Italy
Practice Relating to Rule 52. Pillage
Italy’s IHL Manual (1991) provides: “It is prohibited … to pillage a locality, even when taken by assault.” It is also a duty of an occupying State “to prevent pillage”.
The manual further considers “plunder of public or private property” as a war crime.
Italy’s LOAC Elementary Rules Manual (1991) prohibits pillage.
The manual also notes that civilian property must be respected and shall not be stolen.
Italy’s Combatant’s Manual (1998) instructs: “Do not steal or plunder.”
Italy’s Law of War Decree (1938) states: “It is prohibited … to pillage a locality, even when taken by assault.”
Italy’s Wartime Military Penal Code (1941) punishes anyone who commits “pillage in a town or any other place, even taken by assault”.