Germany
Practice Relating to Rule 146. Reprisals against Protected Persons
Section C. Medical and religious personnel in the power of the adversary
Germany’s Military Manual (1992), referring to Article 46 of the 1949 Geneva Convention I, Article 47 of the 1949 Geneva Convention II and Article 20 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I, provides: “It is expressly prohibited by agreement to make reprisals against: … medical and religious personnel”.
Referring to Article 46 of the 1949 Geneva Convention I and Article 47 of the 1949 Geneva Convention II, the manual further provides: “Reprisals against chaplains are prohibited. This prohibition shall protect chaplains from any restriction of the rights assigned to them.”
Germany’s IHL Manual (1996) provides: “Reprisals are expressly prohibited against … medical and religious personnel”.
Upon ratification of the 1977 Additional Protocol I, Germany stated: “the Federal Republic of Germany will react against serious and systematic violations of the obligations imposed by Additional Protocol I … with all means admissible under international law in order to prevent any further violation”.