wanted Total War, but some of the wehrmacht did not. Strange business.

AuntLydia

I think I did just that at 10:10
maybe you missed it as the red mist descended Bill. x