Treatment of defeated enemies throughout history

Throughout history, the treatment of defeated enemies by victorious armies has often involved acts of cruelty and barbarism, such as making throat-slashing gestures, stealing from captives, beating them, and looking for excuses to shoot anyone. This behavior, which was once considered the norm and acceptable, is now viewed as barbaric by modern standards. Even in the mid-1940s, during a surrender between generals, the expectation of treating prisoners well was not universally observed, leading to a stark contrast in cultural norms regarding the treatment of enemies.