Jacko
As a generality, of course the answer is yes.
But are there not exceptions?
Herman Göring, for example. Hans Ulrich Rudel? Some of the lads who quite cheerfully shot at our boys in their parachutes? Who strafed columns of women and children?
I don't know the answer - I'm just asking the question.
War by its very nature makes bad guys out of all of us. I think that had the mainland UK been invaded by thousands of military parachutists our boys would have been out shooting them as they descended as well. War criminals only exist on the loosing side. Had we lost WW II you good bet 100% that Harris would have been hung by the Germans as a war criminal. Our boys new during the fire bombing of Dresden that 60% of the population beneath them were women and children.
There are atrocities committed by every side in every war, and i dont pretend to understand why. War releases the animal within. Maybe those at the top of the tree should be held accountable, but the normal Soldier,Sailor, airman dies doing their 'job'.
I dont know the answer either.